Barbados Passport Photo Requirements — Up to 5 × 5 cm, White Background
Barbados asks for two photographs, each no larger than 5 cm × 5 cm, taken full face, without a hat, on a white background, by a professional photographer, and not mounted. The size is a maximum, not a fixed figure, and one copy must be certified on the back by the person signing your application. Verified against the Barbados Immigration Department page and Form A, September 2026.
The official Barbados passport photo specification
| Print size | Not more than 5 cm × 5 cm — a maximum, not a fixed size |
| Copies | Two copies of a recent photograph |
| Background | White |
| Pose | Full face, without a hat; taken by a professional photographer |
| Mounting | Must not be mounted |
| Certification | The person certifying the application endorses the back of one copy |
Read the size rule carefully: the official wording is “must not be more than” 5 cm by 5 cm. It is a ceiling, not a mandate to print exactly 50 × 50 mm, and the official notes publish no head-size, dpi, pixel or file-size figure at all.
Size: 5 × 5 cm is the maximum
Both the Immigration Department page and Form A state the limit the same way: the photographs should not be more than 5 centimetres by 5 centimetres, and the size must not be more than 5 cm by 5 cm. There is no published minimum in the official material, and no separate head-height rule. If you are preparing a photo to this specification, target the 5 × 5 cm square as an upper bound and do not assume a precise millimetre figure is required.
Two copies, professional, full face, no hat
The page says the application form should be accompanied by two (2) photographs, and that they should be taken by a professional photographer. Form A repeats that two copies of a recent photograph must be included. The pose rule is full face, without a hat, on a white background. So a hat, a cap, or any pose that is not a straight-on full face is out.
Do not mount the photos
Form A adds a specific handling rule: the photographs must not be mounted. Do not glue or stick them to the form, and do not put them in a photo mount — submit them loose with the application.
Certification on the back of one copy
One of the two photos has a second job. The person who certifies the application must also endorse the reverse side of one copy with the words:
“I certify that this is a true photograph of the applicant Mr. (Mrs. or Miss) …”
— and add their signature. So keep one copy's back clean and ready for that endorsement; do not write anything else on it yourself.
What happens to the photos afterwards
Form A notes that all photographs included with an application become the property of the Government of Barbados when the application is lodged. That means you should not expect the photos back, so keep your own spare copies if you might need them.
60-second Barbados check
- ☐ Two copies of the same recent photograph
- ☐ Each no more than 5 cm × 5 cm (this is a maximum)
- ☐ Full face, no hat, white background
- ☐ Taken by a professional photographer
- ☐ Not mounted — submitted loose with the form
- ☐ One back left clear for the certifier's endorsement and signature
Frequently asked questions
What size is a Barbados passport photo?
The photographs must not be more than 5 cm by 5 cm. The official material gives this as a maximum and does not publish a minimum, head size, dpi or pixel figure.
How many photos do I need?
Two copies of a recent photograph of the applicant.
What background is required?
A white background, and the photo must be taken full face without a hat.
Do I need a professional photographer?
The Immigration Department page states the photographs should be taken by a professional photographer.
Can I stick the photos to the form?
No. Form A states the photographs must not be mounted.
What must the certifier write on the photo?
The person certifying the application must endorse the reverse of one copy with “I certify that this is a true photograph of the applicant Mr. (Mrs. or Miss) …” and add their signature.
Related: lay out a 5 × 5 cm square with the passport photo print sheet, and check the frame with the passport photo checker. Browse the region's formats in the size chart, including the Belize 2 × 2 inch specification.