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Perfect biometric photo within 3 minutes.
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That's the only thing you need to do. Take or upload a photo - we will take care of the rest.
Artificial Intelligence will check your photo, crop it to the right size and remove the background.
Our Photo Expert will make additional verification to check if your photo meets the official requirements.
You can download a digital version and order a printout which we will send within 2-3 days. Delivery is free!
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Don't waste time, effort or money. You can take your passport photo without leaving home.
Over 1 million people have used our services within the past 11 years. Our Photo Experts are available 24/7.
We give you a guarantee of acceptance by authorities or otherwise we will refund you double the price!
Take as many photo shots as you want - you pay only when you are satisfied.
Taking a photo for your ID has never been so easy.
Follow simple instruction to take a perfect ID photo.
The distance between the face and the camera should be about 40 cm. Ideally the photo should be taken by the other person.
Place your face in front of the lens. Hold the camera at eye level and keep neutral face expression.
Stand facing the light source, for example an exposed window. The background will be cut out, don't worry about it.
Not just any photo is valid for a South African ID card. The photo you submit for your South African ID card must be a professional photo that presents your face in such a way that it can be easily recognized as a biometric photo suitable for identification. By biometric photo we mean a photo that comprises only your head and upper shoulders from the front, without any alterations such as objects, shadows or reflections that would make it difficult to identify your face. For the South African passport this type of photo is also used, the requirements of which will be listed below:
An essential part of any identification document is the photograph, whether in South Africa or in the rest of the world. We will help you generate the photo for your South African ID book by providing you with a number of tips and guidelines. Below we will give you information on the size of a South African ID photo, and a list of requirements to consider when taking a biometric photo.
The ID photo should not be overexposed or underexposed, because it would not reflect your natural hair and skin color. If you use daylight you will get the best results to eliminate any possible shadows.
These are our tips:
You can use make-up and even headgears (in some particular cases) for your official biometric photo for the South African ID.
However, you have to pay attention, as excessive make-up may cause your ID photo to be rejected. In the case of headgear, headgear is only approved for religious purposes. Wearing a cap or other form of headgear that covers your face, other than religious headgear, is prohibited according to the biometric photo specifications.
Your ears must be fully visible. If you wear an excessive amount of jewelry, your application for identification may be rejected.
Sunglasses are absolutely prohibited in ID photos. While regular glasses are permitted, you must ensure that they do not obscure your eyes or facial features. Although South African biometric photo regulations do not totally prohibit glasses in photos, we advise you to remove your everyday glasses when having your photo taken, to be 100% sure that your ID photos will not be rejected by the South African authorities.
If you have voluminous hair, we recommend that you make sure it goes beyond the margins of the photo. Another hairstyle to be careful with when having your ID photo taken is your bangs, you should make sure that no hair covers your face as this could be grounds for rejection of the photograph.
There are no specific mentions of beards in the biometric photo requirements. Therefore, if you wear a beard on a daily basis, you would not need to shave it off to have your South African ID photo taken.
You can dress casually or smartly, you can opt for anything. As it may cause your application to be rejected, we recommend that you do not wear light-colored or uniform clothing.
As this is an official photo, which will identify you for 10 years, we advise you not to wear a tank top, as you will look naked, and this is not the smartest choice for a photo that you will show over and over again.
For the South African identification document, the required photos must portray your current appearance. In the event that you already have a photo template and wish to use it for your application, you may of course do so, but you should note that the image selected cannot be more than one month old.
Nevertheless, if your appearance has changed drastically in this period of time, you will need to submit a new image. Neither cutting or coloring your hair nor growing a beard requires a new photo from you. In the case of children and adolescents under the age of 16, it is not necessary to take a new biometric photo image, even if they change quite a bit as they grow older during the validity period of the document. However, a new photo is required in certain situations:
Having your ID application rejected just because your photo is not correct is very frustrating. It takes a lot of time to plan a DNI application, and finding out that you have to go through the whole process again because your photos have been rejected is not a pleasant thing. Here is a list of the most common reasons why South African ID photos are rejected:
South African ID photos have to be perfect, otherwise, the official authorities will refuse your South African ID photo if it does not meet all the official requirements: no objects should appear in the background, your face has to be in good focus and the light has to be on both sides of your face. These are just some of the specifications that, before being submitted, your ID photo must follow. You don't need to be an expert in photo editing applications, with our Passport Photo Online photo editing application, you will see that it is very easy to get your South African ID photo. We will crop the image to the size according to the official requirements, remove the background and prepare a printable South Africa ID photo template for you!
Congratulations! You've read all the text above, and now you're probably dreaming of getting the perfect picture for your ID at home. Or outside, maybe even in your office. All you have to do is download our application and you will see that it is very easy to make your ideal ID picture, you will have it in seconds! Your job is just to look decent and meet the requirements mentioned above, we will crop, resize and take care of the rest of your image!
The appropriate size for a biometric photo for the South African ID card is 35 x 45 mm. The best thing, however, is that you don't even need to remember it. Once you have chosen the document you want, the artificial intelligence that powers our online photo editor will take care of getting the right dimensions, cropping and resolution. You just have to focus on taking the best photo of yourself. You only pay for the one you choose. All other photos are tested for free.
Whatever background color you need, our smart photo tool is capable of producing it. It doesn't matter if the background is a wall with shadows or shapes, or if other people or objects are visible in your frame. The online photo generator takes care of all challenges. In a matter of seconds, you will see that the background will be clear, white and valid in your ID photo.
You do not need to ask a licensed photographer for a separate tool, nor do you need to search the Internet to be absolutely sure that the photo accompanying your ID card is correct and that the authorities will approve it. Our ID photo generator is a complete tool that will give you 100% satisfaction. All photos are checked by an artificial intelligence system, and you can be sure that it is accurate if it appears as correct. If your photo certified by our authentication tool is not accepted in any way (which never happens, but we want you to know), just let us know and we will refund your money. But even that may not happen. We give you a 100% approval guarantee.
Once your photo is produced and accepted, you can order the digital version to be sent to your email address. This way you have the possibility to print it at copy shops or even nearby pharmacies. Your photo will be ready to attach to the application form if you submit it online. You can use one photo as many times as you want.
Our Passport Photo Online app can be used on any operating system. As the app is available for both iOS and Android, you can download it from the Google Play Store of Samsung, LG, Huawei, HTC, Lenovo and Sony or from the AppStore of your iPhone.
It may happen that you do not want any help with taking your own ID photo. Nevertheless, resizing and cropping the frame, as well as getting the background right, takes time and, in certain cases, is overwhelming. And likewise, you're still not sure if it's all right in the end. So we would like to offer you our help. With our photo app, the picture will be:
Of course, you can check for a photo booth or book a visit to a professional photography studio, but do you really want to spend your time and resources on something you can afford for a fraction of the cost and in just a minute? In addition, we are going through challenging times, we need to maintain social distance, which suggests that going to the mall or city center to sit in a line and wait is not the best option.
The option of looking for a photo booth or booking a visit to a professional photo studio is always present, but, given the current situation, we need to keep our social distance, which suggests that going to the mall or downtown to sit in a queue and wait is not the best option. Besides, do you really want to spend your time and resources on something you can pay for at a fraction of the cost and in just a minute?
Take the right South African ID card photo from home via the internet and feel safe... No matter how many photos you take, in the end you only pay for the one you order. You can try different outfits, make-up and hairstyles, take lots of photos and play with lights. And you will always have the guarantee of biometric photo acceptance. Sounds good, right?
Last update: 2023/06/06
South African Identity books are issued to South African nationals or permanent residence permit holders who are 16 years or older. People (including spouses and children) who are working for the South African government or one of its statutory bodies outside of South Africa also qualify to receive South African ID books. It is essential to obtain a South African ID book as soon as you are eligible, because they prove your identity. The green bar-coded Identity book (ID book) is also a legal form of identity when dealing with public and private institutions.
There are several times where you may be asked to have a copy of your ID book – for example for access to accommodation, school and healthcare services; to apply for a driver's license or a job; when entering into commercial arrangements and also when applying for the Unemployment Insurance Fund.
South African nationals also need an identity book with their photograph and information for applying for a passport, and for visas to work, study and visit their family overseas.
First-time applicants for the South African ID book must submit the following documentation to their nearest Department of Home Affairs office or South African mission or consulate abroad:
The fingerprints will be taken by a Home Affairs official and imprinted on Form DHA-9.
The South African ID book is free when issued for the first time. The South African authorities do not require any payment when a citizen applies for a South African ID book.
However, there are some cases in which a South African citizen has to pay a fee in order to obtain a new ID book. In such cases, the citizen not only does have to pay a fee to the proper authorities but also present additional documents in order to receive a new ID book. The following instances are these exceptions where a specific fee and other documents are needed to issue a South African ID book:
In the case that a South African national has his ID book stolen, lost or damaged, he can apply for a replacement ID. Citizens can also get a new ID if:
Replacing a lost, stolen or damaged ID will cost R140.
In case a South African citizen gets his ID and there are errors, the Department of Home Affairs of South Africa will replace his ID for free. To apply to correct information in his ID, he has to submit the following documents to any office of the Department of Home Affairs:
South African citizens can now apply for the new Smart Identity card which replaces the green bar-coded identity document.
The new smart card IDs can only be issued at offices where the live capture system for processing smart card IDs and new passports is available.
Applications for a Smart ID cost R140. In this case, citizens will not need to bring photos as the offices equipped to handle applications for the smart ID card will be able to take them. South African nationals can also apply for a smart ID online on the eHome Affairs webpage.
You don't have to do it! If you use our ID Book photo maker you don't have to take care of this, simply select the document you wish to apply for, upload a picture of you and the artificial intelligence will take take care of the rest.
No. Your photo must be printed on high-quality photo paper. If you take a picture with your smartphone or digital camera with a visa photo app you may print it in some photo store or order a delivery to your physical address.
Absolutely! Just choose the right place and moment, download Passport Photo AiD mobile app for iOS or Android or go on the Passport Photo Online website. You will be able to get your South African ID photo at home in less than 1 minute! Isn’t it great?
Yes, the beard is allowed.
Headgear for religious purposes are allowed but make sure that your hijab or hat do not block, obscure or cover in any way your face.
Our Artificial Intelligence tool will ensure that your picture is accurate and legitimate so that it is 100% approved by the authorities. If your photo gets rejected for some reason, we will refund your money.
Thanks to our app Passport Photo Online, it is no longer important to look for the closest photo studio or photo booth. Wherever and whenever you want, you can take a photo of your ID or any other official document: it may be at home, in your office or in your garden. All you need is a camera and our online biometric picture maker application is available for free, and your South African ID photo will be ready in no time!
Most of the time, it's when people are smiling, not looking directly into the camera lens, a photo of the wrong colour and pictures that are not well exposed (shadows are visible).
To get a ID Book, you must submit the following documentation to their nearest Department of Home Affairs office or South African mission or consulate abroad: a Form BI-9, completed in black ink, a certified copy of the Birth certificate or reference book or a copy of the old Transkei, Bophutatswana, Venda or Ciskei homelands identity or travel documents, and two identical, colour photographs (NOT needed at smartcard offices as ID images are captured digitally however colour photographs are still needed for temporary IDs).
The South African ID book is free when issued for the first time. The South African authorities do not require any payment when a citizen applies for a South African ID book.
Photos must be taken within the last month. The photos must be taken against a light grey or plain cream-coloured background. Applicants must show a neutral facial expression (no smiling, mouth closed) and look straight at the camera. The photos must measure 35 mm X 45 mm in size.
You can do it yourself, using only a digital camera or your smartphone. Prepare your ideal ID Book photo with an online ID photo maker!
Sure! We recommend to wear light makeup, so simply avoid dark lipsticks and opt for something like gloss.
You should avoid white t-shirts or light-coloured shirts since they would not create any contrast with the background, and don't wear tank tops or off the shoulder tops because you would look naked on an official document, which is not a smart choice :)
Of course! Use a tripod or ask a friend to take a picture of you and upload the picture in a ID Book photo maker online!
Yes, glasses are allowed, but it would be better if you can take them off. If you keep them, make sure your pupils are clearly visible and that the frame is not hiding your facial features or creating any shadow or reflection.
Our tool is based on artificial intelligence - the same as used by government offices, embassies and consulates to verify photos of applicants. If you want to be sure that the photo attached to your application form is correct, just let our online photo app verify it!
You can ask a friend or family member to take the photo or use a tripod and place it approximately 3 feet (1 meter) away from you. Follow our guidelines regarding the rules for a South African ID Book photo and strike a pose! Then our app will change the background and resize your picture so it fits the South African requirements and boom! You will receive your photo on your email address.
35mm in width and 45mm in height
You can take your South African ID Book photo online using our tool! No need to find a photobooth or to book an appointment at a photography shop, simply use our app and get your ID Book photo at a small price and in no time.