Quick answer
Normal process
Authorized studio digital photo
Printed photo
Not normally accepted
Bring with application
Studio acknowledgement note
Last reviewed: July 20, 2026. Source checked: Sri Lanka Department of Immigration and Emigration passport information.
The important rule
Sri Lanka is different from many countries because the Department of Immigration and Emigration uses a digital photo submission workflow. The Department states that printed photographs are no longer accepted for normal passport applications. Applicants should obtain the photograph through an authorized photo studio, or through the Department Head Office or Regional Office photo setup.
The studio sends the photo online to the Department system and gives you a Studio Acknowledgement Note. You present that note with your application and supporting documents. VisaPicPro cannot replace that official submission path, but it can help you understand what a clean ICAO-style passport photo should look like before you visit the studio.
Quality checklist before the studio visit
- Use a recent appearance: haircut, facial hair and glasses should match how you will look at enrolment.
- Keep eyes open and visible. Department studio guidance says eyes should be clear without spectacles.
- Use a neutral expression and face the camera directly.
- Avoid strong shadows, glossy skin glare, filters and edited facial features.
- Religious caps or scarves may be allowed, but the face, forehead and ears should remain clear where required.
- Keep the acknowledgement note safe with your application documents.
Where online tools still help
Online tools are useful for checking whether your lighting, face position and crop look reasonable before you pay for a studio session. They are also useful for visa photos, embassy requests, school forms, and non-passport document photos where a direct file or printed sheet is requested.
For passport submission itself, follow the official Department workflow. Use the ICAO photo checker to review basic issues, or the passport photo size guide to compare dimensions by country.