Sri Lanka Visa Photo Maker
35 × 45 mm · Plain white background · ETA & embassy ready
Heading to Sri Lanka? Before your Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) or visa is approved, you'll need a photo that matches the standard set by Sri Lanka's Department of Immigration & Emigration. For visa submissions that means a 35 × 45 mm image on a plain white background, showing your full face and taken within the last six months. The ClonyPDF Sri Lanka Visa Photo Maker runs our passport-photo engine in visa mode, so it crops, frames and formats your picture to that exact spec. In under a minute you get an upload-ready digital file for the ETA portal and a print-ready sheet for embassy or high-commission submission — no photo studio, no guesswork.
Why visa photos get rejected
Failed portal uploads, the wrong size or a non-white background, and a face that doesn't line up with biometric framing at the appointment.
Why compliance matters
A bounced ETA upload or a refused photo at the visa centre means resubmissions, delayed travel and, in paid categories, wasted application fees.
- Embassy / Consulate Compliant
- Correct Visa Dimensions
- Automatic Background Removal
- Digital & Print Ready
Why Upload Here Instead of Editing It Yourself
Cropping to millimetres and matching a portal's pixel and file-size rules by hand is fiddly. The tool does the compliance work so you don't have to open Photoshop.
Exact aspect ratio
Automatic crop to Sri Lanka's rectangular 35 × 45 mm (7:9) frame — not a guessed square.
Biometric head sizing
Your face is framed to the consular head-height rule so it passes facial-recognition checks.
Correct dimensions
Sized in millimetres, inches and pixels together, so print and screen both match.
Clean white background
One-tap removal of busy or coloured backdrops for the plain white visas require.
Upload-ready file
Exported to meet the ETA portal's pixel size and stay under its maximum file size.
Print-ready sheet
A tiled sheet for the copies you hand in at an embassy, high commission or visa centre.
Sri Lanka Visa Photo Requirements at a Glance
The specification below reflects the Sri Lanka visa and ETA photo standard. Where a rule is checked at a different stage, the last column shows whether it matters for the online upload, the in-person embassy/visa-centre copy, or both.
| Requirement | Sri Lanka visa photo standard | Checked at |
|---|---|---|
| Photo size | 35 × 45 mm (3.5 × 4.5 cm) · about 1.38 × 1.77 in | Both |
| Width | 35 mm (1.38 in) | Both |
| Height | 45 mm (1.77 in) | Both |
| Aspect ratio | 7:9 — rectangular / portrait (not square) | Both |
| Background colour | Plain, even white — no shadows, texture or props | Both |
| Head height / size | Roughly 32–36 mm crown to chin (about 70–80% of frame height), face centred | Both |
| Print resolution | 600 DPI recommended (300 DPI minimum) | |
| Digital pixel dimensions | ≈ 827 × 1063 px at 600 DPI (≈ 413 × 531 px at 300 DPI minimum) | Portal upload |
| Maximum digital file size | Not officially fixed — a clear JPEG under ~2 MB uploads reliably (a few hundred KB is fine) | Portal upload |
| File format | JPEG (primary); some routes accept PNG — flatten to a white background | Portal upload |
| Glasses | Best removed; if unavoidable, clear lenses, no glare, eyes fully visible | Both |
| Head covering | Allowed for religious reasons if forehead, eyes and chin are visible with no shadow | Both |
| Expression | Neutral or a slight natural smile, mouth closed, both eyes open | Both |
| Photo age / recency | Taken within the last 6 months, current appearance | Both |
| Digital submission | JPEG uploaded to the ETA / e-visa portal, white background, within pixel & file limits | Portal upload |
| Printed copies | Usually 2 recent prints for embassy / high-commission or visa-centre submission | In person |
Since Sri Lankan visa photos share the 35 × 45 mm format, our dedicated 35×45mm photo size guide is a handy companion if you want the full dimension breakdown.
Sri Lanka Visa Authority & Consular Overview
Travel authorisations and visas for Sri Lanka are handled by the Department of Immigration & Emigration (DIE) through the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system at eta.gov.lk, alongside Sri Lankan embassies and high commissions abroad. For most short visits the ETA is the front door: tourists and business visitors apply online before they fly.
Worth knowing for context: the ETA operation briefly moved to an outside contractor in 2024, but after legal challenges the government restored the long-running official government-managed platform. Intermittent system notices have appeared since, so the photo spec on this page is stable, but the exact portal steps can shift — always confirm on the official site before you submit. This page stays strictly in the photo-compliance lane; it does not offer eligibility or legal advice.
How the Sri Lanka ETA & Visa Application Works
There are two common routes, and your photo needs to suit whichever you use:
- Online ETA / e-visa (most travellers): you complete the form on the official portal and, where a photo is requested, upload a digital JPEG that meets the pixel and file-size guidance above. Approval arrives by email.
- Embassy or high commission: for certain nationalities, longer stays or specific visa categories, you apply through a Sri Lankan mission and submit printed 35 × 45 mm photos with your paperwork.
Because the same face has to work on screen and on paper, generating both an upload-ready file and a print sheet in one go saves a second trip to the photo shop. Tourist stays can also be extended in stages once you're in the country, and each application expects a photo that still looks like you.
Sri Lanka Visa Photo Rules in Detail
Beyond the headline size, these are the details that decide whether a Sri Lanka visa photo is accepted:
- Full face, front view: look straight at the camera with your whole face and both ears visible, head not tilted.
- Plain white background: uniform white with no shadow falling behind the head. Off-white and pale grey often fail automated checks.
- Even lighting: no hotspots, no shadow across one cheek, no glare on the forehead.
- Neutral expression: a relaxed face or gentle natural smile, mouth closed, eyes open and clearly visible.
- Recent: taken within the last six months so it matches your current look.
- Natural colour, no filters: true skin tones, no beautification, no heavy retouching that alters your features.
Digital Visa Photo Upload Rules (ETA / e-Visa Portal)
When you upload to the ETA or e-visa system, the file itself has to behave, not just the picture:
- Format: save as JPEG for the widest compatibility; keep it a true photo, not a scan of a print.
- Pixel dimensions: aim for roughly 827 × 1063 px (600 DPI) or at least 413 × 531 px (300 DPI) so the face is sharp enough for biometric capture.
- File size: Sri Lanka doesn't publish one fixed cap. In practice, keep the JPEG under about 2 MB; a few hundred kilobytes is usually plenty and uploads faster.
- Compression: avoid squeezing the file so hard that the face blurs or blocks — that's a common cause of silent upload failures.
If you want to sanity-check how millimetres translate to screen resolution, our photo size in pixels guide lays out the conversions the exporter uses.
Embassy & High Commission Submission Rules
If you apply in person rather than online, the printed photo is what the officer inspects:
- Quantity: typically two identical 35 × 45 mm prints, though individual missions may ask for more.
- Print quality: photo-grade paper, sharp focus, accurate colour — no home-printer banding or matte office paper.
- Condition: unmarked, uncreased, no staple holes through the face, no borders, dates or frames.
- Consistency: the print should match the digital file on your application so the two don't look like different people.
Child & Infant Sri Lanka Visa Photo Requirements
Babies and children need their own photo to the same 35 × 45 mm, white-background standard — no adults or supporting hands in the frame. The realistic tweaks:
- Lay an infant on a plain white sheet and shoot from directly above; a neutral or relaxed expression is fine and eyes closed is generally tolerated for newborns.
- For toddlers, seat them against a white backdrop; you can support them from behind as long as no hands, arms or props appear.
- Face forward, mouth ideally closed, and no toys, dummies or patterned clothing that distracts from the face.
- A fresh photo is important for children — their appearance changes quickly, so an old shot can trigger a mismatch.
A Fresh Photo for Every Application
Unlike a passport, a visa isn't "renewed" — each ETA, new visa or extension is a fresh application, and it expects a current photo. Reusing the exact image from a previous submission is a frequent rejection trigger, because portals and officers can flag a photo that has already been used.
So if you're applying again, extending a tourist stay, or your look has changed since last time, generate a new compliant photo rather than recycling the old file. It takes under a minute here and removes any "previously submitted image" risk.
Biometric & Facial-Recognition Standards
Sri Lanka's photo rules follow the international ICAO biometric approach, which is why head position and lighting matter as much as size. To pass automated and human checks:
- Keep the head centred and upright with eyes on an even horizontal line, roughly in the upper-middle third of the frame.
- Hold the head-height proportion (about 70–80% of the image) so the face isn't cropped tight or floating small.
- Avoid hair across the eyes, heavy shadows, or reflections that break up facial landmarks.
- Preserve enough resolution that the eyes, nose and mouth stay crisp — biometric matching relies on those points at your arrival gate.
Can I Take My Sri Lanka Visa Photo at Home?
Absolutely — most people do. A recent phone is more than capable; the trick is the setup, not the gear.
- Camera: use the rear camera and have someone take the shot from about 1–1.5 metres away, at eye level, so your face isn't distorted.
- Lighting: face a window or soft, even light. Kill overhead shadows and don't stand right against the wall, or you'll cast a shadow behind you.
- Background: a plain white wall works; the tool can also swap the background to clean white for you.
- Framing: head and top of the shoulders in view, straight on, neutral expression.
- For printing: export the print-ready sheet and use a photo lab or photo paper — office paper won't pass at a visa centre.
- For the portal: upload the digital JPEG that lands within the pixel size and under the maximum file size.
Common self-shooting mistakes: tilting the head, shooting too close, a shadow on the wall, warm indoor lighting that yellows the background, and beauty filters left switched on.
Sri Lanka Visa Photo vs US 2×2 Visa Photo
If you've applied for a US visa before, don't assume the same photo works — the shape and file rules differ.
| Attribute | Sri Lanka visa photo | US 2×2 visa photo |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 35 × 45 mm (3.5 × 4.5 cm) | 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm) |
| Aspect ratio | 7:9 — rectangular (portrait) | 1:1 — square |
| Head size | ≈ 32–36 mm (about 70–80% of height) | ≈ 25–35 mm (1–1⅓ in, about 50–69%) |
| Background | Plain white | Plain white / off-white |
| Submission format | ETA online upload + printed copies for embassy | DS-160 online upload (printed only if requested) |
| File / pixel rules | JPEG, ~827 × 1063 px @ 600 DPI, keep under ~2 MB (not officially fixed) | JPEG, square 600 × 600 to 1200 × 1200 px, under 240 KB |
| Biggest difference | Sri Lanka is rectangular with looser file limits; the US photo is strictly square with a tight 240 KB cap. | |
Visa photo vs passport photo for Sri Lanka
Travellers often ask whether a passport photo can double as a visa photo. For Sri Lanka the dimensions happen to line up — both use 35 × 45 mm on white — but the two serve different purposes: a Sri Lanka visa photo is for a foreign traveller applying to enter the country, while a passport photo belongs to a citizen's travel document. A recent, unused passport-style photo that meets this spec will usually work for a visa, but generating a fresh copy avoids the "already submitted" flag and guarantees the correct digital file. Keep the two applications separate rather than assuming one file covers both.
How to Create a Sri Lanka Visa Photo With the ClonyPDF Maker
Five steps, about a minute, start to finish. You can begin from the main Passport & Visa Photo Maker or straight from the uploader on this page.
Upload your photo
Drop in a clear, front-facing JPEG, PNG or WebP — a well-lit phone photo is fine.
Auto-crop & biometric framing
The tool finds your face and crops to the 35 × 45 mm ratio, setting the 32–36 mm head height Sri Lanka expects.
Set the background
One tap replaces the backdrop with the plain white background required for Sri Lankan visa photos.
Verify against the spec
Confirm size, head height, resolution, pixel dimensions and file size against the on-screen Sri Lanka standard.
Download both formats
Grab the upload-ready digital JPEG for the ETA portal and the print-ready sheet for embassy or visa-centre copies.
Common Sri Lanka Visa Photo Rejection Reasons
Most rejections come down to a short list of avoidable issues:
- Wrong dimensions or a square crop instead of the 35 × 45 mm rectangle
- A background that isn't plain white — grey, cream, patterned or shadowed
- Head too large and cropped, or too small and floating in the frame
- Shadows across the face or on the wall behind
- Glasses glare, tinted lenses, or glasses worn where they should be removed
- Photo older than the six-month recency window
- Uneven or yellow indoor lighting that shifts skin tone and background colour
- Beautification filters or heavy retouching that changes your features
- Digital file larger than the portal comfortably accepts
- Pixel dimensions too low, so the face blurs during biometric capture
- A print quality too poor for the visa centre, or an appearance that no longer matches you at the appointment
Sri Lanka Visa Processing & Arrival Tips
- Apply for your ETA before you fly — pre-travel authorisation is expected, and arriving without it can mean delays at the gate.
- Prepare your photo early so a last-minute upload failure doesn't hold up the whole application.
- Keep both the digital file and a couple of prints handy in case your route or category asks for physical copies.
- Use a photo that genuinely looks like you today — the image is checked again against your face on arrival.
- Check the official portal for current status and steps before submitting, as the system has seen operational changes.
Compliance notice
Visa photo requirements can change and may vary by visa category and application route. Always verify the current rules with Sri Lanka's official Department of Immigration & Emigration (eta.gov.lk), the relevant embassy, high commission or visa application centre before you submit. The Sri Lanka Visa Photo Maker helps you create a compliant photo, but final acceptance always rests with the issuing embassy, consulate or immigration authority.
Frequently Asked Questions
Visa photo basics
Does my Sri Lanka visa photo need a white background?
Yes. Sri Lanka follows the standard passport-style rule of a plain, uniform white background with no shadows, patterns or props. A light grey or cream wall often reads as off-white to biometric checks and gets bounced, so aim for clean white.
Can I reuse my passport photo for a Sri Lanka visa?
Often yes, because both use the 35 × 45 mm white-background format — but only if it was taken within the last six months and hasn't already been submitted with another application. Portals and officers flag re-used or printed-then-scanned images, so a fresh copy is safer.
Can I submit the photo digitally instead of printing it?
For the online ETA and e-visa route you upload a digital JPEG. If you apply through a Sri Lankan embassy or high commission, you usually hand over printed copies too. Keeping both a digital file and a print sheet ready covers either route.
How recent does the photo have to be?
It must be taken within the last six months and reflect your current appearance. A new hairstyle, beard or notable weight change can cause a mismatch at the border, so use a recent shot.
Sri Lanka specifics
What is the exact photo size for a Sri Lanka visa?
35 × 45 mm (3.5 × 4.5 cm), the standard passport size, in portrait orientation. That's about 1.38 × 1.77 inches, roughly 413 × 531 px at 300 DPI and 827 × 1063 px at 600 DPI.
What file size and pixel dimensions does the ETA portal accept?
Sri Lanka doesn't publish a single fixed limit. In practice a clear JPEG under about 2 MB uploads without trouble, and a few hundred kilobytes at 600 DPI is plenty. Avoid heavy compression that blurs the face, as it can fail biometric capture.
Can I wear glasses or a head covering in my Sri Lanka visa photo?
Glasses are best removed. If they must stay on for medical reasons, use clear lenses with no glare and fully visible eyes. Head coverings worn for religious reasons are allowed as long as the forehead, eyes and chin stay fully visible without shadows.
Can I take my Sri Lanka visa photo at home?
Yes. A modern phone camera, a plain white wall and even daylight are enough. Upload the shot here and the tool handles the 35 × 45 mm crop, the white background and the file formatting for you.
Create Your Sri Lanka Visa Photo Maker Result Now
Your ETA or embassy application is only as smooth as the photo attached to it. Upload once and walk away with a 35 × 45 mm, white-background image that's ready for the eta.gov.lk portal and print-ready for any Sri Lankan mission — no studio, no re-dos.