Brazil Passport Photo Requirements 2026
Written and fact-checked by the PassportLayout team · Last verified:
Official requirements from the Brazilian Federal Police (Polícia Federal) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Itamaraty), checked against the sources on the date above.
Quick Summary
50×70 mm (5×7 cm), plain white background, neutral expression, chin-to-forehead length 31–36 mm. In Brazil, the Federal Police photographs you at the appointment — a printed photo is only needed for children under 5. Consulates abroad require the printed 5×7 cm photo.
Photo Dimensions
Brazilian passport photos use the country's standard identity photo format: 5 × 7 cm (50 × 70 mm), as detailed in the photo specifications published by Itamaraty's consular network. This is a larger format than most countries use — the same size as Canada's 50×70 mm requirement — and noticeably larger than the 35×45 mm standard used across Europe. The photo must be in colour, printed on photo paper, and — the guidance is explicit — you must not cut the photo yourself.
One rule that catches out renewers: a photo that was already used in a previous passport will not be accepted. The photo needs to be recent, preferably taken less than 6 months before the application.
Do You Need a Printed Photo at All?
For applications inside Brazil, usually not. Passport applications are processed by the Federal Police (Polícia Federal), and at the in-person appointment the PF collects your biometric data — fingerprints and a facial photograph — directly. The Federal Police's document checklist requires a printed photo only for applicants under 5 years of age: a recent 5×7 photo with a white background.
For those young applicants, the PF warns that the photo will be refused if the child's face is partially covered by accessories, ornaments, or decorations, or if so much time has passed since it was taken that it no longer identifies the child. A photo with closed eyes is refused unless the applicant is a newborn. Brazilians applying at a consulate abroad, however, do need the printed 5×7 cm photo described on this page.
Face and Head Position
The official consular specification measures the face from chin to forehead: that length must fall between 31 mm and 36 mm in the printed photo. The face and shoulders must be completely framed by the camera, with the applicant looking directly into the lens. The photo must be taken from the front — no profile or three-quarter angles.
Both eyes must be open and visible. There can be no reflections, dim areas, or shadows in any part of the photograph, so make sure the light falls evenly across the whole face.
Background Requirements
The background must be plain white (fundo branco). It must be uniformly lit — no shadows behind the subject and no gradients or visible texture. Standing well away from the backdrop, with a light source on each side, produces the cleanest results. For babies, the consular guidance itself suggests a practical trick: lay the child on a white sheet and photograph from above.
Expression, Glasses, and Accessories
A neutral expression (fisionomia neutra) with both eyes open is mandatory. Smiling or any expression that distorts facial features is not acceptable. Glasses are allowed with restrictions: the lenses must not reflect ambient or camera light, and dark glasses or glasses with thick, flashy frames are not accepted under any circumstances.
Headwear is not permitted except for religious reasons, and even then it must not prevent a perfect view of the face. The Federal Police's passport FAQ is notably permissive about smaller items: earrings, necklaces, piercings, makeup, medical or religious scarves and veils, corrective wigs, bows, and tiaras are all allowed as long as they do not cover the shape of the face or the eyebrows — and the same goes for voluminous hairstyles. Coloured contact lenses that change your eye colour are prohibited under ANAC and ICAO rules.
Photo Recency
The photo must be recent — preferably taken less than 6 months ago — and must still be a faithful likeness of you. Reusing the photo from a previous passport is expressly not accepted, and for domestic applications the Federal Police officer will compare the photo (or the live capture) against how you look at the appointment.
Complete Specifications Table
| Requirement | Specification |
|---|---|
| Photo size | 50 × 70 mm (5 × 7 cm), do not cut it yourself |
| Face length | 31–36 mm (chin to forehead) |
| Background | Plain white only, no shadows or reflections |
| Expression | Neutral, eyes open and visible |
| Glasses | Allowed — no glare; no dark glasses or thick, flashy frames |
| Head covering | Religious only; must not block view of the face |
| Recency | Recent — preferably under 6 months; never reused from an old passport |
| Colour | Colour only |
| In Brazil (age 5+) | No printed photo — captured live at the Federal Police |
| Under 5 years old | Printed 5 × 7 photo, recent, white background |
Tips for Brazilians Applying from Abroad
Brazilians residing abroad apply for a new or renewed passport at the nearest Brazilian embassy or consulate, and — unlike domestic PF appointments — a printed photo is part of the requirements. The consular specification is the one described throughout this page: 5×7 cm, white background, neutral expression, chin-to-forehead length of 31–36 mm, and no photo previously used in another passport. Individual consulates publish the same Itamaraty specification, so prepare the photo in advance to save time and cost at the appointment.
Use PassportLayout.online to crop your photo to the 50×70 mm format, then print it at a local photo lab. Ensure you print at 100% scale — not "fit to paper" — so the dimensions are exact, and hand in the photo uncut.
Create your Brazilian passport photo for free
Get the exact 50×70 mm format for consulate applications and under-5 photos. No upload, complete privacy.
Create your Brazilian passport photo — freeFrequently Asked Questions
Do I need to bring a printed photo to my Brazilian passport appointment?
Not if you are 5 or older and applying in Brazil — the Federal Police collects your biometric data, including fingerprints and a facial photograph, at the appointment itself. A recent printed 5×7 cm photo with a white background is required only for children under 5 years old. Consulates abroad do ask for a printed photo.
Can I wear glasses in a Brazilian passport photo?
Yes, within limits. Itamaraty's photo specifications require that the lenses do not reflect ambient or camera light, and dark glasses or glasses with thick, flashy frames are not accepted under any circumstances. If in doubt, take them off.
What size is a Brazilian passport photo?
5×7 cm (50×70 mm), the standard Brazilian identity photo format. The photo must be in colour, recent — preferably taken less than 6 months ago — with a white background, and it cannot be a photo already used in a previous passport. Do not cut the photo yourself.
Can a baby's passport photo be taken at home?
Yes. The consular guidance explicitly accepts home photos of babies as long as there is good lighting, a white background — a baby lying on a white sheet works — and the baby's eyes are open, looking at the camera. Bows, pacifiers, toys, or a parent's hands must not appear in the photo.
Sources
- Ministério das Relações Exteriores — Especificações da Fotografia para o Pedido de Passaporte — official consular photo specifications, updated September 5, 2023 (verified July 7, 2026)
- Polícia Federal — Lista geral de documentos (passaporte) — biometric capture and under-5 printed photo rule (verified July 7, 2026)
- Polícia Federal — Dúvidas Frequentes sobre passaporte — accessories, hairstyles, and coloured contact lens rules (verified July 7, 2026)
- ICAO Doc 9303 — Machine Readable Travel Documents — international biometric portrait standard