Bosnia and Herzegovina visa photo requirements
The 35 × 45 mm photo rules set by Služba za poslove sa strancima (Service for Foreigners' Affairs) for the Bosnia and Herzegovina visa, with the official wording and sources.
Quick answer
What size is the Bosnia and Herzegovina visa photo?
A Bosnia and Herzegovina visa application needs one colour photo of 35 x 45 mm that shows you faithfully. The official rulebook asks for a frontal view with a neutral expression, open eyes and closed mouth, a centred head of about two thirds of the photo and no more than 36 mm, and a plain light background without patterns. The print goes on high-quality glossy, smooth paper.
Bosnia and Herzegovina visas are issued by the country's diplomatic and consular missions, which work under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MVP). The Service for Foreigners' Affairs (SPS) publishes the visa application form, the invitation letter forms and the governing regulations, and states that a visa is issued by a diplomatic-consular mission and must be obtained before you reach the border. Visa categories are airport transit (A), short stay (C) and long stay (D).
The photo rules for A and C visas sit in a 2013 rulebook (Official Gazette of BiH 69/13), which the SPS still lists among the rules governing entry and visas. MVP's own pages ask for the same colour 35 x 45 mm photo for C and D visas. The rulebook also obliges applicants to give biometric data, listed as photograph, fingerprints and signature, "when the conditions are created for it", but the standard requirement remains a printed photo handed in with the form. MVP's pages say you submit the documents personally; they describe no online application.
Bosnia and Herzegovina visa photo size and specifications
The requirements as published by Služba za poslove sa strancima (Service for Foreigners' Affairs):[1]
| Print size | 35 x 45 mm (1.38 x 1.77 in), one colour photo that shows the holder faithfully |
|---|---|
| Digital size | No digital file: one printed photo is submitted with the visa application form |
| Head height | About 2/3 of the photo height, 30 to 36 mm (36 mm maximum), chin to top of head, centred |
| Background | Single-coloured light background, no patterns, enough contrast with face and hair |
| Colour | Colour photo |
| Photo age | Must show the holder faithfully; no maximum age is published |
| Print quality | High-quality glossy, smooth paper without surface texture, high print quality |
| Pixels when printed | 413 × 531 px at 300 dpi · 827 × 1063 px at 600 dpi (calculated) |
Key requirements
- One colour photo, 35 x 45 mm
The rulebook asks for one colour photograph of 35x45 mm that faithfully shows the holder of the travel document. MVP's pages for C and D visas list "Color photo size 35 x 45 mm".
- Frontal, neutral, mouth closed
The person must be shown from the front with a neutral expression, open eyes and a closed mouth.
- Head about two thirds, at most 36 mm
Measured from chin to top of head, the head must fill about two thirds of the photograph but may not be higher than 36 mm. It must be centred in the middle of the photo.
- Plain light background
The background must be of one light colour, without patterns, and contrast sufficiently with the face and hair.
- Glossy, smooth paper
The photograph must be made on high-quality glossy and smooth paper without surface structure, with high print quality.
- Religious or medical head covering
A head covering worn for religious or medical reasons is accepted, but the cheeks, chin and forehead must be visible.
- Children alone in the picture
A child must be photographed alone, with the face fully visible and the eyes open.
- Exception for urgent travel
People who travel urgently for justified reasons may attach a photo that does not meet the head-size and paper rules. The size and other rules still apply.
Do's and don'ts
Do
- Bring one colour photo of 35 x 45 mm
- Face the camera with a neutral expression, eyes open and mouth closed
- Centre the head, filling about two thirds of the photo and no more than 36 mm
- Use a plain light background without patterns
- Print on high-quality glossy, smooth paper
- Show cheeks, chin and forehead if you cover your head for religious or medical reasons
- Photograph a child alone with the whole face visible
Don't
- Do not smile or open your mouth
- Do not use matte or textured photo paper
- Do not use a patterned or non-light background
- Do not wear dark glasses, which are allowed only for blind people
- Do not include anyone else in a child's photo
- Do not use a photo that no longer shows how you look
Sample photos
How a Bosnia and Herzegovina visa photo should look, and the mistakes that most often get photos rejected. Each example is drawn to this document's 35 × 45 mm, head height and background colour.
Illustrations, not real photos. The official rules above always take priority; some documents do not allow glasses at all.
Glasses
The rulebook has no general rule on glasses. It requires open eyes and makes one exception: blind people who wear dark glasses may attach photos taken with them. It does not mention ordinary glasses, so ask the mission handling your application if you normally wear them.
Headwear and religious dress
People who wear a head covering for religious or medical reasons may keep it on, as long as the cheeks, chin and forehead are visible. The rulebook does not mention hats or caps worn for other reasons.
Babies and children
A child must be alone in the photo, with the face fully visible and the eyes open. For minors and legally incompetent persons, the application is submitted by a legal representative or guardian, with a birth certificate or the decision on adoption or guardianship. A minor travelling without a representative needs a certified consent attached to the application.
Printed and digital photos
There is no digital upload: the photo is a print, attached to the application form, which is submitted in person. Size is 35 x 45 mm (1.38 x 1.77 inches).
A digital photo can be cropped to that size and printed at a photo lab, where you should ask for glossy photo paper, since the rulebook calls for high-quality glossy, smooth paper without surface texture. Applicants travelling urgently for justified reasons may submit a photo that does not meet the head-size and paper rules.
Where to submit the photo
Apply at a diplomatic or consular mission of Bosnia and Herzegovina. For a C visa, MVP says applications are submitted personally, at the earliest 90 days and at the latest seven days before the trip. For a D visa, in person, at the earliest three months and at the latest one month before the trip. Documents other than the passport should not be older than three months.
SPS says a visa can exceptionally be issued at the border: an A visa for one day or a C visa for a single entry of up to 15 days. Its pages give no photo rules for that route. Whether you need a visa at all depends on your nationality, and MVP's visa page lets you pick a country.
How to get your Bosnia and Herzegovina visa photo
- Check the official requirements. Read the official specification for the Bosnia and Herzegovina visa: 35 × 45 mm print, single-coloured light background. Check the rules on pose, expression, glasses and headwear below.
- Take the photo. Follow the key requirements: one colour photo, 35 x 45 mm; frontal, neutral, mouth closed; head about two thirds, at most 36 mm; plain light background.
- Prepare a print or digital file. There is no digital upload: the photo is a print, attached to the application form, which is submitted in person. Size is 35 x 45 mm (1.38 x 1.77 inches).
- Submit the photo with your application. Apply at a diplomatic or consular mission of Bosnia and Herzegovina. For a C visa, MVP says applications are submitted personally, at the earliest 90 days and at the latest seven days before the trip.
Bosnia and Herzegovina visa photo FAQ
One colour photograph of 35 x 45 mm (1.38 x 1.77 in) that faithfully shows the holder of the passport. The 2013 rulebook sets this for A and C visas, and MVP's pages list the same size for C and D visas.
A background of one light colour, without patterns, with enough contrast against your face and hair. The rulebook does not name white specifically, so plain white or another light single colour meets it.
Measured from chin to top of head, about two thirds of the photograph, which is roughly 30 mm on a 45 mm photo, but never higher than 36 mm. The head must be centred in the middle of the photo.
The rulebook says the eyes must be open and only mentions dark glasses for blind people. It sets no rule on ordinary glasses, so check with the mission that will handle your application.
Yes. The rulebook asks for a photograph on high-quality glossy, smooth paper without surface structure, with high print quality. Only people who travel urgently for justified reasons may submit a photo that does not meet this paper rule.
MVP's visa pages say applicants submit the documents personally to the mission, and they describe no online route. Check your local mission, since the rulebook lets honorary consuls take applications without the applicant being present in exceptional cases.
Yes, each applicant attaches a 35 x 45 mm photo. A child must be alone in the picture, with the face fully visible and the eyes open. A legal representative or guardian files the application for a minor.
Related photo specifications
Visas and travel authorisations nearby
- Albania eVisa photo 36 × 47 mm
- Albania visa photo 36 × 47 mm
- Croatia visa photo 35 × 45 mm
- Cyprus visa photo 35 × 45 mm
- Italy visa photo 35 × 45 mm
- Portugal visa photo 35 × 45 mm
- Serbia visa photo 35 × 45 mm
- Spain visa photo 35 × 45 mm
Also 35 × 45 mm
- Afghanistan visa photo 35 × 45 mm
- Algeria passport photo 35 × 45 mm
- Algeria visa photo 35 × 45 mm
- Algeria ID card photo 35 × 45 mm
- Algeria residence permit photo 35 × 45 mm
- Algeria work permit photo 35 × 45 mm
- Andorra passport photo 35 × 45 mm
- Anguilla passport photo 35 × 45 mm
- Antigua and Barbuda passport photo 35 × 45 mm
- Armenia visa photo 35 × 45 mm
- All Bosnia and Herzegovina photo specifications
- Visas and travel authorisations: photo rules by country
- Every document that uses a 35 × 45 mm photo
- Photo specifications in Europe
Official sources
- Služba za poslove sa strancima (Service for Foreigners' Affairs). Pravilnik o izdavanju kratkoročne vize (viza C) i aerodromske tranzitne vize (viza A) u diplomatsko-konzularnim predstavništvima BiH, Službeni glasnik BiH 69/13 sps.gov.ba. Checked 2 November 2026.
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Visa C (Short-stay visa) mvp.gov.ba. Checked 2 November 2026.
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Embassy in Warsaw). Visa D (Long-stay visa) varsava.mvp.gov.ba. Checked 2 November 2026.
- Služba za poslove sa strancima (Service for Foreigners' Affairs). Ulazak stranaca u BiH (entry of foreigners, visas) sps.gov.ba. Checked 2 November 2026.
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Vize (visas) mvp.gov.ba. Checked 2 November 2026.
Requirements can change, so always confirm with Služba za poslove sa strancima (Service for Foreigners' Affairs) before you apply. WorldPhotoSpecs is independent and not affiliated with any government.
Cite this page
"Bosnia and Herzegovina visa photo". WorldPhotoSpecs. Last updated 4 November 2026. https://worldphotospecs.org/bosnia-and-herzegovina/visa-photo