Embassy of the United States

Visa Photo Requirements

Visa Photo Instructions

The photographs for each applicant must be an unmounted, full face photo, as described below

• The photographs must have been taken within the last six months.
  Photo Size
• The photo for each applicant submitted must measure:
• 2 by 2 inches (5 cm x 5 cm) with the head centered in the frame.
• The head (measured from the top of the hair to the bottom of the chin) should measure between 1 inch to 1 3/8 inches (25 mm to 35 mm) with the eye level between 1 1/8 inch to 1 3/8 inches (28 mm and 35 mm) from the bottom of the photo
  
  

Photo Appearance

• The photograph must be a full-face view in which the visa applicant is facing the camera directly.
• The applicant should not look down or to either side, and the face should cover about 50 percent of the photo area.
• Side or angled views are NOT accepted.
• The photograph should be in color, and must have only a white or off-white background. Photos with dark, busy, or patterned backgrounds will not be accepted.
• In general, the applicant's head, including both face and hair, should be shown from the crown of the head to the tip of the chin on top and bottom and from hairline side-to-side. It is preferable that ears be exposed.
• Head coverings and hats are only acceptable due to religious beliefs, and even then, may not cover any portion of the applicant's face.
• Sunglasses or other wear which detracts from the face are not acceptable unless required for medical reasons (an eye patch, for example).
• A photograph depicting a person wearing a traditional facemask or veil that does not permit adequate identification is not acceptable.
• Photos of military, airline, or other personnel wearing hats are not acceptable. Photographs of applicants wearing tribal, national costume, or other headgear not specifically religious in nature are not acceptable.
  
  

Digital Photos

Digitally reproduced photographs must be reproduced without discernible pixels or dot patterns. Photocopied photographs are NOT accepted.
Applications submitted with photos that do not meet this format cannot be processed until new photos have been provided.

Where Can Photos Be Obtained
The following vendors in Kampala provide photos that usually meet these requirements.  This is not an endorsement of these vendors, and any complaints regarding the quality of photographs or service provided are a matter to be addressed directly between the client and the vendor.  This information is simply provided to applicants to assist in locating various photo vendors in the Kampala area.

City Studio                     66 Kampala Road              075 986 873

Colour Chrome                 54 Kampala Road             0414 230 556

Colour Plus                     Garden City Mall               0712 130 000

Fotogenix                      22 or 85 Kampala Road