Preparing Your Photo for a Mozambican National Identity Card
If you need a photo for your Bilhete de Identidade in Mozambique, you must know what the issuing authority requires. This article explains the rules and how you can use the tool above to prepare your prints.
Official Size and Authority Rules
The source describes the Direcção Nacional de Identificação Civil (DNIC) and Mozambique’s Bilhete de Identidade (BI)[1]. It does not publish photo dimensions. A 35 by 45 millimeter crop (about 1.38 by 1.77 inches) is a common practical portrait size.
The source gives no head-height measurement[1]. It describes biometric data collection during enrolment at an identification post[1].
The source describes biometric enrolment at an identification post and does not specify printed photo submission[1].
Background, Lighting, and Camera Setup
The official source does not specify a background colour or photo dimensions for this document[1]. When you take your picture at home, try to stand in front of a plain, light-coloured wall so nothing distracts from your face. Avoid patterned walls or shadows.
Good lighting makes a big difference in photo quality. Face a bright window to get soft, even light across your face, and avoid standing directly under harsh overhead lights that cast deep shadows under your nose and chin.
Ask a friend or family member to take the picture for you instead of using an outstretched arm for a selfie. Keep the camera at your exact eye level, about one to one and a half meters away from your face, to prevent any facial distortion.
Enrolment and How the Portrait Is Captured
The source says biometric data is collected during enrolment at an identification post[1].
The source does not say whether applicants need to bring printed photos. Check with the identification post about what to bring.
You can still use the tool above to rehearse your posture, check your framing, or prepare a copy for other personal uses. Never assume an outside photo will replace the official capture, but having prints ready meets practical needs.
Rules for Children and Infants
The source describes biometric data collection at enrolment and gives no separate infant photo rules[1]. Ask the identification post about arrangements for children.
When you take pictures of children at home for practice or other uses, keep them calm and seated against a plain background. Make sure their eyes are open and looking toward the camera if possible.
Bring young children to the enrolment appointment well-rested and fed. Official appointments require patience, and being prepared helps the process move without unnecessary stress.
Printing Your Photo at a Kiosk
The source does not specify that applicants submit printed photos[1]. Check with the identification post about what materials to bring.
The tool above helps you arrange your cropped 35 by 45 millimeter photo onto a standard 4 by 6-inch photo sheet. You can save this sheet to your device and take it to any local shop or kiosk that prints standard photos.
Print the sheet on ordinary glossy or matte photo paper at a 4 by 6-inch size without scaling or cropping. Once printed, use scissors or a paper cutter to cut out the individual photos along the guidelines.
Common Reasons for Refusal and How to Check
The source does not list photo refusal reasons or provide photo-quality requirements. If you take a photo for personal use, check that it is clear and well lit.
The source does not specify rules for glasses or headwear[1]. Ask the identification post if you have questions about the enrolment photo.
Ask the identification post what to expect during enrolment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the official size for a Mozambican ID photo?
The authority publishes no single official size, but 35 by 45 millimeters is the size most often asked for[1].
Who takes the official portrait for the Bilhete de Identidade?
The authority captures the portrait itself when you attend an identification post for biometric enrolment[1].
Are glasses allowed in the photo?
The official source leaves glasses unspecified[1], so it is safest to remove them.
What are the rules for infants and children?
The source describes biometric capture at enrolment and does not give separate infant photo rules[1].
Do I submit a printed or digital photo?
The cited source describes biometric enrolment at an identification post but does not specify whether applicants submit a printed photo[1].
Is a background colour specified?
No background colour or photo dimensions are specified in the official source[1].