Burkinabè Child Passport Photo Guidelines
Preparing a passport photo for a child in Burkina Faso requires careful attention to official specifications. Here is what you need to know to get your application right.
Official Size Requirements
The passport guide asks for four recent identity photos but does not give their dimensions[1]. A 35×45 mm (1.38×1.77 in) crop is a practical default; confirm the size with the office before printing.
Furthermore, head height is not set by the authority in the official rules[1]. Without a mandated head height measurement, you should frame the face naturally in the center of the picture. You can use the tool above to adjust your image dimensions easily.
Background and Lighting Considerations
When taking your child's passport photo at home, managing the background is straightforward because no background color is specified in the current passport guide[1]. Because the official instructions do not mandate a specific color, you can use a plain, uncluttered setting that creates a clear contrast with your child.
Setting up proper lighting is just as important as the background itself. Try to position your child facing a window that lets in soft, natural daylight. Avoid direct sunlight that creates harsh shadows on the face or background. Keep your camera or phone at eye level, roughly one to one and a half meters away from your child, to prevent any distortion of facial features.
Glasses, Headwear, and Facial Expressions
The official rules regarding glasses are currently unspecified in the published passport documentation[1]. If your child wears prescription glasses, check the image carefully for light reflections on the lenses that might hide their eyes.
Headwear is also left unspecified by the issuing authority in their guidelines[1]. If your child wears religious or medical head coverings, make sure the face remains fully visible from the chin to the forehead without heavy shadows. Regarding facial expressions, maintaining a neutral look with the mouth closed is always the safest approach for official identification documents, even though specific expression rules are not explicitly detailed in the text[1].
Guidelines for Infants and Young Children
The published guide does not state separate photo rules for children or infants[1].
Since you must follow the standard adult guidelines, getting an infant to look directly at the camera with a calm expression takes patience. You can lay your baby flat on a plain, light-colored sheet on the floor and stand directly above them to take the picture. Make sure the baby is awake, has their eyes wide open, and keeps their mouth closed.
Submission Formats and Print Requirements
The guide lists four recent identity photos among the documents to provide[1]. It does not say whether photos may also be uploaded digitally.
Because physical prints are mandatory, you need a reliable way to print them correctly. You can format your cropped 35×45 mm image onto a standard 4×6-inch photo template using the tool above. This allows you to print a sheet at a local photo kiosk or retail store, giving you multiple copies to cut out and include with your application package.
Step-by-Step Home Photography Process
Taking your child's passport photo at home requires a methodical approach to get good results. Start by gathering your equipment, choosing a well-lit space, and preparing a plain backdrop. Have a second person help entertain or steady the child so they look forward without moving around.
Hold the camera steady at eye level and take several photos. Review them for clarity, lighting, and framing.
Frequently asked questions
What size should a Burkinabè child passport photo be?
How many photos do I need to submit?
The guide requires four recent identity photos[1].
Are there special photo rules for babies?
No separate child or infant photo rules were found in the published guide, so the adult photo default is used[1].
What background color is required?
No background color is specified in the current passport guide[1].
Are glasses allowed in the photo?
Glasses are unspecified in the current passport guide[1].