head 70–80 %
Free: cropping, background replacement, check
14-day refund if the authority rejects the photo
SourceEmbassy of the Federal Republic of Somalia in Ankara
Verified
Quick answer: The recommended Somalia 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 Somali entry visa applied for at the Embassy of Somalia in Ankara the Embassy lists «two (2) recent passport size photos» among the entry visa requirements: the completed visa application form («incomplete forms may cause delays»), a passport valid within 6 months, a copy of the flight reservation and a non-refundable fee payable to the Embassy. The application goes to the Embassy or the Consulate-General of Somalia; where Somalia has no mission, the nearest Somali mission in the region; decisions «generally may take up to a month» and in some cases are forwarded to the Somali Immigration and Naturalization Department; for a stay of more than 90 days an authorisation for temporary stay may be required. The text read is an Internet Archive copy of 15 January 2025, and it gives no size in millimetres, background or head rule.
Examples and mistakes
One compliant example next to the six most common rejection causes for Somalia 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 Federal Republic of Somalia in Ankara publishes: what is wrong and what to change.
| Reason | Fix |
|---|---|
| Fewer than two photographs, or photographs that are not recent | Two recent passport-size photographs. |
| An incomplete application form | A completed application form. |
| A passport valid for less than six months | A passport valid for at least six months. |
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 Somali entry visa is applied for at a Somali embassy or consulate-general, with the completed form, two recent passport-size photos, the passport, a flight reservation and a non-refundable fee.
ankara.mfa.gov.so — Embassy of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Ankara
Two recent passport-size photos with the application form.
Authority page| Authority | Embassy of the Federal Republic of Somalia in Ankara |
|---|---|
| Source | Visa — entry visa requirements (Internet Archive copy) |
| Verified |
Questions
Two recent passport-size photos, according to the Embassy of Somalia in Ankara.
Decisions generally take up to a month, and in some cases the application is forwarded to the Immigration and Naturalization Department.
The page says different rules apply and an authorisation for temporary stay may be required.
The recommended size for the Somalia 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 Somalia 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.
2 identical photographs, 35 × 45 mm each.
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.