Beninese Ordinary Biometric Passport Photo Guidelines
Follow these official specifications to prepare a correct photo for your Beninese ordinary biometric passport application.
Official Size and Measurements
For passport applications at the Benin Embassy in Washington, the required color identity photo is 35×45 mm and less than six months old[1]. The cited sources do not specify a head-height measurement.
Because the exact head height is not defined, you should center your head naturally within the frame while maintaining the correct overall dimensions. You can use the tool above to crop your image to the required proportions right in your browser. Checking these measurements before you submit helps you avoid common formatting mistakes.
Background and Lighting Rules
The Embassy of Benin in Washington requires a color identity photo on a white background[1].
Set up your shot in a well-lit room, ideally facing a large window to get soft and even light on your features. Ask a friend or family member to take the picture instead of stretching your arm for a selfie, which distorts facial proportions. Keep the camera at your exact eye level and maintain a distance of about one to one and a half meters from the lens.
Glasses, Headwear, and Facial Expression
The cited passport instructions do not specify rules for glasses, headwear, expression, or whether the mouth must be closed[2][1].
Even when rules are flexible, keeping a calm, natural look with your eyes open and looking directly at the camera is always a safe approach. Make sure your hair does not cover your eyes or face so that border officials and embassy staff can easily identify you during your appointment.
Rules for Children and Infants
The passport is also issued to children in Benin[2][1]. Embassy guidance covers applications for children under ten years old, but publishes no separate infant photo measurements[1].
The Embassy guidance covers applications for children under 10 but does not give separate infant photo measurements[1]. Check the instructions for your application before taking a child’s photo.
Submission Methods and File Rules
You must supply your own photo when you apply for your passport[2][1]. In-country instructions request a printed photo, while some embassy procedures accept a digital file depending on your location[2][1]. In-person biometric enrollment also applies to the application process, meaning you must visit an office or embassy in person[2][1].
The authority does not publish specific minimum or maximum file size limits for digital uploads[2][1]. Always verify the specific submission rules of the specific office or embassy where you plan to submit your application materials.
Printing and Preparing Your Photo
You can prepare your photo at home by following simple steps to achieve proper framing and clarity. Stand about one to one and a half meters away from the camera to avoid any lens distortion on your face.
Once your image is cropped to the exact 35 by 45 millimeter dimensions, you can arrange it on a standard 4 by 6-inch template. Take this digital template to a local photo kiosk and print it out as an ordinary 4 by 6-inch photo print on glossy or matte paper. Cut out the individual photo carefully along the printed guidelines before your scheduled appointment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the official size for a Benin passport photo?
Can I submit a digital photo?
Are glasses allowed in the photo?
Do children need a special photo size?
Embassy guidance covers applications for children under ten, but publishes no separate infant photo measurements[1].