Vietnam Photo Requirements 2026

Vietnam's Unique Photo Size Creates Problems Abroad

Vietnamese passport photos are 40×60mm (4×6cm) — noticeably larger than the 35×45mm used by most of the world. This isn't a minor difference; it's a completely different aspect ratio and frame size. If you're a Vietnamese citizen getting passport photos abroad, no standard "passport photo" service will produce the right dimensions. You'll need to specifically request 4×6cm, and many studios outside Vietnam have never even heard of this size. Our tool handles this automatically by outputting the exact 40×60mm dimensions.

The Immigration Department (Cục Quản lý Xuất nhập cảnh) under the Ministry of Public Security sets the requirements: white background, neutral expression, mouth closed, face taking up about 70-80% of the photo area. No glasses, no head coverings (except for religious purposes), and the photo must be captured within the last 6 months. Vietnam's ePassport system was introduced recently, adding digital photo capture at immigration offices, but the uploaded photo for online applications still needs to meet these specs.

Immigration Offices

• Cục Quản lý XNC, Hanoi — 44-46 Trần Phú, Ba Đình, Hà Nội. National headquarters.
• Phòng QL XNC Công an TP HCM — 161 Nguyễn Du, Quận 1, TP. Hồ Chí Minh. Ho Chi Minh City's main immigration office.
• Phòng QL XNC Đà Nẵng — 7 Trần Quý Cáp, Hải Châu, Đà Nẵng. Central Vietnam hub.
• Provincial Police Immigration Departments — In all 63 provinces/cities of Vietnam.
• Vietnamese Embassy Washington DC — 1233 20th Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036
• Vietnamese Embassy London — 12-14 Victoria Road, London W8 5RD

Applications can be initiated through the Public Service Portal at dichvucong.gov.vn, though in-person visits remain necessary for biometric enrollment.

What Gets Your Photo Rejected

1. Standard 35×45mm size used instead of 40×60mm — Far and away the most common mistake among overseas Vietnamese. The 4×6cm requirement is non-negotiable and cannot be "close enough."
2. Background not white — Must be clean, uniform white. Some studios in Vietnam offer blue backgrounds for other document types — always confirm white for hộ chiếu (passport).
3. Smiling or showing teeth — Vietnamese culture values warm expressions in photos, but the passport office strictly requires a closed-mouth neutral face.
4. Wearing glasses — Vietnam's immigration system now prefers photos without glasses. Even clear lenses can create reflections that the biometric scanner misreads.
5. Photo taken with phone in selfie mode — The perspective distortion from arm's-length selfies produces subtly warped facial proportions that don't match the in-person biometric capture.

Prices and Processing

A Vietnamese passport costs VND 200,000 (~$8 USD) — one of the cheapest in the world. Standard processing takes 8-10 working days in major cities but can extend to 15-20 days in remote provinces. Express processing isn't formally offered domestically, but applications at the Hanoi and HCMC headquarters tend to be processed faster. For Vietnamese nationals abroad, embassy fees range from $25-60 USD, with standard processing of 4-8 weeks.

Official Resources

• Vietnam Public Service Portal (Dịch vụ Công)
• Cục Quản lý Xuất nhập cảnh (Immigration Department)