head 70–80 %
Free: cropping, background replacement, check
14-day refund if the authority rejects the photo
SourceEmbassy of the Republic of Sierra Leone in Washington, D.C.
Verified
Quick answer: The recommended Sierra Leone visa 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 Sierra Leonean visa applied for at the Embassy of Sierra Leone in Washington, D.C. — for residents of the United States, Canada and other accredited countries — the checklist «Confirm Enclosed» lists «one passport size photograph», together with the completed visa application form, a valid passport with blank pages valid for at least six months, evidence of the yellow-fever vaccine and a prepaid self-addressed envelope. Visa types are the tourist visa single entry (six months) and multiple entry (one year), a three-year multiple entry visa for US passport holders (US$160), gratis official and diplomatic visas and gratis ECOWAS visas; for other nationals the fees are US$40 for a single and US$80 for a multiple entry, for Canadians US$75 and US$150, for British citizens US$229 and US$523 — by money order or cashier's check payable to the Embassy, non-refundable, with an expedited service for US$50 more in 2–3 business days. 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 Sierra Leone visa applications. These are the differences that most often determine whether a document photo is accepted.
Typical reasons a photo is rejected under the rules Embassy of the Republic of Sierra Leone in Washington, D.C. publishes: what is wrong and what to change.
| Reason | Fix |
|---|---|
| An application without the passport-size photograph | One passport-size photograph with the application. |
| A passport valid for less than six months or without blank pages | A passport valid for at least six months with blank pages. |
| A visa fee paid in cash or by personal check | A money order or cashier's check payable to the Embassy of Sierra Leone. |
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 Sierra Leonean visa is applied for at the Embassy of Sierra Leone in Washington, D.C. (for residents of the United States, Canada and other accredited countries) with the form, one passport-size photograph, the passport, the yellow-fever proof and a prepaid envelope.
1701 19th Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
One passport-size photograph with the application.
Authority page| Authority | Embassy of the Republic of Sierra Leone in Washington, D.C. |
|---|---|
| Source | ICAO biometric portrait baseline |
| Verified |
Questions
One passport-size photograph, enclosed with the completed application form.
For most nationalities US$40 (six months, single entry) or US$80 (one year, multiple); Canadians US$75 and US$150, British citizens US$229 and US$523, and US passport holders US$160 for three years.
The embassy's checklist asks for evidence of the yellow-fever vaccine with the application.
The recommended size for the Sierra Leone visa photo is 35 × 45 mm. The head occupies 70–80% of the photo height. Many consulates also require a specific digital file size — see the spec table above for full details.
Plain light background without textures or noticeable gradients. The background must be evenly lit with no shadow gradients, especially around the head. Consular automated pre-screening rejects photos with any wall texture before the human reviewer ever sees the application.
Visa authorities typically require the photo to be taken within the last three to six months. Submitting an older photo, even one that looks similar to your current appearance, is a frequent cause of immediate consular rejection.
Not always. Tourist, work, student and transit visa categories sometimes specify different dimensions or background rules. Follow the requirements for your specific visa type rather than assuming one photo fits all Sierra Leone visa applications.
Anfas.Pro provides a 14-day full refund if the photo is the cause of rejection and you supply the consular rejection notice. We recommend keeping the consular receipt with rejection reason as proof.
Clear glasses only, no reflections; sunglasses prohibited. Consular automated checks flag glasses glare even when it is invisible to the human eye. Removing glasses entirely is the safest choice unless a medical exception is documented in your visa application.
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.