Moroccan Passport Photo Requirements at a Glance
These specifications apply to the DGSN biometric passport. Keep them beside you while you shoot or review a photo.
| Requirement | Specification |
|---|---|
| Photo size | 35 × 45 mm (3.5 × 4.5 cm) |
| Width | 35 mm |
| Height | 45 mm |
| Background | Plain white or light grey, evenly lit, no shadows, patterns or objects |
| Head size | Chin to crown ≈ 32–36 mm — head fills about 70–80% of the frame height |
| Resolution | 600 DPI recommended (300 DPI minimum for digital files) |
| File format | JPEG or PNG for online use; sharp colour image, no filters |
| Glasses | Remove where possible; if medically needed, eyes fully visible with no glare or frame over the eyes |
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed, both eyes open, looking straight at the camera |
| Photo age | Taken within the last 6 months |
| Digital submission | For passeport.ma pre-enrolment: correct 35×45 ratio, well-lit face, file kept small (about 300 KB), no editing of features |
The DGSN: Who Issues Moroccan Passports
In Morocco, passports are handled by the Directorate General of National Security (in French, the Direction Générale de la Sûreté Nationale, or DGSN). It runs the national police service and oversees the biometric passport programme through its network of police prefectures and district stations across cities like Casablanca, Rabat, Fès and Tangier.
Because the DGSN captures fingerprints and a facial image at enrolment, the photo you provide has to line up with that biometric record. Officers compare the submitted picture against the live capture, so a photo that is off-size, badly lit or clearly dated can hold up the whole appointment.
How the Moroccan Biometric Passport Application Works
The process usually follows this order:
- Pre-enrol online on the national portal passeport.ma, where you enter your details and, in many cases, upload a compliant photo.
- Pay the fee using a fiscal stamp (timbre fiscal) — the amount depends on the number of pages requested.
- Book and attend an appointment at your local police station, where fingerprints, signature and a facial image are captured.
- Collect the passport from the same office once it is produced, typically within a couple of weeks.
Having a correctly framed photo ready before the appointment keeps that visit short and avoids a repeat trip.
Morocco-Specific Photo Rules
Beyond the basic size, a few points trip up Moroccan applicants in particular:
Full face, always visible
Hair, a fringe or a head covering must never fall across the eyes, eyebrows or jawline. The face has to read clearly from chin to hairline.
Religious head coverings
A hijab or other covering worn for faith reasons is accepted, provided the full oval of the face stays uncovered and shadow-free.
One even tone behind you
Curtains, tiled walls and furniture are frequent reasons for refusal. Aim for a single, plain backdrop.
Natural colour
Skin tones should look true to life. Heavy filters, beauty smoothing or colour shifts are treated as tampering.
Child Passport Photos in Morocco
Children need their own biometric passport, and the photo rules bend only slightly for the very young. The same 35×45 mm format and plain background apply, but a baby may keep a relaxed, natural expression and does not have to look perfectly neutral.
- No other person, hands or toys can appear in the frame.
- Lay an infant on a plain white sheet and shoot from directly above for an even background.
- Eyes should be open where possible, with the face fully visible and free of shadow.
- No dummies, bottles or headbands across the forehead.
Renewing a Moroccan Passport
A Moroccan biometric passport does not renew automatically — you apply again through the DGSN and supply a fresh photo each time. An old image reused from a previous booklet will be refused, since the point of the picture is to match how you look today.
Renewals follow the same pre-enrolment and appointment steps as a first application, so treat the photo exactly as you would for a new passport: current, correctly sized and taken against a clean background.
Submitting Your Photo Online via passeport.ma
When you pre-enrol on the national passport portal, the uploaded photo has to meet the same standard as a printed one. Keep the file a sharp colour image at the 35×45 ratio, with the face well lit and centred. Very large files are best resized down (around 300 KB is comfortable) without softening the detail, and no feature editing is allowed.
Even if you pre-enrol digitally, it is worth carrying a couple of compliant prints to the appointment as a fallback in case the office prefers a physical copy.
Can I Take My Morocco Passport Photo at Home?
Yes — a phone and a bit of care are enough, as long as you respect the framing rules.
Phone camera
Any recent smartphone works. Use the rear camera, not the selfie lens, which distorts the nose and cheeks up close.
Lighting
Face a window in soft daylight. Even light across the whole face avoids the shadows that get photos refused.
Background
Stand about half a metre in front of a plain white or light grey wall so no shadow falls behind your head.
Distance from camera
Have someone shoot from roughly 1.5 metres away at eye level, then let the tool crop in — this keeps proportions natural.
Printing
Print on photo paper at a lab or use the ready-made sheet from the tool. Home inkjet paper often looks dull and gets rejected.
Common mistakes
Tilted head, a slight smile, hair over the eyes, or standing too close to the wall so a shadow appears.
Morocco vs United States Passport Photo
Travellers who hold or apply for both often assume one photo fits each. It does not — here is where they diverge.
| Feature | Morocco | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 35 × 45 mm (portrait) | 2 × 2 in / 51 × 51 mm (square) |
| Head size | ≈ 70–80% of frame height (chin to crown) | Head 1 to 1⅜ in — roughly 50–69% of frame |
| Background | Plain white or light grey | Plain white or off-white |
| Submission format | Prints plus digital upload via passeport.ma | 2×2 print; digital only for the online DS-82 route |
| Key compliance difference | Portrait ratio with a larger head fill | Square ratio with a smaller head and more shoulder space |
The tool switches templates automatically, so a photo built for Morocco is not accidentally submitted at the US 2×2 size.
How to Create Your Morocco Passport Photo in Five Steps
Making a compliant photo with the Morocco passport photo maker takes about a minute:
- Upload Add a clear, front-facing photo from your phone or computer — the file opens straight into the tool with the Morocco template loaded.
- Crop The image is auto-aligned to the 35×45 mm ratio with your head sized to the DGSN 70–80% range; nudge it if you want.
- Background Swap the existing backdrop for a clean, even white or light grey that meets the requirement.
- Verify Run the compliance check for head position, expression, lighting and shadows before you commit.
- Download Save a single 35×45 mm file for upload, or a print-ready sheet with multiple copies for the lab.
Why Moroccan Passport Photos Get Rejected
Nearly every refusal at the prefecture comes down to one of these:
- Wrong dimensions — not a true 35×45 mm
- Coloured, patterned or shadowed background
- Head too large and crammed into the frame
- Head too small with too much empty space
- Shadows across the face or on the wall behind
- Glare or reflection on glasses lenses
- A photo older than six months
- Dim, uneven or yellow indoor lighting
- Smiling, open mouth or tilted head
- Over-editing — filters, smoothing or colour shifts
Please verify before you submit. Passport photo rules can change, and individual DGSN offices may apply them slightly differently. Always confirm the current requirements with the official Moroccan passport authority or the passeport.ma portal.
Passport Photo Maker helps you produce a photo that follows the published specifications, but final approval always rests with the issuing authority.