head 70–80 %
Free: cropping, background replacement, check
14-day refund if the authority rejects the photo
SourcePermanent Mission and Embassy of Samoa in New York — Immigration Division, Prime Minister's Department of Samoa
Verified
Quick answer: The recommended Samoa passport photo size is 35 × 45 mm. Plain light background without textures or noticeable gradients. Head occupies 70–80% of photo height. Neutral expression, clear lenses only, no glare. Last verified .
Requirements
| Format | 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Head height | 70–80% of photo height |
| Background | Plain light background without textures or noticeable gradients. |
| Pose | Strictly full face, head without rotation or tilt, shoulders level. |
| Expression | Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open. |
| Glasses | Clear glasses only, no reflections; sunglasses prohibited. See full rules → |
| Lighting | Shadows on the face and background not permitted. |
| Head covering | Religious reasons only; must not cover the facial oval. |
| Attire | Neutral clothing, shoulders visible, without uniform or distracting accessories. |
| File format | JPEG · sRGB / 24-bit |
| Millimetres | 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Centimetres | 3.5 × 4.5 cm |
| Inches | 1.38 × 1.77″ |
| Pixels at 300 dpi | 413 × 531 px |
| Pixels at 600 dpi | 827 × 1063 px |
For a Samoan passport renewed through the Embassy of Samoa in New York the requirements list «two passport photos each (one of which should be notarized by the Notary Officer on the back of the photo)» among a Samoan passport application form signed by the applicant and notarized (Part A with the Notary Public's seal; Part B signed by a Samoan national of good standing who knows the applicant, for example a church minister, or else a notarized letter explaining why not), a notarized copy of the expired passport and of the Samoan birth certificate, name-change documents where the name differs, a notarized colour copy of the US driver's licence and green card, the fee of US$220 by money order or certified cheque payable to the Government of Samoa, and a prepaid return envelope (FedEx or UPS only). The papers are mailed to the Embassy at 685 Third Avenue, Suite 1102, New York, and forwarded to the Immigration Division in Apia; the application is processed there and takes 8 to 12 weeks, and no original documents are sent — only notarized copies. The page gives no size in millimetres, background or face rule.
Examples and mistakes
One compliant example next to the six most common rejection causes for Samoa passport applications. These are the differences that most often determine whether a document photo is accepted.
Typical reasons a photo is rejected under the rules Permanent Mission and Embassy of Samoa in New York — Immigration Division, Prime Minister's Department of Samoa publishes: what is wrong and what to change.
| Reason | Fix |
|---|---|
| Fewer than two passport photographs | Two passport photographs. |
| Neither photograph notarized on the back by the Notary Officer | One of the two photographs notarized on the back. |
| Original documents sent instead of notarized copies, or a personal cheque for the fee | Notarized copies and a money order or certified cheque payable to the Government of Samoa. |
How to take it
Background: plain light
The tool puts in the required background. Stand half a metre from a plain light wall, face a window and shoot without flash — then there are no shadows on your face or on the wall.
Head: 70–80 % of the photo height
Camera at eye level, about a metre away; head and shoulders in the shot. The tool crops it to 35 × 45 mm.
Clear lenses only, no glare
If you wear glasses, check the shot: no glare on the lenses, eyes clearly visible.
Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open
Look straight into the lens with your head level; keep hair away from your eyes and eyebrows.
An ordinary selfie will do: we fix the background, light and framing ourselves — to this document's rules. The preview is free.
Head straightHold the phone at eye level and your head straightens by itself.
Face uncoveredMove your hair away so your eyes and eyebrows show.
No glare on glassesStand so that no light reflects in the lenses.Printing and submission
| 10 × 15 cm · 4 × 6″ | 8 (4 × 2) |
|---|---|
| A4 · 21 × 29.7 cm | 36 (6 × 6) |
Print at 100% scale, borderless, and turn off fit-to-page so each photo keeps its exact size.
A Samoan passport is renewed by post through the Embassy of Samoa in New York (for applicants in the United States) with the notarized form, two passport photos — one notarized on the back — and US$220; the Immigration Division in Apia processes it.
685 Third Avenue, Suite 1102, New York, NY 10017
Two passport photos, one notarized on the back by the Notary Officer.
Authority page| Authority | Permanent Mission and Embassy of Samoa in New York — Immigration Division, Prime Minister's Department of Samoa |
|---|---|
| Source | ICAO biometric portrait baseline |
| Verified |
Questions
Two passport photos, one of which must be notarized by the Notary Officer on the back.
The page says 8 to 12 weeks for standard processing, because the Immigration Division in Apia issues it.
US$220, paid by money order or certified cheque payable to the Government of Samoa; personal cheques are not accepted.
The recommended size for the Samoa passport photo is 35 × 45 mm. The head occupies 70–80% of the photo height.
Plain light background without textures or noticeable gradients. No gradients, textures, shadows or objects behind the subject are permitted. The tool removes background shadows automatically, but starting with a flat, evenly lit wall gives the best result.
Yes. Stand in front of a flat, plain wall in good natural light, face the light source and use the rear camera of your phone with a 3-second timer. The tool handles the crop, background normalisation and compliance check against the Samoa biometric standard.
Most passport authorities require the photo to be taken within the last six months. Do not reuse an older portrait even if your appearance has not changed.
Anfas.Pro provides a 14-day full refund if the photo is rejected by the Samoa authority and you supply the official rejection notice. See the refund policy page for the exact process.
Clear glasses only, no reflections; sunglasses prohibited. In practice, the biometric scanner at submission points flags even minor lens glare that looks fine to the naked eye. Removing glasses before shooting is the only option that eliminates the risk entirely.
35 × 45 mm = 3.5 × 4.5 cm = 1.38 × 1.77 inches. At 300 dpi that is 413 × 531 pixels; at 600 dpi, 827 × 1063 pixels.
Religious reasons only; must not cover the facial oval. The face must stay fully visible from chin to forehead and on both sides, with no shadow across it.
Yes. The same 35 × 45 mm format and head size apply to: visa.