Somalia photo specifications
Photo sizes and rules for 2 documents issued in Somalia, taken from the issuing authorities and linked to their official pages.
At a glance
Somali passports need two recent passport photos with the application, with no size or background published, and a digital photograph is captured at enrolment. The national ID card photograph is captured by NIRA at registration, so there is no size to follow. A valid National ID card has been required for passport applications since 1 September 2025.
Overview
Two federal bodies cover the documents on this page. The Immigration and Citizenship Agency issues passports, which are applied for in person at its headquarters in Mogadishu or a regional office, with embassies handling applicants abroad. NIRA, the National Identification and Registration Authority, issues the national ID card and takes the photograph itself during registration.
The two are linked: since 1 September 2025 a passport applicant must already hold a valid National ID Card. This guide covers only documents of the Federal Government of Somalia. Somaliland issues its own documents, with their own rules, and they are not covered here.
Photo specifications by document
Passports
| Document | Print size | Digital size | Background |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passport | — | — | Not published for ordinary passports |
Identity cards
| Document | Print size | Digital size | Background |
|---|---|---|---|
| ID card | — | — | Not published |
Frequently asked questions
No size is published. The Immigration and Citizenship Agency asks for two recent passport photos and does not give dimensions. A digital photograph is also captured at the biometric enrolment step.
No published rule asks you to bring one. NIRA says a photograph is captured with your fingerprints at registration, and the federal service page lists a valid passport or birth certificate and proof of payment as the documents.
The Immigration and Citizenship Agency issues passports, and NIRA issues the national ID card. Both are federal bodies, and a valid ID card is required before a passport application.
No. Somaliland issues its own documents with its own rules. This guide covers the documents of the Federal Government of Somalia only.
Nearby countries
Other countries in Eastern Africa:
- Comoros
- Djibouti
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Kenya
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Mauritius
- Mayotte
- Mozambique
- Réunion
- Rwanda
- Seychelles
- Tanzania
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Official sources
- Immigration and Citizenship Agency, Federal Government of Somalia. Immigration and Citizenship Agency - Passports immigration.gov.so. Checked 2 November 2026.
- National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA), Somalia. National ID Registration nira.gov.so. Checked 2 November 2026.
- Immigration and Citizenship Agency, Federal Government of Somalia. National ID Card Now Required for Passport Applications immigration.gov.so. Checked 2 November 2026.
Cite this page
"Somalia photo specifications". WorldPhotoSpecs. Last updated 4 November 2026. https://worldphotospecs.org/somalia