Nigeria passport photo requirements
The photo rules set by Nigeria Immigration Service for the Nigeria passport, with the official wording and sources.
Quick answer
What are the Nigeria passport photo requirements?
A Nigerian passport application takes an ICAO-compliant photo uploaded on the NIS passport portal: 600 x 800 pixels, no larger than 2 MB, in colour on a white background. The head, from the top of the hair to the chin, fills 50% to 69% of the image height. Glasses are not allowed, and head coverings only for religious reasons. The document list also asks for 2 passport-size prints endorsed by your guarantor, and you attend in person for photograph and biometric capture.
Nigerian passports are issued by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS). A fresh application starts online on the NIS passport portal: you fill in the form, upload your documents, pay and book an appointment, then attend the immigration office you chose for photograph and biometric data capture. Nigerians abroad use the international version of the portal and attend the nearest Nigerian embassy, high commission or consulate.
The photo carries more weight than in many countries. The NIS step-by-step guides tell you to upload your ICAO compliant picture, and the portal warns that the photo you upload will be printed on your passport. It offers a test upload so you can check the picture for compliance before you start the application, and it lists any ICAO compliance issues it finds. The NIS Service Level Agreement of April 2026 also names an ICAO compliant passport photograph among the requirements for a standard passport.
Printed photos are still on the document lists. The NIS passports page asks adults for 2 passport sized photographs endorsed at the back by the guarantor, and asks for 1 photograph of a minor endorsed on the reverse by the consenting parent or parents. Missions repeat this: the embassy in Washington wants two current passport-size photographs, preferably with a white background, and the High Commission in London wants two recent photographs, one endorsed by the guarantor, when a passport has been lost or damaged.
Nigeria passport photo size and specifications
The requirements as published by Nigeria Immigration Service:[1]
| Print size | No print size set by NIS: forms ask for passport-size prints; the online photo is 600 x 800 pixels |
|---|---|
| Digital size | 600 x 800 pixels; another portal note says at least 600 x 800 pixels |
| Head height | 50% to 69% of image height, from the top of the head (including hair) to the bottom of the chin |
| Eye line | 56% to 69% of image height, measured from the bottom of the image |
| Background | White; the photo guide says white or off-white, plain, with no shadows, texture, objects or lines |
| Colour | Colour, 24 bits per pixel; black and white photos are not accepted |
| Photo age | Taken within the last 6 months |
| File size | Up to 2 MB |
| File format | JPG, JPEG or PNG (the image types the upload accepts) |
| Print quality | Prints: passport size, endorsed on the back by the guarantor (adults) or a consenting parent (minors) |
In the official words
Exact wording from the official sources, quoted because the details matter:
Photo tip: Take your photo in front of a white or off-white background instead of cropping out the background.
Key requirements
- Checked against ICAO on upload
The portal tests your photo against ICAO rules and reports any compliance issues. NIS also offers a separate test photo upload, so you can check your passport photo before you proceed to the application itself. A photo that passes is marked as valid as per the ICAO compliances.
- Head and eye position
Measured from the top of the head, including the hair, to the bottom of the chin, the head must take up 50% to 69% of the image height. The eyes should sit between 56% and 69% of the height, counted up from the bottom edge. The head is centred in the frame and not tilted up, down or sideways.
- Plain white background
The upload note says the photo must have a white background. The photo guide accepts white or off-white, plain and without texture, objects, lines or shadows. It shows a picture whose background was cut out with a retouching tool as unacceptable and asks you to photograph yourself in front of a white or off-white background instead.
- Neutral face, mouth closed
Face the camera with both eyes open and your mouth closed. NIS says smiling or frowning is not allowed because it can alter facial features. The image must show the full face, neck and shoulders, with no other people or objects.
- No glasses, headphones or masks
Eyeglasses are no longer allowed in a Nigerian passport photo, even if you wear them every day. The upload note also rules out apparel such as headphones and masks, and hair should not cover your face or ears.
- Even light, light compression
The lighting should be neither too dark nor too bright, with no harsh shadows or reflections on the face. The file must not be overly compressed: NIS sets a compression ratio of 20:1 or less, and fine facial features should be discernible without visible pixels.
- ICAO exception
If your facial appearance means you cannot upload a compliant photograph, the portal has an ICAO Exception option. Choosing it means you will be required to upload a medical certificate.
Do's and don'ts
Do
- Run the portal's test photo upload before starting the application.
- Stand in front of a plain white or off-white wall in even light.
- Keep the head between 50% and 69% of the image height.
- Show your full face, neck and shoulders.
- Have your guarantor endorse the back of the printed photos.
- Add one passport-size photo of the guarantor, which the NIS adult lists also ask for.
- Take your current passport booklet to a renewal appointment.
Don't
- Do not wear glasses, even if you wear them every day.
- Do not smile, frown or open your mouth.
- Do not cut out or replace the background with editing software.
- Do not wear headphones, a mask or a fashion hat.
- Do not upload a file larger than 2 MB.
- Do not let another person or an object appear in the frame.
Glasses
NIS is direct about this: eyeglasses are no longer allowed in passport photos, and the photo guide adds that even when glasses are worn every day, you must remove them for the photo. Sunglasses and any other item that hides part of the face are also ruled out.
If an eye condition or another medical reason stops you from meeting the photo rules, use the ICAO Exception option on the portal, which asks you to upload a medical certificate.
Headwear and religious dress
Hats and head coverings are allowed only when worn for religious reasons, and only if they do not obscure any facial feature. A photo tip elsewhere in the NIS guide also mentions medical purposes. Fashion hats, headphones and masks are not accepted, and your hair must leave the face and both ears uncovered.
Babies and children
Every child needs their own passport. For the upload, NIS notes that ICAO guidelines are relaxed for children under 5: they must look toward the camera with the face centred, and it is acceptable if an infant's eyes are not entirely open. No other person may appear in the photo, so a parent's hands must stay out of the frame.
On paper, a minor's application takes one passport-size photograph endorsed on the reverse by the consenting parent or parents. The Washington embassy asks for two current photographs of the child, preferably with a white background. The High Commission in Ottawa notes that children are only eligible for 5-year passports.
Printed and digital photos
The digital file is the photo that counts most. The portal says the photo you upload will be printed on your passport, and the upload must be 600 x 800 pixels and no more than 2 MB. Printed photos are supporting documents for your file, endorsed by your guarantor or, for a minor, a parent. NIS gives no millimetre size for them; it simply calls them passport sized.
At the appointment the immigration office or mission also captures your photograph and biometrics. Under the contactless renewal service for Nigerians abroad, the NIS mobile app captures your face and fingerprints on your own device, and the renewed passport is returned by post. A digital photo can be cropped and resized to 600 x 800 pixels, or printed on a 4x6 inch sheet at a photo counter.
Where to submit the photo
In Nigeria, apply on the NIS passport portal and attend the immigration office you choose for photograph and biometric capture. Abroad, apply through the international portal and attend the nearest Nigerian embassy, high commission or consulate; Washington requires every applicant to be present on the date booked on the embassy website.
Contactless renewal through the NIS mobile app is limited. NIS lists it for Nigerians in the diaspora, who then post the payment receipt and current passport to the nearest embassy in a self-addressed envelope. London says it is not open to applicants under 18 or to first-time applicants, and Ottawa asks for applicants aged 18 or over whose passport expires within 6 months.
How to get your Nigeria passport photo
- Check the official requirements. Read the official specification for the Nigeria passport: 600 × 800 px digital file, white background. Check the rules on pose, expression, glasses and headwear below.
- Take the photo. Follow the key requirements: checked against ICAO on upload; head and eye position; plain white background; neutral face, mouth closed.
- Prepare a print or digital file. The digital file is the photo that counts most. The portal says the photo you upload will be printed on your passport, and the upload must be 600 x 800 pixels and no more than 2 MB.
- Submit the photo with your application. In Nigeria, apply on the NIS passport portal and attend the immigration office you choose for photograph and biometric capture.
Nigeria passport photo FAQ
The NIS passport portal takes a digital photo of 600 x 800 pixels, no larger than 2 MB, and says the uploaded photo will be printed on your passport. For the printed photos on the document list NIS only says passport sized and gives no millimetre measurement. Missions such as Washington ask for two current prints, preferably with a white background.
Between 50% and 69% of the image height, measured from the top of the head, including the hair, to the bottom of the chin. Your eyes should be between 56% and 69% of the height, counted from the bottom edge. Keep the head centred and straight.
No. The NIS photo guide says eyeglasses are no longer allowed in passport photos and that you must remove them even if you wear them every day. Sunglasses and anything else that covers part of the face are also refused.
No. NIS asks for a neutral expression with both eyes open and the mouth closed, and says smiling or frowning is not allowed because it can alter facial features.
For an adult, the guarantor endorses the back of the passport photographs listed on the NIS passports page. For a minor, the consenting parent or parents endorse the reverse of the child's photograph. In London, one of the two photos for a lost or damaged passport must carry the guarantor's endorsement.
Yes. The passport portal has a test photo upload that checks your passport size photo for compliance before you proceed to the application, and it lists any ICAO compliance issues it finds, so you can replace a failing photo first.
Some adults abroad can. NIS lists contactless biometric renewal for Nigerians in the diaspora: you apply through the NIS mobile app, which captures your face and fingerprints, and post the receipt and your current passport to the nearest embassy. London says the service is not open to under-18s or first-time applicants.
Select ICAO Exception on the portal. NIS says it applies where there is a reason you cannot upload your photograph because of your facial appearance, and you will then be asked to upload a medical certificate.
Related photo specifications
Other Nigeria documents
- Visa photo 600 × 600 px
- ECOWAS photo
Passports nearby
- Benin passport photo 35 × 45 mm
- Burkina Faso passport photo 35 × 45 mm
- Côte d'Ivoire assport photo 40 × 40 mm
- Ghana passport photo 140 × 170 px
- Liberia passport photo
- Mali passport photo 35 × 45 mm
- Mauritania passport photo
- Niger passport photo
- Saint Helena passport photo 35 × 45 mm
- Sierra Leone passport photo
Official sources
- Nigeria Immigration Service. Passports immigration.gov.ng. Checked 3 November 2026.
- Nigeria Immigration Service. How to apply for a standard passport immigration.gov.ng. Checked 3 November 2026.
- Nigeria Immigration Service. Renewal of passport immigration.gov.ng. Checked 3 November 2026.
- Nigeria Immigration Service. Service Level Agreement 2026 immigration.gov.ng. Checked 3 November 2026.
- Nigeria Immigration Service. Passport application portal: photo upload and photo guidelines passport.immigration.gov.ng. Checked 3 November 2026.
- Embassy of Nigeria, Washington DC. Passport nigeriaembassyusa.org. Checked 3 November 2026.
- Embassy of Nigeria, Washington DC. NIS to launch a new online contactless biometric capture system nigeriaembassyusa.org. Checked 3 November 2026.
- Nigeria High Commission, London. Requirements for e-passport nigeriahc.org.uk. Checked 3 November 2026.
- High Commission of Nigeria, Ottawa. Passport services nigeriahcottawa.ca. Checked 3 November 2026.
Requirements can change, so always confirm with Nigeria Immigration Service before you apply. WorldPhotoSpecs is independent and not affiliated with any government.
Cite this page
"Nigeria passport photo". WorldPhotoSpecs. Last updated 4 November 2026. https://worldphotospecs.org/nigeria/passport-photo