Rejection guide

Vietnam passport photo rejected — embassy reasons and how to fix each

Renewing or replacing a Vietnamese passport at an embassy or consulate abroad has its own photo rule that catches most applicants off guard: three prints at exactly 2 × 2 inches, not the 4 × 6 cm size used for Vietnamese visas and domestic applications. Mixing the two up is the common reason a photo is turned away before the rest of the application is even reviewed.

6 sections

In this article · 6 sections

—Key checks: wrong photo size, wrong photo count, background not plain
017 common rejection checks
025-step recovery checklist
03Frequently asked questions
04Other rejection guides
05Official sources

Fast diagnosis

Key checks: wrong photo size, wrong photo count, background not plain

Common checks include photos printed at the standard Vietnamese 4 × 6 cm visa size instead of the 2 × 2 inch size this embassy route requires, bringing the wrong number of prints (the rule is exactly three: one glued to the form, two stapled to it), and a background with shadows, texture or other objects instead of a plain, evenly lit backdrop.

7 common rejection checks

Wrong photo size (not 2 × 2 inches)

The Embassy of Vietnam in the United States asks for standard passport photos sized 2 × 2 inches (about 51 × 51 mm) for a renewal or replacement application — a different, square format from the 4 × 6 cm rectangle used for Vietnamese visas and many domestic applications. Bringing the wrong one is the common reason the photo is rejected before the rest of the paperwork is checked.

Wrong number of photos, or attached incorrectly, or too old

The published checklist asks for exactly three prints: one glued to the application form and two stapled with it. Two photos, or three loose prints with none glued in place, is treated as an incomplete application. Circular 31/2023/TT-BCA separately requires a recently taken photo, no more than 6 months old, so an older set of prints fails even when the count is right.

Background not plain white

Vietnam's passport-photo rule, set out in Circular 31/2023/TT-BCA, specifies a white background — not merely a light one. Green, yellow, patterned or shadowed backdrops are named among the usual reasons a file is sent back.

Hat, veil or head covering worn

The Vietnamese rule is "đầu để trần": the head must be uncovered. Guidance names an exception for members of ethnic minority groups. A cap, fashion headband or scarf worn for style is not accepted.

Glasses worn

The passport application form rule is "không đeo kính": no glasses at all, not merely no tinted ones. Police guidance for online applications adds that if glasses are worn anyway there must be no reflection on the lenses, no tinted lenses and no heavy frames — but removing them is what the rule actually asks for.

Ears hidden, or the face filling less than 75% of the frame

The application form asks for both ears to be visible, and published guidance sets the face at 75% of the photo area in the 4 × 6 cm domestic format. Hair over the ears, or a crop that leaves the face small in the frame, fails on rules most applicants have never heard of.

Smiling or head tilted

The rule set asks you to look straight ahead, not to smile, not to tilt your head to either side, and to keep hair off the face.

5-step recovery checklist

The embassy renewal takes the 2 × 2 inch size, not the 4 × 6 cm size used for Vietnamese visas — the two are easy to mix up.

Print exactly three copies from a photo taken in the last 6 months: glue one to the form and staple the other two, as the checklist asks.

Shoot against a plain white wall with even daylight and no shadow behind your head — white, not just light.

Remove glasses and any headwear, tuck hair behind both ears, and keep the expression neutral with your mouth closed and your head level.

Use a tool that exports the exact 2 × 2 inch (51 × 51 mm) square before you print, rather than trimming a rectangular photo by eye.

Frequently asked questions

01Is the Vietnam passport photo the same size as the Vietnam visa photo?

No. This embassy renewal and replacement route asks for a 2 × 2 inch (about 51 × 51 mm) square photo — three copies, one glued and two stapled to the form. Vietnamese e-visa and many domestic applications instead use a 4 × 6 cm rectangular photo. Printing the visa size for a passport renewal is one of the common reasons a photo is sent back.

02Can I wear glasses in a Vietnam passport photo?

Standard Vietnamese consular guidance asks applicants to remove glasses for the photo. If you need them for a documented medical reason, clear lenses with no tint and no glare over the eyes are the safer option than risking a rejection for dark or reflective lenses.

03Do all Vietnamese embassies ask for the same photo requirements?

This guide covers the checklist published by the Embassy of Vietnam in the United States for passport renewal and replacement. The official page confirms the size and photo count precisely but does not publish a full background or pose specification.