Brazil Passport Photo Rules
For Brazilian passport applications handled at a consulate or embassy abroad, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MRE) publishes a specific photo checklist: a 2 x 2 inch colour photograph, taken full-face against a plain white background, within the last 6 months. This guide sets out that specification in full, including the rules on pose and expression, glasses, religious head coverings and photographs of young children. This page covers the consular (overseas) specification. Verified against the official MRE consular page, 2026-09-30.
The requirements at a glance
| Size | 2 x 2 inches, taken full-face |
| Background | Plain white |
| Age of photo | Taken within the last 6 months |
| Format | Colour, full-face, face and shoulders fully visible and centred |
| Lighting | No shadows, reflections or glare anywhere in the photograph |
| Expression | Neutral, no smiling or frowning; both eyes open and clearly visible |
| Clothing | Avoid white clothing, which may blend into the background |
| Head length / pixel size | Not published on the consular specification page |
Which specification this is
Brazilian passport services are delivered through two different channels, and the photo rules that apply depend on which one receives your application. The checklist on this page comes from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ministério das Relações Exteriores, MRE) and is the specification used by its consulates and embassies for applications made outside Brazil. That is the scope of this page: the consular, overseas requirement.
Applications made inside Brazil are handled through a different channel. The federal portal for that process does not publish a photo size on the page we checked — the content there covers the application procedure rather than a dimensional photo specification. Treat the value as not published rather than assuming the 2 x 2 inch figure carries over. If you are applying inside Brazil, confirm the current requirement with the office that will receive your documents before you have photographs taken. If you are applying at a consulate, the checklist below is the one to follow.
Size, background and framing
The photograph must measure 2 x 2 inches and be taken full-face against a plain white background. It must be in colour and must have been taken within the last 6 months. The applicant's face and shoulders must be fully visible and centred in the frame, with the applicant looking directly at the camera. Nothing should crop the top of the head, the chin, or the shoulders, and the white background should be free of props, patterns, doorways or other people.
The specification does not state a head-length measurement or a pixel dimension, so there is no published ratio of head to frame and no published digital-file size for this consular checklist. Where a page or tool quotes a head length or a pixel count for Brazil, treat that as guidance rather than as text taken from the official consular specification. What is published is the overall print size, the background, the age of the photo and the pose. For the numeric reference in table form, see our Brazil passport photo size page.
Lighting and image quality
No shadows, reflections or glare are permitted anywhere in the photograph. In practice that means even, diffuse lighting on the face and on the background, no bright hotspots from a flash or a window, no reflected light from glasses or jewellery, and no dark shadow under the chin or behind the head. A plain wall lit evenly from two sides is a better setup than a single lamp, which usually leaves one half of the face darker and can throw a hard shadow onto the background.
The photograph must not be blurry, grainy or distorted, and the image should be sharp enough that both eyes, the outline of the face and the shoulders are clear. Because the background must be plain white with no colour cast, check the white balance before you shoot rather than trying to correct a yellow or blue tint afterwards. For help getting this right at home, see the backgrounds guide.
Pose and expression
You must look directly at the camera with your head straight and level — no turning to one side and no tilting. The official guidance calls for a neutral facial expression, with no smiling or frowning. Both eyes must be open and clearly visible. Hair should be arranged so that it does not fall across the eyes, and the face should be unobstructed so that the facial features are recognisable.
Avoid white clothing. The MRE specification states this expressly, because a white top can blend into the white background and leave the shoulders looking undefined. A dark or mid-tone shirt against the white background gives a clean, unambiguous outline of the face and shoulders. This is one of the requirements most often overlooked, because the applicant is focused on the face and not on the shirt.
Glasses
If you wear glasses, the lenses must not reflect light or flash. Sunglasses are not permitted under any circumstances, and neither are glasses with thick or highly noticeable frames. The official wording rules out heavy frames outright rather than merely discouraging them, so if your everyday pair has a wide or prominent frame, it is safer to remove the glasses or use a lighter pair for the photograph. If you can remove your glasses without affecting how you are identified, that avoids the reflection problem entirely. For the general background on this requirement, see the glasses guide.
Head coverings and children
Hats and head coverings are not allowed, with one exception: a covering worn for religious reasons is permitted, provided it does not obscure any part of the face. The full face must remain visible, so a covering that hides the hairline is different from one that covers the eyes, nose, mouth or chin. For our general notes on this topic, see the head coverings guide.
Photographs of young children must show the child with the most neutral expression possible, and only the child's face and shoulders should appear in the image, fully framed. Toys, hands or other objects must not be visible — that includes a parent's supporting hand, a favourite toy held up to get the child's attention, and the back or arm of the chair the child is sitting on. A child held in an adult's arms will usually fail for exactly this reason, so lay the child on a plain white surface or use a supporting hand that stays completely out of frame.
Common mistakes
- Wearing a white or very light top, which blends into the white background.
- Smiling, frowning, or otherwise not holding a neutral expression.
- Eyes not clearly visible — closed, half-closed, squinting, or hidden behind hair.
- Glasses with glare on the lenses, or with thick, highly noticeable frames.
- A hat or head covering worn for non-religious reasons, or a religious covering that hides part of the face.
- Shadow, reflection or glare anywhere in the frame — commonly a hard shadow on the background or a hotspot from a flash.
- A child's photo showing a toy, a hand or an object, or not framed on the face and shoulders alone.
- A photo older than 6 months, or one that is not in colour.
- A frame that does not show the face and shoulders fully visible and centred.
Once your photograph meets the checklist above, the next step is usually the application itself. Our Brazil visa photo page covers the photo tool and the visa-side requirements, and the guides index lists the rest of our country and document photo guides.
Source: Ministério das Relações Exteriores (MRE) — "Passport photo – specifications", consular services page for the Consulate-General in Chicago, retrieved 2026-09-30 (page updated 2026-06-29). This is the consular (overseas) specification; the page is a Brazilian government page published in English. Requirements can change, so confirm them on the official page before you apply.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a Brazil passport photo?
The MRE consular specification requires a photograph measuring 2 x 2 inches (roughly 5 x 5 cm), taken full-face. The official page does not state a head-length measurement or a pixel size, so those values are not published.
What background does Brazil require?
A plain white background. No shadows, reflections or glare are permitted anywhere in the photograph, and you should avoid wearing white clothing because it can blend into the background.
How old can the photo be?
The photograph must have been taken within the last 6 months.
What expression should I have?
A neutral facial expression, with no smiling or frowning. Both eyes must be open and clearly visible, and you must look directly at the camera.
Can I wear glasses in the photo?
Yes, but the lenses must not reflect light or flash. Sunglasses, and glasses with thick or highly noticeable frames, are not permitted under any circumstances.
Can I wear a hat or head covering?
Hats and head coverings are not allowed, except those worn for religious reasons, provided the covering does not obscure any part of the face.
How should a child be photographed?
Photographs of young children must show the child with the most neutral expression possible. Only the child's face and shoulders should appear in the image, fully framed, and toys, hands or other objects must not be visible.
Does this apply if I am applying inside Brazil?
No. The 2 x 2 inch specification is published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for consular processing abroad. The page checked for the body handling applications inside Brazil does not publish a photo size, so confirm the current requirement with the office receiving your application.