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Make Zambia Visa Photo

Zambia's e-visa takes a standard 35x45mm photo on a plain background — and selfies are explicitly not accepted.

Upload PhotoJPG, PNG

Zambia Visa Photo (35x45mm)

Standard Example

Precise Face Alignment

  • 1

    Fit your head inside the guide

    Chin to crown should measure 32-36mm.

  • 2

    Centre your face on the vertical line

    Head level, looking at the camera.

  • 3

    Keep the background plain

    White or light grey, evenly lit.

Specifications

The 35x45mm format used for Zambian e-visa applications.

Dimensions35 x 45mm
Head Height32 - 36mm, chin to crown
BackgroundPlain, no shadows

Compliance Checklist

  • Not a selfie

    Arm's-length phone shots are refused.

  • No shadow behind your head

    Stand back from the wall.

  • Neutral expression

    Mouth closed, both eyes open.

  • Taken within the last 6 months

    Must reflect your current appearance.

At least

supporting documents are accepted as png, jpg or tiff — the portal states the formats but publishes no dimensions for the photograph itself

Zambia Visa Photo Requirements, Explained

35x45mm on a plain background — the rule most applicants trip over is that a selfie does not count.

Quick Check: Do's & Don'ts

No Selfies

Explicitly not accepted, however sharp.

No Shadow Behind You

Stand back from the wall.

Standard 35x45mm

The same frame as a Schengen visa photo.

Plain Background

White or light grey, evenly lit.

Why a Selfie Fails

Guidance rules them out by name.

Zambian visa guidance states that selfie photos are not acceptable. This is not about image quality — a modern phone camera is more than sharp enough. It is about geometry.

Holding a camera at arm's length puts the lens close to your face, which enlarges your nose and forehead relative to your ears and jaw. Biometric checks measure those proportions, so the picture reads as distorted. Have someone else take the photo from about two metres away, or use a timer and prop the phone up.

Size & Head Height

35x45mm with a 32-36mm head.

Zambia uses the standard 35x45mm photo, so the crop is the same shape as a European passport photo and the same as neighbouring Zimbabwe's published passport size.

Your head should measure roughly 32-36mm from chin to crown, centred horizontally, with a small gap above the hair.

Background & Lighting

Plain and shadow-free.

Use a plain background with no pattern or texture. Published guidance for Zambia mentions both white and plain grey, so either a white or a light neutral grey wall is a safe choice — what matters is that it is even and unshadowed.

Stand about a metre clear of the wall so your own shadow does not fall on it, and light your face from the front rather than from one side.

Travelling on Beyond Zambia

The same photo covers most of the region.

If your trip takes in Victoria Falls you may be looking at a KAZA UNIVISA covering Zambia and Zimbabwe, or at separate entries. Either way the 35x45mm photo is the widely published size for both countries.

Keep a neutral expression with your mouth closed, both eyes open and clearly visible, and make sure the photo was taken within the last six months.

What You'll Actually Download

Printed at 35 x 45mm, 827 x 1063px, JPG/PNG. Computed from this photo's own specification, not typed by hand.

How you submitUpload a fileSubmitted through: Zambia Immigration e-Services (ZIMS)
Pixel size
827 x 1063px @ 600dpi
Print size
35 x 45mm (3.5 x 4.5cm / 1.38 x 1.77 in)
File type
JPG / PNG
Background
White

Requirements verified · Source: eservices.zambiaimmigration.gov.zm

Watch out — At least supporting documents are accepted as png, jpg or tiff — the portal states the formats but publishes no dimensions for the photograph itself

Zambia Visa Photo Maker (35 x 45mm)

Create the 35x45mm photo Zambia's e-visa needs — plain background, no selfies, free and 100% private.

Get Your Photo in 3 Steps

1. Upload Your Photo

Choose a clear, recent photo from your phone or computer.

Have someone else take it — not an arm's-length selfie.

2. Auto Alignment

We crop to 35x45mm with your head at 32-36mm.

Stand a metre from a plain, evenly lit wall.

3. Download & Upload

Attach the file to your Zambian e-visa application.

Check there is no shadow behind your head.

Zambia Visa Photo Specifications

Dimensions35 x 45mm (3.5 x 4.5cm)
Head Height32 - 36mm, chin to crown
BackgroundPlain white or light grey, no shadows
RecencyTaken within the last 6 months

Frequently Asked Questions

Q.What size photo does a Zambia visa need?▼
35x45mm, the same frame as a Schengen visa or European passport photo, with the head at 32-36mm from chin to crown.
Q.Can I use a selfie?▼
No. Zambian guidance rules selfies out by name — holding the camera at arm's length distorts facial proportions that the biometric check measures.
Q.What background colour is required?▼
A plain, evenly lit background with no shadows. Published guidance mentions white and plain grey, so either works as long as it is uniform.
Q.Does the same photo work for Zimbabwe?▼
35x45mm is the widely published size for both, so in practice yes — but confirm against the specific application you are filling in.
Q.Can I reuse a Schengen visa photo?▼
The frame matches, so usually yes, provided it was taken within the last six months and has no shadow behind the head.