Zambia passport photo requirements
The 38 × 51 mm photo rules set by Government of the Republic of Zambia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Home Affairs (published by the Embassy in Stockholm) for the Zambia passport, with the official wording and sources.
Quick answer
What size is the Zambia passport photo?
A Zambian passport application needs two recent photos printed on normal photographic paper with a white background. Form A, for applicants aged 16 and over, accepts prints from 38 x 51 mm (1.5 x 2 in) up to 51 x 64 mm, while the barcoded application form has a 35 x 45 mm photo box. Show your full face and both ears, with no braids, headgear or adornment. Your recommender endorses the back of one photo.
Zambian passports are issued by the Department of National Registration, Passport and Citizenship (DNRPC) under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The Passports Act No. 28 of 2016 gives the Chief Passports and Citizenship Officer the power to issue passports, diplomatic passports and travel documents. An ordinary passport is valid for ten years, or five years for a child under 16.
You apply in person, at a passport office in Zambia or at the Zambian mission that covers your country of residence. Missions receive applications for renewal and replacement but are not mandated to issue passports; the mission to the United Nations in New York says passports applied for through a mission are issued in Lusaka. The embassy in Washington posts out an application package on request and then holds an in-person consular interview.
The photo rules come from the application forms and from the government's 2021 guidelines for Zambians in the diaspora. They agree on two recent prints, a white background and a plain, full-face pose, but the forms print different sizes, as explained below.
Zambia passport photo size and specifications
The requirements as published by Government of the Republic of Zambia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Home Affairs (published by the Embassy in Stockholm):[1]
| Print size | Form A: 38 x 51 mm (1.5 x 2 in) to 51 x 64 mm; barcoded form photo box: 35 x 45 mm; Form B (under 16): 40 x 50 to 50 x 60 mm |
|---|---|
| Digital size | No pixel size published; missions take two printed photos with the paper forms |
| Background | White |
| Photo age | Recent; no age limit in months is published |
| Print quality | Normal photographic paper, not glazed on the back and not mounted; paste, do not staple, on the barcoded form |
| Pixels when printed | 449 × 602 px at 300 dpi · 898 × 1205 px at 600 dpi (calculated) |
In the official words
Exact wording from the official sources, quoted because the details matter:
not be more than 64mm by 51mm or less than 51mm by 38mm
Paste Photograph (35 x 45mm)
Key requirements
- Two recent prints
The diaspora guidelines list two passport-size photographs for adults, alongside Form A, the Affidavit of Birth (Form N) and the barcoded application form. Form A itself asks for two copies of a recent photograph, and every photo lodged becomes the property of the Government of the Republic of Zambia.
- Which size to print
Form A says the photo must be no more than 64 mm by 51 mm and no less than 51 mm by 38 mm. Written width first, that runs from 1.5 x 2 inches to 2 x 2.5 inches. The barcoded form marks its photo box as 35 x 45 mm, and no official page explains how the two sizes fit together.
- Full face, both ears visible
The guidelines say the photo must show the applicant's full face and both ears, without any braids, headgear or adornment. Form A adds that the photo is taken full face without a hat.
- White background, photographic paper
Form A asks for photos printed on normal photographic paper with a white background, not glazed on the reverse side and not mounted. The Zambian mission to the UN in New York also says passport photos should be taken on a white background.
- Recommender endorses one photo
The recommender signs the back of one copy with the words "I certify that this is a true likeness of the applicant", adding a signature and official stamp. For applications made abroad, the guidelines say the recommender should be a designated official at the nearest Zambian mission.
- Paste, do not staple
The barcoded application form has a box marked "Paste Photograph (35 x 45mm)" with DO NOT STAPLE printed beside it. Its official-use strip runs from reception through photo capturing and data capturing to printing.
- Lodge it yourself
The guidelines say applications must be submitted in person by the applicant, at a passport office or at the Zambian mission covering your country of residence, and that third-party submissions will not be considered. If there is no resident mission where you live, contact the nearest one.
Do's and don'ts
Do
- Bring two recent prints on photographic paper.
- Use a plain white background.
- Face the camera full on with both ears visible.
- Have your recommender endorse the back of one photo.
- Paste the photo into the box on the barcoded form.
- Apply in person at a passport office or your nearest Zambian mission.
Don't
- Do not wear a hat, headgear or any adornment.
- Do not wear braids, a veil, hair extensions or hair bands.
- Do not wear earrings or a necklace.
- Do not staple the photo to the barcoded form.
- Do not mount the photo or use paper that is glazed on the back.
- Do not send someone else to lodge the application for you.
Sample photos
How a Zambia passport photo should look, and the mistakes that most often get photos rejected. Each example is drawn to this document's 38 × 51 mm and background colour.
Illustrations, not real photos. The official rules above always take priority; some documents do not allow glasses at all.
Headwear and religious dress
Headwear is not allowed. Form A says the photo is taken full face without a hat, and the government's diaspora guidelines rule out braids, headgear and adornment for adults and for children under 16. The official sources read for this page mention no religious or medical exception.
The UN mission in New York gives a longer list of things that must not appear: braids, a veil, hair extensions, hair bands, earrings or necklaces. Keep both ears clear, because the guidelines require them to be visible.
Babies and children
Applicants under 16 use Form B, the Affidavit or Affirmation of Birth (Form M) and the barcoded form, and a parent or legal guardian completes all of them. The guidelines also list a certified birth certificate or affidavit of birth, a certified copy of the parent's or guardian's NRC, a sworn affidavit of consent, and two passport-size photographs with the same full-face, both-ears, no-braids rule as for adults.
Form B carries its own photo note. The two copies must be taken full face without a hat, showing head and shoulders, must not be mounted, and must be no larger than 6 x 5 cm and no smaller than 5 x 4 cm. They are printed on normal thin photographic paper that is not glazed, and the witness on the form endorses the back of one copy. A passport for a child under 16 is valid for five years.
Printed and digital photos
The Zambian sources read for this page describe a paper application. Missions take two printed photos with the forms, and no pixel size, file format or upload rule is published for passport photos.
The barcoded application form also lists a live photograph among the services an applicant can tick, and its official-use strip includes a photo-capturing step, so passport staff can take a picture themselves. The same form still has a 35 x 45 mm box for a pasted print, and the guidelines still ask for two prints, so bring them with you.
If you take the photo yourself, crop it to the size you need on a white background and have it printed on photographic paper, for example on a 4x6 inch sheet at a photo counter.
Where to submit the photo
In Zambia, Form A tells applicants to come in person at passport offices. The 2019 procedure published by the embassy in Stockholm names Lusaka, Ndola and Livingstone as the centres where Zambian passports are issued.
Abroad, apply at the Zambian mission that covers your country. The guidelines say supporting documents should be certified by a designated official at the nearest mission, and that the recommender (Form A) or witness (Form B) should also be a designated official there. In Washington, you request the forms by email or post and bring the completed package, with the fee, to an in-person consular interview.
If you must travel urgently, a mission can issue a one-way Travel Document of Identity (TDI) so that you can return directly to Zambia, where you then apply for a passport. The guidelines say its requirements are the same as for a passport except for the barcoded form, so photos are still needed.
How to get your Zambia passport photo
- Check the official requirements. Read the official specification for the Zambia passport: 38 × 51 mm print, white background. Check the rules on pose, expression, glasses and headwear below.
- Take the photo. Follow the key requirements: two recent prints; which size to print; full face, both ears visible; white background, photographic paper.
- Prepare a print or digital file. The Zambian sources read for this page describe a paper application. Missions take two printed photos with the forms, and no pixel size, file format or upload rule is published for passport photos.
- Submit the photo with your application. In Zambia, Form A tells applicants to come in person at passport offices. The 2019 procedure published by the embassy in Stockholm names Lusaka, Ndola and Livingstone as the centres where Zambian passports are issued.
Zambia passport photo FAQ
Form A, for applicants aged 16 and over, accepts prints from 38 x 51 mm (1.5 x 2 in) up to 51 x 64 mm. The barcoded application form marks its photo box as 35 x 45 mm, and Form B for children allows 40 x 50 mm to 50 x 60 mm. No head size or pixel size is published.
White. Form A asks for photos printed on photographic paper with a white background, and the Zambian mission to the UN in New York says passport photos should be taken on a white background.
No. The diaspora guidelines say the photo must show your full face and both ears without braids, headgear or adornment. The UN mission in New York adds veils, hair extensions, hair bands, earrings and necklaces to the list.
None of the official Zambian sources read for this page mention glasses. They do require a full-face photo with both ears visible and no adornment, so nothing you wear should hide your face or your ears.
Two. Form A asks for two copies of a recent photograph, and the diaspora guidelines list two passport-size photographs both for adults and for children under 16. The recommender endorses the back of one of them.
On Form A, the recommender must be a minister of religion, a medical or legal practitioner, an established senior civil servant, a senior bank official or a Zambian of similar standing who has known you for at least two years. Family members are not accepted. Abroad, the guidelines say the recommender should be a designated official at the nearest Zambian mission.
No. The 2021 diaspora guidelines say applications must be submitted in person by the applicant at a passport office or a Zambian mission, and that third-party submissions will not be considered. The UN mission in New York and the embassy in Washington also require you to appear in person.
The same as a passport. The guidelines say the requirements for a Travel Document of Identity match those for a passport, except that the barcoded form is not needed. Missions issue it for one-way travel directly to Zambia.
No. The guidelines say missions are mandated to receive applications for renewal and replacement but not to issue passports, and the UN mission in New York says passports applied for through a mission are issued in Lusaka.
Related photo specifications
Other Zambia documents
- Visa photo 2 × 2 in
Passports nearby
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- Djibouti passport photo 35 × 45 mm
- Eritrea passport photo 35 × 45 mm
- Ethiopia passport photo 30 × 40 mm
- Kenya passport photo 2 × 2 in
- Malawi passport photo 35 × 45 mm
- Mauritius passport photo 35 × 45 mm
- Mayotte passport photo 35 × 45 mm
- Mozambique passport photo
- Réunion assport photo 35 × 45 mm
Also 38 × 51 mm
- Tuvalu passport photo 38 × 51 mm
- All Zambia photo specifications
- Passports: photo rules by country
- Every document that uses a 38 × 51 mm photo
- Photo specifications in Africa
Official sources
- Government of the Republic of Zambia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Home Affairs (published by the Embassy in Stockholm). Guidelines and Procedures for the Acquisition of National Documents by Zambians in the Diaspora (2021) zambiaembassy.se. Checked 2 November 2026.
- National Assembly of Zambia. The Passport Act No. 28 of 2016 parliament.gov.zm. Checked 2 November 2026.
- Permanent Mission of the Republic of Zambia to the United Nations, New York. Applying for a Zambian Passport zambiaun.org. Checked 2 November 2026.
- Embassy of the Republic of Zambia, Washington DC. Passport Application zambiaembassy.org. Checked 2 November 2026.
- Embassy of the Republic of Zambia, Stockholm. Procedure for Applying for Zambian Passport and Travel Document of Identity zambiaembassy.se. Checked 2 November 2026.
Requirements can change, so always confirm with Government of the Republic of Zambia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Home Affairs (published by the Embassy in Stockholm) before you apply. WorldPhotoSpecs is independent and not affiliated with any government.
Cite this page
"Zambia passport photo". WorldPhotoSpecs. Last updated 4 November 2026. https://worldphotospecs.org/zambia/passport-photo