Algeria Passport Photo Requirements & Guidelines

Algeria uses the international 35 × 45 mm passport photo size with a plain white background, and the biometric passport process is strict about head size and a clean, unedited image. Most rejections come down to small, avoidable mistakes in background, expression, or head position.

This guide breaks down every current Algeria passport photo rule for 2026 — the 35 × 45 mm size, the white background, the neutral-expression standard, and the two-photo requirement.

Algeria Passport Photo Requirements at a Glance

Here are the core specifications for the Algeria passport photo:

Get any one of these wrong and the photo can be rejected, so it is worth checking each before you submit.

Passport Photo Dimensions and Head Position Rules

Exact Passport Size Photo Dimensions

The finished photo must be 35 × 45 mm (3.5 × 4.5 cm) in a portrait format — the standard international size used across much of the world.

Head Size, Placement, and Photo Measurement

Your head must be centred with the distance from the top of your hair to the bottom of your chin measuring about 34.7 mm, facing the camera directly with your full face visible and not tilted.

Getting these millimetres right by hand is where most people slip up. The simplest fix is to create your Algeria passport photo with a tool that crops and resizes to the exact official spec automatically.

Background Requirements

Acceptable backgrounds

The background must be plain white and uniform, with no shadows. Stand a short distance in front of a clean white wall and light it evenly.

Common background mistakes

• Off-white, grey, or coloured walls
• Shadows falling behind the head or shoulders
• Other people, furniture, or objects in the frame
• Uneven lighting that darkens one side of the background

Pose, Expression, and Lighting Rules

Expression and eyes

Keep a neutral facial expression with your mouth closed — avoid smiling, frowning, or any exaggerated expression — with both eyes open and clearly visible.

Lighting

Use even, front-facing light so there are no shadows on your face or under the chin. Keep your hair clear of your eyes and make sure both edges of your face are visible.

Glasses, Head Coverings, and Other Passport Photo Criteria

Glasses

Remove glasses unless they are required for a documented medical reason. Where worn, the eyes must be fully visible with no glare, tint, or frames covering them.

Head coverings

Religious head coverings are accepted, provided the full face is clearly visible from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead, with both edges of the face visible.

Digital vs. Printed Passport Photo Specifications

Printed photo

For counter applications, submit two identical 35 × 45 mm colour prints on good-quality photo paper with a plain white background, taken within the last six months.

Digital photo

Where a digital biometric photo is captured or uploaded, the same rules apply — a white background, a neutral expression, a centred head, and high resolution (around 600 DPI). Only the delivery format changes.

Top Reasons Algeria Passport Photos Get Rejected

• Non-white background or shadows behind the head
• Head height off — not close to the ~34.7 mm measurement
• Only one photo submitted instead of two
• Smiling or frowning instead of a neutral expression
• Glasses glare obscuring the eyes
• Edited or low-resolution photos
• Old photos taken more than six months ago

How to Meet Algeria's Passport Picture Requirements at Home

1. Stand 2–3 feet from a plain white wall in even light, with no shadows behind you.
2. Have someone photograph you at eye level from about 4 feet away, or use a tripod and timer.
3. Face the camera directly with a neutral expression, eyes open, mouth closed, and no glasses.
4. Shoot in colour at the highest resolution your phone or camera allows.
5. Upload it to a tool that sets a white background and crops to the exact 35 × 45 mm spec.
6. Print two identical copies for the counter, or save a high-resolution file for digital use.

Beyond Algeria: Other Countries' Requirements

Specifications differ widely between countries — Algeria shares the 35 × 45 mm size with Europe, while the US uses a 2 × 2 inch square and Canada a 50 × 70 mm photo. If you travel or apply internationally, you can check the rules and generate a compliant photo using our passport photo tool for 150+ countries.

Conclusion

A compliant Algeria passport photo comes down to three things: the 35 × 45 mm size with an approximately 34.7 mm head height, a plain white background with no shadows, and two recent, neutral photos taken within the last six months. Nail those and you avoid the most common rejection reasons.