Brunei Passport Photo Requirements & Guidelines

Brunei's passport photo specification catches people out for two reasons: the size is larger than almost anywhere else, and you need more copies than usual. Submit a standard 35 x 45 mm photo or the wrong file size and the Immigration and National Registration Department will hand it straight back.

This guide covers every current Brunei passport photo requirement — the 40 x 52 mm size, the plain white background, the four-photo rule, and the exact 240 KB / 600 DPI digital spec — so your application is not delayed over the picture.

Brunei Passport Photo Requirements at a Glance

These are the core specifications used for Brunei (Brunei Darussalam) passport photographs:

Get any of these wrong and the photo can be rejected, so confirm each line before you print or upload.

Passport Photo Dimensions and Head Position Rules

Exact Passport Size Photo Dimensions

The finished photo must measure 40 x 52 mm (4 x 5.2 cm) in portrait orientation. This is noticeably larger than the 35 x 45 mm size used across much of Asia and Europe, so a photo cut for another country will not fit — always size specifically for Brunei.

Head Size, Placement, and Photo Measurement

Measured to the top of the hair, your head height should be about 35 mm, leaving roughly a 6 mm gap between the top of your hair and the top edge of the photo. Sit or stand squarely facing the camera so your full face is centred and level.

Getting both the unusual size and the head position right by hand is awkward. The simplest route is to create your Brunei passport photo with a tool that crops and scales to the exact 40 x 52 mm spec for you.

Background Requirements

Acceptable backgrounds

The background must be plain white and evenly lit. Stand a little way in front of a clean white wall so the surface behind you stays bright and uniform, with no gradient from one side to the other.

Common background mistakes

• Cream, grey, or pale-blue walls passing as "white"
• A shadow behind the head from a single light source
• Standing too close to the wall and casting a hard outline
• Objects, furniture, or other people in the frame

Pose, Expression, and Lighting Rules

Expression and eyes

Keep a neutral expression with your mouth closed and both eyes open, looking straight into the lens. No smiling, frowning, or exaggerated expressions, and no tilting or turning of the head.

Lighting

Light your face evenly from the front to avoid shadows under the chin or across one cheek. Keep the image sharp and in focus — Brunei's 600 DPI requirement means a soft or low-resolution photo will not pass.

How Many Photos and the Digital File Spec

Four printed copies

Brunei typically asks for four identical photographs with an application — more than the two most countries request. Print all four from the same correctly sized, plain-background image so they match exactly.

The digital file

For digital submission the file must be a JPEG, no larger than 240 KB, captured at 600 DPI, with the same white background and framing as the prints. Keeping the file under 240 KB while staying sharp is easier when the photo is exported at the correct dimensions in the first place.

Glasses, Head Coverings, and Other Passport Photo Criteria

Glasses

If you wear glasses, there must be no glare or reflection on the lenses and the frames must not cover your eyes. Tinted lenses are not allowed. Removing glasses is the safest option.

Head coverings

As is common in Brunei, head coverings worn for religious reasons — such as a tudong or songkok — are generally accepted, provided your full face is clearly visible from the chin to the top of the forehead and nothing shadows your features. Hats and other non-religious headwear are not allowed.

Digital vs. Printed Passport Photo Specifications

Printed photo

Use four recent 40 x 52 mm colour photos printed on photo-quality paper with a plain white background and the head sized to about 35 mm.

Digital photo

For online submission, supply a JPEG under 240 KB at 600 DPI with the same composition. The only thing that changes between print and digital is the format — the size, background, and head position stay the same.

Top Reasons Brunei Passport Photos Get Rejected

• Wrong size — using 35 x 45 mm instead of Brunei's larger 40 x 52 mm
• Head too big or small — head height not around 35 mm
• Non-white background — grey, cream, or coloured walls
• Oversized digital file — over 240 KB, or below 600 DPI
• Too few copies — fewer than the four prints usually required
• Glare on glasses, or tinted lenses
• Smiling or a non-neutral expression
• Old photos taken more than six months ago

How to Meet Brunei's Passport Picture Requirements at Home

1. Stand 2-3 feet from a plain white wall in soft, even light, with no shadow behind you.
2. Have someone shoot from about 4 feet at eye level, or use a tripod and timer.
3. Face the camera directly, neutral expression, eyes open, mouth closed, glasses off if you can.
4. Shoot in colour at the highest resolution your phone or camera allows.
5. Upload it to a tool that sets the background to white and crops to 40 x 52 mm with the head at about 35 mm.
6. Download four print-ready copies and a JPEG under 240 KB at 600 DPI for any online step.

Beyond Brunei: Other Countries' Requirements

Photo specifications differ a lot from country to country — Brunei uses an unusually large 40 x 52 mm photo, while most of Asia and Europe use 35 x 45 mm and the United States uses a 2 x 2 inch square. If you apply or travel internationally, you can check the rules and generate a compliant image with our passport photo tool for 150+ countries, or browse the full directory of photo requirements by country.

Conclusion

A compliant Brunei passport photo comes down to three things most people miss: the larger 40 x 52 mm size with the head set to about 35 mm, a plain white background with no shadows, and the right output — four matching prints plus a JPEG under 240 KB at 600 DPI. Get those right and you avoid the most common reasons applications are returned.