Thailand Visa Photo Maker
If you're applying for a Thai Tourist (TR), Non-Immigrant Business (Non-B), Non-Immigrant Retirement (Non-O), or Destination Thailand Visa (DTV), your photo is checked against specifications published by the Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate-General handling your application, or by the Thai e-Visa portal at thaievisa.go.th if you're applying online. The standard size is 35×45mm (3.5×4.5cm) for embassy and e-Visa submissions, though Visa on Arrival and some in-person extension forms call for a larger 4×6cm print. Visa photos are reviewed by a different desk than passport photos, and a small number of consulates enforce the background and sizing rules more strictly than passport offices do — a photo that passed for your passport isn't automatically safe to reuse here. Because a visa rejection can cost you a non-refundable fee and weeks of delay, it's worth getting the photo right before you submit anything.
Does the photo spec change by visa type?
Mostly no — but the submission method changes the size, and that trips up more applicants than the visa category itself does. Here's what we can verify for each visa type covered on this page.
| Visa Type | Photo Size | Submission | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourist (TR) | 35×45mm | Embassy / e-Visa | Most-searched size for this country; default template below. |
| Business (Non-B) | 35×45mm | Embassy / e-Visa | Same published spec as TR. No business-specific photo variant found. |
| Retirement (Non-O) | 35×45mm | Embassy / e-Visa | Same published spec as TR. Renewal/extension may request 4×6cm print at the immigration counter — see Renewal section. |
| DTV (Destination Thailand Visa) | Not separately published | e-Visa portal only | Mission checklists say "recent photo, white background" without a confirmed cm/px figure. We recommend using the 35×45mm e-Visa default since DTV files through the same portal. |
| Visa on Arrival (reference only) | 4×6cm | In-person, airport | Larger size, different form — not one of the four visa types this page focuses on, but easy to confuse with TR. Flagged here to prevent that mix-up. |
Why upload here instead of editing manually
- Automatic crop to 35×45mm with correct head-height ratio, no ruler or guesswork needed
- Biometric-style centering so your eyes and chin land where Thai authorities expect them
- Background swapped to plain white, even if your original photo was shot against a wall, curtain, or outdoors
- Output sized correctly for the visa type you selected — TR, Non-B, Non-O, or DTV's e-Visa default
- Exports ready for both printing and direct upload to thaievisa.go.th
- No Photoshop, no manual cropping tool, no separate background-removal app
Who sets the rules: Thai visa authority overview
Thailand visa photo specifications are set by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, enforced day-to-day through two channels depending on how you apply: Royal Thai Embassies and Consulates-General abroad for paper applications, and the e-Visa portal at thaievisa.go.th for online applications, which now covers most Tourist, Non-B, Non-O, and DTV filings.
This matters for your photo because the two channels don't always describe the same requirement in the same words. An embassy's printed checklist might say "passport-style photo, white background" without a stated millimeter figure, while the e-Visa portal's upload field enforces a specific pixel dimension and file size at the point of submission. When the two appear to conflict, the system you're actually submitting through — portal or embassy counter — is the one whose limit applies to you.
Thailand visa photo requirements
The table below covers the standard 35×45mm specification used for Tourist (TR), Non-B, and Non-O visa applications through an embassy or the e-Visa portal. Rows are marked verified where multiple independent sources agree, and flagged for confirmation where published figures conflict or are thin.
| Photo size | 35mm × 45mm (3.5cm × 4.5cm) for embassy/e-Visa. 40mm × 60mm (4cm × 6cm) for Visa on Arrival and some in-person extension forms — different submission, not a visa-type variant.Verified |
| Width | 35mm Verified |
| Height | 45mm Verified |
| Background | Plain white, no pattern, no shadow. One source notes off-white may also be tolerated for paper submissions, but the e-Visa portal explicitly requires solid white.Verified |
| Head size | Head height (crown to chin) approximately 70–80% of total frame height.Verified |
| Resolution | Sources cite figures from 1200dpi up to portal-specific pixel minimums; we found no single number confirmed across official pages.Confirm before submitting |
| File format | JPEG/JPG for e-Visa portal uploads.Verified |
| Glasses | Permitted if eyes are clearly visible with no flash glare; several guides recommend removing glasses entirely to avoid glare-related rejection.Verified |
| Expression | Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open. A slight closed-mouth smile is tolerated by some sources but not guaranteed across all consulates.Verified |
| Photo age | Taken within the last 6 months and reflecting current appearance.Verified |
| Digital submission rules | JPEG upload to thaievisa.go.th; published file-size limits vary by source from roughly 120KB to 1MB, which suggests this may differ by mission or has changed over time.Confirm before submitting |
| Varies by visa type? | No for TR / Non-B / Non-O — all three use the 35×45mm standard. DTV's exact spec is not separately published; see the disambiguation table above.Verified |
Rows marked "Confirm before submitting" reflect genuine disagreement or thin sourcing across the guidance we reviewed — not an oversight. Check the exact figure shown on your application screen or consulate checklist before finalizing your file.
How the application process touches your photo
For e-Visa applications, you create an account on thaievisa.go.th, select your visa type and the Thai mission with jurisdiction over your application, then upload your documents — passport biodata page, supporting paperwork specific to your visa category, and your photo — before paying the visa fee. The portal typically flags an obviously wrong photo at upload time, before you pay, which is the cheapest point to catch a sizing mistake.
For paper applications at an embassy or consulate, the photo is checked manually by consular staff against a printed checklist, often alongside your passport photo if you're submitting both documents in the same visit. Manual review can be more forgiving on exact pixel dimensions but less forgiving on visible quality issues like glare or shadow, since a person is looking at the print rather than software checking pixel dimensions.
Differences between visa types, in plain terms
Tourist, Non-B, and Non-O visas share the same 35×45mm photo specification — the difference between these visa categories is in the supporting documents you submit alongside the photo (proof of onward travel for TR, a work permit sponsor letter for Non-B, retirement income evidence for Non-O), not in the photo itself.
The DTV is the outlier. It's processed exclusively through the e-Visa portal, and the published checklists from Thai missions describe the photo requirement in general terms — recent, passport-style, white background — without the specific millimeter figure that appears in TR/Non-B/Non-O guidance. Until a more specific DTV photo spec is published, the safest approach is matching the standard 35×45mm e-Visa size, since you're uploading through the identical portal interface.
Child visa photo requirements
Children and infants follow the same 35×45mm size and white-background rule as adults, with a few enforcement points that come up specifically for younger applicants:
- No parent's hand, arm, or any part of another person visible in the frame
- No toys, pacifiers, or bottles in shot
- Eyes open, mouth closed — a neutral expression is held to the same standard as adults
- Background must be white or off-white with no visible car seat, crib, or furniture edge
In practice this is harder to get right at home for infants than for adults, since holding a baby still against a plain background for a phone photo takes a few attempts — budget extra time rather than rushing the first shot.
Visa renewal, extension, and reapplication photo rules
If you're extending a Non-O retirement visa or a TR visa from inside Thailand at a local immigration office, several sources indicate the in-person extension form uses the larger 4cm × 6cm photo box rather than the 35×45mm e-Visa size — the same size requested for Visa on Arrival. This is one of the more common mix-ups: bringing a correctly-sized e-Visa photo to an in-person extension counter that wants the larger print.
Whichever size applies to your renewal, the same six-month recency rule holds. A photo used successfully on your original application that's now older than six months should be retaken, not reused.
Digital e-Visa submission rules
Applications through thaievisa.go.th require a digital JPEG upload. Published file-size ceilings differ across the guidance we reviewed — figures cited range from around 120KB to 1MB — which may reflect a limit that has changed over time or one that varies slightly by mission. Rather than relying on a fixed number here, check the size limit displayed on your actual upload screen before exporting your final file.
One practical note that shows up across multiple independent guides: a freshly exported digital photo uploads more cleanly than a scan of a printed photo. Scanned prints frequently show paper texture, slight blur, or odd cropping that a portal's automated quality check can flag.
In-person submission at an embassy, consulate, or VFS counter
For paper applications, bring the number of physical prints your specific mission requests — this is commonly two prints, though some checklists call for three. Photos should be printed on photo-quality paper, not standard printer paper, with no staples or adhesive residue on the print itself, since damaged or stapled photos are noted as a rejection reason in multiple guides covering Thai visa submissions.
It's worth bringing a digital copy of your photo on your phone even for a paper application — if your mission also asks you to register or follow up online, having the same file in digital form saves a second photo session.
Can I take my Thailand visa photo at home?
Yes, with care. A phone camera is sufficient quality for a Thai visa photo as long as you control a few variables that are easy to get wrong without a studio setup.
Phone camera setup
Use the rear camera, not the front-facing camera, for sharper detail. Shoot in normal photo mode rather than portrait mode — portrait mode's background blur and edge softening can interfere with later background removal and is flagged by several guides as a source of blurred edges on visa photos.
Lighting
Face a window with soft, indirect daylight rather than using your phone's flash, which tends to create the under-chin shadows and glasses glare that show up repeatedly in rejection-reason lists for this size of photo. Even, diffused light across your whole face with no harsh shadow on one side is the goal.
Background
Stand at least two to three feet from a plain white or light-colored wall so your own shadow doesn't fall on it. If you don't have a suitable wall, our background removal step replaces whatever's behind you with compliant white automatically.
Distance from camera
Stand back far enough that your head and shoulders fill the frame loosely — you'll crop tighter afterward. Shooting too close distorts facial proportions at this small a final print size.
Printing requirements
If your application requires a physical print, use photo paper at a photo lab or pharmacy kiosk rather than a home inkjet printer; matte or glossy finish is generally accepted, but a home-printed photo on regular paper is a common point of rejection.
Digital upload requirements
Export as JPEG, check the file size shown on your specific upload screen, and avoid uploading a photo of a printed photo — upload the original digital file or a proper scan, not a phone photo of paper.
Common at-home mistakes
- Using flash, which creates shadows and glasses glare
- Shooting in portrait/bokeh mode, which softens edges needed for cropping
- Standing too close to the background, causing a visible shadow
- Submitting a photo older than six months because it "still looks like you"
Thailand visa photo vs. Thailand passport photo
These are not the same specification, and the difference is bigger than it looks at a glance: the photo sizes are different enough that a photo trimmed for one will be the wrong proportions for the other.
Thailand Visa Photo (TR / Non-B / Non-O)
- Dimensions
- 35 × 45mm (3.5 × 4.5cm)
- Head size
- 70–80% of frame height
- Background
- Plain white
- Submission
- e-Visa portal upload or embassy/consulate print
- Reviewed by
- Royal Thai Embassy/Consulate-General, or e-Visa portal automated check
Thai Passport Photo
- Dimensions
- Commonly cited as 3.5 × 4.5cm or 4 × 6cm depending on source and submission point — confirm with the Department of Consular Affairs for your specific case
- Head size
- Similar proportional guidance to visa photos
- Background
- Plain white
- Submission
- Thai passport office or embassy passport service counter
- Reviewed by
- Department of Consular Affairs / passport office staff
The honest summary: the underlying look of the two photos — white background, neutral expression, full color — is genuinely similar, which is exactly why people assume one photo works for both. The size requirement and the office reviewing it are different, so we don't recommend reusing a passport photo print for a visa application or vice versa without re-checking the exact dimensions required by whichever office you're submitting to.
For passport-specific specifications, see our Thailand passport photo page.
How to create a Thailand visa photo maker result
Upload your photo
Use the widget above. Any reasonably sharp, front-facing phone photo works as a starting point.
Select your visa type
Choose TR, Non-B, Non-O, or DTV so the correct template and size are applied automatically.
Crop and background
The tool crops to 35×45mm proportions and replaces your background with compliant solid white.
Verify against requirements
Check the result against the requirements table above — particularly head size and any file-size limit shown on your actual application screen.
Download for print and/or e-Visa upload
Export a print-ready file for embassy submission, a portal-ready JPEG for thaievisa.go.th, or both.
Common reasons Thailand visa photos get rejected
Processing tips
- Get the photo right before you pay the visa fee — most fees are non-refundable, and a photo-related resubmission resets your place in the queue rather than your payment.
- If you're applying for a DTV and the photo spec field feels under-specified, default to the 35×45mm e-Visa standard rather than guessing a different size.
- Keep a digital copy of your photo even if you're submitting on paper — useful if your mission later asks for an online follow-up step.
- Take the photo a few days before you plan to submit, not the morning of, so you have time to retake it if the first attempt has shadow or glare issues.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use the same photo for a Thailand visa and a Thailand passport renewal?
Not reliably. The two are reviewed by different offices under different specification sheets, and even where dimensions look similar on paper, treating them as two separate photo tasks avoids a mismatch you might not catch until submission.
Does a Thailand visa photo expire?
The photo itself doesn't have a printed expiry date, but it needs to have been taken within roughly the last six months and reflect your current appearance. Older photos are a common resubmission request.
Can I wear glasses in my Thailand visa photo?
Generally yes, if there's no glare and your eyes are clearly visible — but glare is common enough at this photo size that several guides recommend removing glasses for the shot if you can see clearly without them.
Will a smiling photo get my Thailand visa application rejected?
A neutral, closed-mouth expression is the safest bet. A very slight smile with no visible teeth is tolerated by some guidance, but a full smile is widely flagged as a rejection risk.
Why do some sources say 3.5×4.5cm and others say 4×6cm?
Both are real Thai visa photo sizes for different purposes. 3.5×4.5cm (35×45mm) is the standard for embassy and e-Visa submissions covered on this page. 4×6cm is specifically for Visa on Arrival and some in-person extension forms — confirm which applies to your submission before printing.
Does the DTV have different photo rules than the Tourist visa?
Published DTV checklists ask for a recent, white-background photo without a separately confirmed millimeter spec. We recommend matching the standard 35×45mm e-Visa size since DTV applications go through the same portal.
Can I submit a scanned printed photo instead of a digital photo?
You can, but scans of printed photos frequently come out blurry or show paper texture, which can trigger a quality rejection on the e-Visa portal. A directly exported digital file tends to upload more cleanly.
What file size and format does the Thai e-Visa portal accept?
JPEG is the expected format; the exact file-size ceiling varies across the guidance we reviewed, so check the limit shown on your specific upload screen at thaievisa.go.th rather than assuming a fixed number.
Related pages
Create Your Thailand Visa Photo Maker Result Now
Whether you're applying for a Tourist, Non-B, Non-O, or DTV visa, get a correctly sized, white-background photo ready for thaievisa.go.th or your embassy appointment — in less time than a trip to a photo studio.