head 70–80 %
Free: cropping, background replacement, check
14-day refund if the authority rejects the photo
SourceDepartment of Immigration and Emigration of Sri Lanka
Verified
Quick answer: A Sri Lanka citizenship application photo must be 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 Sri Lankan dual citizenship application — resumption of citizenship under section 19(2) or retention under section 19(3) of the Citizenship Act — the Department of Immigration and Emigration says «each member of family has to submit a separate application along with 3 passport size colour photographs» and «affix one of these photographs in the top right hand corner of the first page of the application». The form is completed in block capitals, with the inapplicable words deleted and «Not relevant» written where an item does not apply; the statement is supported by an affidavit (page 6) made before a Justice of the Peace or a Commissioner of Oaths, and incomplete applications are rejected. The documents are the original birth certificate or a certified copy, the marriage certificate if married and — for resumption — a certified copy of the foreign citizenship certificate and of the bio data and observation pages of the foreign passport and a police clearance report not older than 12 months (applicants above 16), or — for retention — a certified copy of the current Sri Lankan passport and of the permanent residence visa of the foreign country. The page names no size, background or face rule for the photographs.
Examples and mistakes
One compliant example next to the six most common rejection causes for Sri Lanka citizenship application applications. These are the differences that most often determine whether a document photo is accepted.
Typical reasons a photo is rejected under the rules Department of Immigration and Emigration of Sri Lanka publishes: what is wrong and what to change.
| Reason | Fix |
|---|---|
| Fewer than three photographs with an application | Three photographs, one affixed to the first page of the form. |
| A black-and-white photograph | A passport-size colour photograph. |
| A family sharing one application or one set of photographs | A separate application with its own three photographs for each family member. |
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 Sri Lankan dual citizenship application (Form S) is submitted to the Department of Immigration and Emigration with the affidavit, the certificates and three passport-size colour photographs, one affixed to the first page.
immigration.gov.lk — Citizenship, Dual Citizenship
Three passport-size colour photographs, one affixed to the first page.
Authority page| Authority | Department of Immigration and Emigration of Sri Lanka |
|---|---|
| Source | Dual Citizenship — instructions for applicants; Form “S” (application for dual citizenship) |
| Verified |
Questions
Three passport-size colour photographs for each person, one of them affixed in the top right-hand corner of the first page of the application.
No — each member of the family has to submit a separate application with its own photographs.
Yes — the statement in the application should be supported by an affidavit (page 6) made before a Justice of the Peace or a Commissioner of Oaths.
The Sri Lanka citizenship application photo must be 35 × 45 mm. The head must occupy 70–80% of the photo height. Naturalisation and citizenship certificate photos use the same biometric standard as Sri Lanka passports.
Most citizenship authorities require photos taken within the last three to six months. Because citizenship documents are issued once and used for decades, submit a photo that genuinely reflects your current appearance, not a stylised portrait.
Plain light background without textures or noticeable gradients. The photo will be printed on official documents and digitally archived — even minor background issues become permanent in the record. Use a flat, evenly lit wall with no objects or shadows.
Clear glasses only, no reflections; sunglasses prohibited. Citizenship documents are checked at immigration, banking and government offices over the document's lifetime. Removing glasses for the photo prevents future verification problems.
It does not need to be identical, but must show the same person clearly. Significant differences in hair, facial hair or weight may prompt the citizenship authority to request a new photo or in-person verification.
Anfas.Pro provides a 14-day full refund if the Sri Lanka citizenship authority rejects the photo and you supply the rejection notice.
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.
3 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.
Yes. The same 35 × 45 mm format and head size apply to: ID card, visa.