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Laos adoption application photo requirements

The 2 × 2 in photo rules set by Embassy of the Lao PDR, Washington, DC for the Laos adoption application, with the official wording and sources.

Based on 4 official sources · last checked Official sources Page history

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Quick answer

What size is the Laos adoption application photo?

The Lao embassy in Washington lists "2 photos (2 x 2 inches)" for the adopting parent in its child adoption instruction sheet, uploaded in February 2023. The Government of Laos's 2014 decree on adoption lists photographs of 4 x 6, with no unit, three for the couple and three for the child. Neither source names a background colour or a head size.

A child adoption application to the Lao authorities is not a passport or visa photo, and its rules are set by the application papers, not by a photo standard. The Lao embassy in Washington, which handles applications from the United States and Canada, publishes an instruction sheet and an application form. The Government's decree of 12 June 2014 on adopting children says that applicants living abroad file through the Lao embassy or consulate in their country, and that foreigners file with the Ministry of Justice.

The embassy's sheet asks the adopting parent for two photos of 2 x 2 inches among a list of documents that also includes bank statements, passport copies, a police statement and a certificate from the child adoption centre. The decree's document lists are different: they ask for three photographs of 4 x 6, without saying the unit, for the husband and wife, and three more of the child.

No official page we read says whether the Lao authorities are accepting applications at present, so ask the embassy's consular office before you prepare the papers. The same embassy sheet from July 2013 also asked for two 2 x 2 inch photos, so the embassy rule has not changed in that time.

Laos adoption application photo size and specifications

The requirements as published by Embassy of the Lao PDR, Washington, DC:[1]

Print size2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm), 2 photos of the adopting parent (Washington embassy)
Digital sizeNo digital file: printed photos go with the paper application
BackgroundNot specified by the embassy sheet or the decree
Photo ageNot stated in the embassy sheet or the decree
Print qualityPrinted photos sent with the documents to the embassy consular section
Pixels when printed600 × 600 px at 300 dpi · 1200 × 1200 px at 600 dpi (calculated)
2 in2 in
2 × 2 in photo drawn to scale.

In the official words

Exact wording from the official sources, quoted because the details matter:

Instruction for Adoption Child

Consular Services[2]

Key requirements

  • Two 2 x 2 inch photos

    The Washington embassy's "Instruction for Child Adoption" lists "2 photos (2 x 2 inches)" under the documents for the adoptive parent. The same list asks for two filled-out application forms and other papers.

  • Sent to the consular section

    The sheet says all the parents' documents must be sent to the Lao embassy (consular section) accredited to the United States of America and Canada.

  • The decree lists 4 x 6 photographs

    Articles 23 and 38 of the 2014 decree list "photographs size 4x6, 3 pieces" for the husband and wife, in the list of papers for a Lao citizen and for a foreigner respectively. The decree gives no unit.

  • A photo of the child as well

    Article 24 lists photographs of 4 x 6, three of them, among the documents about the child. Article 39 says the child's documents for foreign applicants follow article 24.

  • Applying from abroad

    Article 36 says foreigners file the application and documents with the Ministry of Justice, and that an applicant living abroad files it through the Lao embassy or consulate in the applicant's country.

  • No background or head size

    Neither the embassy sheet nor the decree sets a background colour, head size or recency. The application form pages we read have no photo box.

Do's and don'ts

Do

  • Send two printed 2 x 2 inch photos with a Washington embassy application.
  • Ask the consular office whether it also wants 4 x 6 photographs from the decree.
  • Keep a spare set of prints in case the consular office asks for more.
  • Send the documents to the embassy accredited to your country.

Don't

  • Do not assume the 2013 instruction sheet is still online: its address now returns not found.
  • Do not send a digital file in place of the printed photos.
  • Do not guess the unit of the decree's 4 x 6: ask the consular office.

Sample photos

How a Laos adoption application photo should look, and the mistakes that most often get photos rejected. Each example is drawn to this document's 2 × 2 in and background colour.

Correct
Open-mouth smile
Head tilted
Too close: head too big
Too far: head too small
Busy background
Shadows on face or background
Glare on glasses

Illustrations, not real photos. The official rules above always take priority; some documents do not allow glasses at all.

Babies and children

The photo in the embassy's list belongs to the adopting parent. The decree's list of documents about the child also includes three photographs of 4 x 6, no unit given. The embassy's sheet lists no photo for the child, and the application form pages we read have no photo box for either person.

Every list we read asks for printed photographs with a paper application. None describes a digital upload or a file size. A digital photo can be cropped and resized to 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm) and printed on photo paper at a photo counter before you post it with the other documents.

Where to submit the photo

The Lao embassy in Washington says documents for an adoption go to its consular section, which is accredited to the United States and Canada. Its consular services page links the instruction sheet and the application form.

Under the 2014 decree, foreigners file the application and documents with the Ministry of Justice, and applicants living abroad file through the Lao embassy or consulate in their country. The embassy's sheet says the proposal for the child goes through the head of the village, the district and the provincial governor in Laos.

How to get your Laos adoption application photo

  1. Check the official requirements. Read the official specification for the Laos adoption application: 2 × 2 in print. Check the rules on pose, expression, glasses and headwear below.
  2. Take the photo. Follow the key requirements: two 2 x 2 inch photos; sent to the consular section; the decree lists 4 x 6 photographs; a photo of the child as well.
  3. Prepare a print or digital file. Every list we read asks for printed photographs with a paper application. None describes a digital upload or a file size.
  4. Submit the photo with your application. The Lao embassy in Washington says documents for an adoption go to its consular section, which is accredited to the United States and Canada. Its consular services page links the instruction sheet and the application form.

Make this photo online

Laos adoption application photo FAQ

The Washington embassy's instruction sheet asks for 2 photos of 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm) for the adopting parent. The government decree of 12 June 2014 lists photographs of 4 x 6 with no unit. Ask the consular office which one it applies.

The embassy sheet says 2 photos for the adopting parent. The decree lists 3 photographs of 4 x 6 for the husband and wife and 3 more for the child. The numbers differ, so confirm the count with the consular office before you print.

That file is no longer on the embassy website, and its address now returns not found. An Internet Archive copy from 2018 shows it asked for 2 photos of 2 x 2 inches. The sheet uploaded in February 2023 asks for the same.

None of the sources we read names one. Neither the embassy's instruction sheet nor the 2014 decree says anything about the background, head size or how recent the photo must be.

In the United States and Canada, the Lao embassy's consular section in Washington. The decree says foreigners file with the Ministry of Justice and applicants living abroad file through the Lao embassy or consulate in their country.

We found no digital option. The embassy sheet and the decree both list photographs with a paper application. Print the photos at the size the consular office confirms.

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Official sources

  1. Embassy of the Lao PDR, Washington, DC. Instruction for Child Adoption (PDF, uploaded February 2023) laoembassy.com. Checked 2 November 2026.
  2. Embassy of the Lao PDR, Washington, DC. Consular Services laoembassy.com. Checked 2 November 2026.
  3. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Lao PDR. Decree on adoption of children, No. 194, 12 June 2014 (Lao) mofa.gov.la. Checked 2 November 2026.
  4. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Lao PDR. Consular legal instruments mofa.gov.la. Checked 2 November 2026.

Requirements can change, so always confirm with Embassy of the Lao PDR, Washington, DC before you apply. WorldPhotoSpecs is independent and not affiliated with any government.

Cite this page

"Laos adoption application photo". WorldPhotoSpecs. Last updated 4 November 2026. https://worldphotospecs.org/laos/adoption-application-photo

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