Sri Lanka Passport Photo Requirements — Photo Studio Acknowledgement
Sri Lanka takes a different route from most countries: instead of a millimetre figure, the document checklist requires a photo studio acknowledgement. The official passport pages publish no mm or pixel size at all. Verified against the Department of Immigration & Emigration (immigration.gov.lk), September 2026.
The official approach: a studio acknowledgement, not a size
Where other countries say “35 × 45 mm”, Sri Lanka says “Photo studio acknowledgement”. That phrase is the official requirement: the photograph is to be supplied and certified by a photo studio, and the acknowledgement is the document that records it. The practical consequence is straightforward — the photo has to come from a licensed studio, not from a self-made crop or a home upload. A studio that takes and prints the photo will know the current in-house requirements for the passport counter; a DIY crop may look correct and still be missing the required acknowledgement.
Why no millimetre size is published
This is a finding, not a puzzle. The official passport pages simply do not state a millimetre or pixel size for the photograph. Because the requirement is framed as a studio-supplied acknowledgement, the size is handled as part of the studio's service rather than published as a number for applicants to match. For that reason we do not assert any millimetre figure here: the sizes commonly quoted online are unverified against the official source, and repeating one would be guessing. If you need a printable standard format for backup or for a different document, the site's size chart lists the formats it supports, but the Sri Lankan requirement itself is the acknowledgement.
The document checklist around the photo
The photograph sits inside a list of required documents, and the acknowledgement is what ties it to a studio. When you assemble the application, treat the acknowledgement as a first-class document rather than an afterthought: an application with a perfect photo but no acknowledgement is incomplete in exactly the same way as one missing a signature page. If you want to understand what makes a printed photo acceptable in general — sharpness, no creases, no ink marks — the printing guide and the rejection reasons guide cover the common causes.
Processing time and fees
| Normal basis — time | 30 working days |
| Urgent basis — time | Same day |
| Normal basis — fee | LKR 10,000.00 |
| Urgent basis — fee | LKR 20,000.00 |
The two official service levels are, verbatim, “Normal Basis – 30 working days” and “Urgent Basis – Same day”, at “Normal Basis - LKR. 10,000.00” and “Urgent Basis - LKR.20,000.00”. The urgent fee is twice the normal fee, so the choice is a straight trade of cost against time. Note that these are the department's own published figures; check them again before you pay, in case they have been revised.
Where to submit
The official submission points are, verbatim: “Head office of the Department of Immigration & Emigration, Battaramulla / Regional Offices at Kandy, Matara, Vavuniya, Kurunegala and Jaffna / Overseas Sri Lankan Missions”. In other words you are not limited to the capital: there are five regional offices, and Sri Lankan missions abroad also accept applications.
Preparing the photo: let the studio lead
Because the requirement is an acknowledgement from a studio, the cleanest route is to have the photo taken and printed there, at the same time as the acknowledgement is issued. The site's tools are a backup, not a substitute: if you already have a digital file, the photo print sheet lays copies out for printing at a shop, and the passport photo checker sanity-checks a file against general presentation rules before you hand it over. Neither replaces the studio acknowledgement that this application requires.
Frequently asked questions
What size photo does a Sri Lanka passport need?
The official passport pages do not publish a millimetre or pixel size. Sri Lanka requires a photo studio acknowledgement instead, so the photo is supplied and certified by a studio.
What is a photo studio acknowledgement?
It is a required document in the official checklist, and it means the photograph is supplied and certified by a photo studio rather than being self-made. It is what ties the photo to a licensed studio.
How long does a Sri Lanka passport take?
The official service levels are Normal Basis - 30 working days, or Urgent Basis - same day.
What are the Sri Lanka passport fees?
The official figures are Normal Basis LKR 10,000.00 and Urgent Basis LKR 20,000.00; the urgent fee is twice the normal one.
Where can I submit a Sri Lanka passport application?
At the head office of the Department of Immigration & Emigration in Battaramulla, at the regional offices in Kandy, Matara, Vavuniya, Kurunegala and Jaffna, or at an overseas Sri Lankan mission.
Related: Sri Lanka is unusual in specifying a studio acknowledgement rather than a number — a reminder to always check the official checklist before cropping. Browse every format the site supports in the full size chart, or verify a prepared file with the passport photo checker.