South African firearm licence application photo (35×45 mm)

Official Size and Submission Rules

SAPS does not publish a specific photo size in the cited sources^[1][2]. This article uses 35 × 45 mm, a common passport-photo crop size; confirm the size with your local office before applying.

The form requires a full-front view of the head and shoulders, in colour, against a plain background. It also says the applicant must not wear a hat or sunglasses and must write their name and ID number on the back of the photo^[2]. SAPS asks for two unobscured, passport-size colour photos for the competency and firearm licence applications^[1].

Ask your local office whether it has any photo-size preferences before you print the photos.

Background and Lighting Guidelines

The application form asks for a plain background but does not specify a colour^[2]. SAPS requires a plain or neutral background^[1][2]. A simple white, off-white, or light grey wall works best for this purpose.

Face a bright window to get soft, even natural light across your face. Avoid using a camera flash because it creates harsh glares, dark shadows, and unnatural skin tones that can obscure your facial features.

Position yourself a metre away from the background wall to reduce shadows behind your head. Good lighting helps the person reviewing your application see every required detail clearly without straining their eyes.

Glasses, Headwear, and Face Rules

The application form says not to wear sunglasses^[2]. It does not specify whether ordinary prescription glasses are allowed, but taking them off completely is the safest way to avoid glare and reflections on the lenses.

The application form says not to wear a hat^[2]. The authority does not publish a specific head-height measurement^[1][2], so keep your entire head and shoulders comfortably inside the frame with space around the edges.

Keep your facial expression relaxed and natural with your mouth closed. Avoid smiling broadly or frowning so that your face matches your appearance on identity documents.

Taking Your Photo at Home

Setting up your camera correctly makes a big difference in the final result. Ask a friend or family member to take the photo for you instead of taking a selfie, because selfies distort facial features and make your nose look too large.

Keep the camera at your exact eye level about one to one and a half metres away from your face. Keep your shoulders square and look straight into the lens with a neutral expression. You can use the tool above to crop your image to the correct dimensions and format it correctly.

Take multiple shots in good lighting so you can pick the one with the sharpest focus and best clarity before you move on to printing.

Printing Your Photo Sheet

SAPS requires two printed photos for the application^[1][2]. The sources do not specify a print-sheet layout.

Print your sheet on standard glossy or matte photo paper at actual size without scaling. Measure the printed face and borders with a physical ruler to check the dimensions before you hand them in with your application form.

Use photo paper if you want a printed photo with a clear image.

Common Reasons Photos Are Refused

The form says not to wear a hat or sunglasses^[2].

The form asks for a full-front head-and-shoulders view and two recent, unobscured photos^[2]. Other common mistakes include bad lighting, heavy shadows on the wall, blurry focus, and incorrect printing scales that distort the size of your head.