Brazil Passport Photo Size 2026: 5x7cm (50x70mm) Requirements & Free Maker

Brazil is one of the few countries not using the international 35x45mm standard. The Polícia Federal — the authority that issues Brazilian passports — requires a larger 5 x 7 cm (50 x 70 mm) photo. Walk into a Brazilian studio, ask for a “foto 3x4,” and you will get the wrong size. This guide covers every Brazilian passport photo specification for 2026, the digital rules for online renewal through gov.br, and the rejections that catch most first-time applicants.

Official Brazil Passport Photo Size

The Brazilian passport photo must be exactly 5 cm wide by 7 cm tall — 50 x 70 mm or 1.97 x 2.76 inches. This is one of the largest official passport photo formats in the world, the same physical size as the Canadian passport photo.

Key dimensions:

Photo size: 50 x 70 mm (5 x 7 cm, 1.97 x 2.76 in)
Head height: 70 to 80 percent of the photo height
Resolution: 300 DPI for digital submissions
File format: JPEG, color
Maximum file size: 300 KB for the gov.br portal
Recency: taken within the last 6 months

The face must be centered, with both shoulders visible at the bottom edge and a small margin above the head. The Polícia Federal rejects photos that crop the top of the hair, leave excessive space above the head, or place the face off-center.

Why Brazil Uses 5x7cm Instead of 35x45mm

Most countries adopted the ICAO 35x45mm standard in the 2000s with biometric passports. Brazil kept its larger format because the Polícia Federal captures the photo digitally on-site during the passport appointment for adults. The 5x7 cm specification remains the official standard for any applicant-supplied photo.

Most Brazilian adults never print their own photo, but they still need to know the rules because:

Children under 3 must bring a printed 5x7 cm photo on photographic paper.
Brazilians applying through consulates abroad usually submit their own photo.
Online renewal through gov.br requires a digital photo that meets the same standard.

Background, Lighting, and Color Rules

A Brazilian passport photo must have a plain white background with no shadows, patterns, or objects. The Polícia Federal is strict about background uniformity because automated facial recognition compares the photo against the biometric database.

Background must be solid white. Off-white, cream, light grey, and pale blue are rejected.
No shadow on the background — stand at least 50 cm from the wall.
Even lighting on the face, with no harsh shadows under the eyes, nose, or chin.
Photo must be in color. Black and white is not accepted.
No filters, beauty modes, or color correction.

At home, use diffused daylight from a window or two soft lamps at 45-degree angles. Avoid overhead lights, which create raccoon-eye shadows.

Facial Expression and Head Position

Brazilian passport photos require a neutral expression with the mouth closed and both eyes clearly visible. Smiling, even slightly, is grounds for rejection.

Face the camera directly with your head straight, not tilted up, down, or to the side.
Both eyes open and focused on the lens. Squinting or half-closed eyes will fail.
Hair must not cover the eyes, eyebrows, or the outline of the face.
The full face from the top of the head to below the chin must be visible.
Lips relaxed and closed — no parted lips, no clenched jaw.

The Polícia Federal checks that the face occupies 70 to 80 percent of the photo height. A head that is too small or too large within the frame will be rejected.

Glasses Policy

Brazil’s policy is one of the strictest in the Americas: glasses are not allowed in passport photos, regardless of frame style or lens type.

The only narrow exception is when glasses are medically required and cannot be removed. Even then:

Lenses must be completely clear, with no glare or reflection.
Frames must not obscure any part of the eyes.
Medical justification may be requested at the appointment.

Tinted lenses, darkened photochromic lenses, and sunglasses are always prohibited. The simplest approach is to remove glasses before taking the photo.

What to Wear

There is no formal dress code, but the photo will be rejected if your clothing blends into the background.

Wear a dark or medium-tone top that contrasts with the white background — black, navy, burgundy, or grey.
Do not wear white. White tops disappear into the background and produce a “floating head” effect that the Polícia Federal rejects.
Avoid uniforms of any kind, including military, police, and corporate attire.
Hats and head coverings are not permitted unless worn daily for religious reasons, and the full face must remain visible.
Light makeup is acceptable; heavy makeup that alters facial features is not.

Digital Specs for gov.br Online Renewal

The gov.br portal offers online passport renewal for adults who already hold a valid biometric passport. Digital uploads follow the same 5x7 standard:

File format: JPEG
Aspect ratio: 5:7 (width:height), matching 50 x 70 mm
Resolution: 300 DPI
Recommended pixel size: at least 590 x 826 px, ideally 1181 x 1654 px
Color mode: 24-bit color (sRGB)
Maximum file size: 300 KB
No retouching, filters, or compression artifacts

The portal runs automated checks on aspect ratio, head height, background uniformity, and exposure, returning a specific error code on failure.

How to Take a Brazilian Passport Photo at Home

A compliant 5x7 cm photo can be produced at home with a smartphone:

Set up a plain white wall or hang a white sheet at least 50 cm behind where you will stand.
Use diffused daylight from a large window, or two soft lamps at 45-degree angles.
Position the camera at eye level. Use a tripod or ask someone else — selfies distort facial proportions.
Stand about 1.5 m from the camera and look directly into the lens.
Take multiple shots with a neutral expression, eyes open, mouth closed, and head straight.
Crop to 5:7 aspect ratio with the head taking up 70-80 percent of the frame.

Use our free Brazil passport photo tool to verify compliance, remove the background, and resize to exact 5 x 7 cm. The tool runs entirely in your browser.

Where to Get a Brazil Passport Photo

For in-person service, Brazilian cities offer several options under the umbrella term lojas de fotografia:

Document photo studios: Common in shopping malls and near Polícia Federal offices. Cost: R$ 20-40, usually with digital file included.
Pharmacy photo counters: Drogaria São Paulo, Drogasil, and Pacheco. Cost: around R$ 25.
Cartório photo counters: Notary offices preparing client documents. Cost: R$ 20-30.
Photo machines (cabines): Some São Paulo and Rio metro stations. Cost: R$ 15-25.

Ask for “foto para passaporte 5 por 7”. The standard Brazilian document photo is the 3x4 cm (“foto 3x4”) used for ID cards and CNH. The 3x4 is not acceptable for a passport — confirm the size before paying.

Renewing a Brazilian Passport Abroad

Brazilians overseas renew passports through consulados-gerais and embassies. The photo specification matches the domestic standard: 5 x 7 cm, white background, neutral expression, no glasses, within 6 months.

Major consular offices handling renewal include those in Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston; London, Paris, Madrid, Lisbon, and Frankfurt; Tokyo, Hamamatsu, and Nagoya for the large Brazilian community in Japan; and Buenos Aires, Montevideo, and Santiago. Documents originating from São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, or Brasília may also be processed at itinerant consulates (“consulados itinerantes”) visiting smaller cities. Most consulates prefer that applicants bring a printed photo.

Brazil Passport Photo for Children and Newborns

Children under 3 cannot be photographed at the Polícia Federal office, so parents must bring a printed photo:

Size: 5 x 7 cm on photographic paper
Background: plain white, no patterns
Expression: eyes open if possible; for newborns, eyes may be closed
Position: face centered, head straight, no toys, hands, or pacifiers visible
Recency: within the last 6 months

Lay the baby on a white sheet and shoot from above using natural daylight (no flash). Print at a photo shop — matte printer paper is rejected. For children aged 3 to 12, the same 5x7 spec applies, but the photo is taken on-site during the appointment.

Common Reasons Brazil Passport Photos Get Rejected

Wrong size — most often a 3x4 cm document photo submitted instead of 5x7 cm.
Off-white, grey, or colored background.
Shadow on the background behind the head.
Glasses worn without medical justification.
Smile, parted lips, or visible teeth.
Head tilted or face turned to one side.
White clothing that blends into the background.
Hair covering the eyes or eyebrows.
Photo older than 6 months or showing significant change in appearance.
Beauty filter or color correction applied.
File over 300 KB or wrong aspect ratio for gov.br.
Printed on regular paper instead of photographic paper.

Brazil Visa Photo Difference

Travelers should not confuse the passport rules with the visa rules. The Brazil visa photo uses the international 3.5 x 4.5 cm (35 x 45 mm) standard — the same format used for most other countries’ visa applications.

Specification	Brazil Passport	Brazil Visa
Size	50 x 70 mm	35 x 45 mm
Background	White	White
Glasses	Not allowed	Not allowed
Expression	Neutral	Neutral
Recency	6 months	6 months

For a Brazil e-visa or consular visa, see our Brazil visa photo guide for the 35x45mm specification and e-visa portal upload rules.

Next Steps

Use our free Brazil passport photo tool to produce a compliant 5 x 7 cm photo at home, verify it meets Polícia Federal requirements, and download it ready for printing or upload to gov.br. The photo is processed entirely in your browser, and the result works for both consular submissions and domestic appointments.