Angola Passport Photo
Angola asks for a recent, colour, passport-style photo of 4 x 5 cm — a size that is not the 35 x 45 mm used by many other countries. This page sets out what the official requirements state, and what they leave unstated. Based on the Angolan Migration and Foreigners Service (SME) requirements page.
The official specification
Angola’s Migration and Foreigners Service (SME) lists the photo requirement for a passport among the documents needed. The official line, repeated for both the ordinary and the service passport, is:
Uma fotografia tipo passe recente e colorida, dimensão 4x5cm
In English: a recent, colour passport-style photo, size 4 x 5 cm.
| Size | 4 cm × 5 cm (40 × 50 mm) |
| Colour | Colour |
| Recency | A recent photo (recente) |
| Style | Passport-style (tipo passe) |
| How many | One photo is listed among the requirements |
| Background | Not published — the official page says only colorida (colour) |
| Pixels / head height | Not published officially |
Why Angola is different
Angola asks for 4 × 5 cm — not the 35 × 45 mm (3.5 × 4.5 cm) used by many European and other countries. The aspect ratio is a little squarer. A photo prepared for a 35 × 45 mm form will not simply need a trim; the proportions differ, so frame it as 4 × 5 cm from the start. The image cropper sets an exact 40 × 50 mm crop.
What is not stated
The official page lists the photo as one of several documents and does not give a background colour, a pixel size or a head-height ratio. Those are left to the passport-style convention, so this page does not invent a figure — if the consular service asks for a specific background, follow that. Reduce the file size for an electronic submission with the image compressor, and verify the result with the passport photo checker. Compare other countries on the photo size chart.
Frequently asked questions
What size photo does Angola require?
A recent, colour, passport-style photo of 4 x 5 cm (40 x 50 mm).
Is Angola’s size the same as the 35 x 45 mm used elsewhere?
No. Angola asks for 4 x 5 cm, which is not the 35 x 45 mm (3.5 x 4.5 cm) used by many other countries.
What background colour does Angola require?
The official page does not state a background colour — it only says the photo must be in colour.
How many photos do I need?
The official requirements list one passport-style photo.
Does Angola publish a pixel size or head height?
No. The official page gives only the 4 x 5 cm size; no pixel figure or head-height ratio is published.
What else is needed for an Angolan passport?
The photo sits alongside a copy of a valid identity card, proof of residence and a completed form, per the official requirements page.
Source: Serviço de Migração e Estrangeiros (SME), Angola — “Requisitos para emissão de actos migratórios para cidadãos nacionais” (sme.gov.ao), retrieved 2026-09-28. Requirements change, so confirm the current rule on the official page before you apply.