No-Stress Kenyan Passport Photo

Kenyan Passport Photo – take it with your phone!

Many Kenyan passport applicants ask where to take a proper Kenyan Passport Photo.

Do you know that you can take such a picture everywhere? At your place, on the street, in the park, etc. This is because there are no requirements for taking the Kenyan passport photo professionally. So, it is good news, because you do not need to go and overpay to a professional photographer for a photo you can take with your smartphone, tablet or digital camera and process with the smart Passport Photo App adapting it to all the requirements! We are in the XXI century, right? So you can ask somebody or use a tripod (keep in mind, that selfies are not allowed) and in a couple of moments create a perfect passport-style picture everywhere you want.

Kenyan Passport Photo - how to take it?

If you want to know more about Kenyan passport photo requirements, read our guidelines and create your perfect document photo by yourself.

We have gathered all the necessary information in a nutshell. We will give you some advice and tips on clothing, facial expression, posing and some other details. Of course, you will find here info about the Kenyan passport photo size, crop, etc.

Learn from our article about:

• what is the required size and crop of the photo
• how must be the background
• how to pose in the picture
• what is allowed and forbidden in the biometric photo
• how to avoid the most commonly made mistakes
• how to quickly verify is your picture meets all the passport photo requirements
• how to save your money and time taking a photo to your passport application

Kenyan Passport Photo Editor

Have you already checked the smart Kenyan passport photo editor? With this useful tool, you will be able to correctly resize and crop your image and adjust its background. Take a picture according to the given rules, wait 3 seconds and you receive the photo ready to print on your email address. Using the Kenyan Online Passport Photo Generator you can be 100% sure that your picture will be accepted by authorities! Prepare a correct photo in a moment with the Smart Resizing and Cropping Passport App!

Kenyan Passport Photo Size

You can find some different information about the Kenyan Passport Photo Size - it may vary depending on where you apply for your passport. The most commonly used and accepted size for the Passport Photo in Kenya is 5.5 cm x 5.5 cm (207 px x 207 px).

If you don’t know how to resize your picture taken by a smartphone, you can use a Passport Photo Resizing App and don’t be worried about the size of your picture. The resizing will be done automatically.

Kenyan Passport Photo Crop

Keep in mind that all your head with hair, neck and the upper part of the shoulders must be visible in the passport-style picture. Moreover, there must be space left between the crown and the upper edge of the photo and on both sides of your head.

Remember that you must not cut out your head’s image from the larger picture and the photo must be not produced with zoom function. 

You may not be sure how to obtain the required view, so we give you a tip:

make sure that the distance between a camera and a photographed person is between 1,20 and 2 metres. If you do not have anybody to help, use a tripod. Selfies are not accepted as passport photos.

But there is an easier way to produce a perfect photo for your document. Just see our passport photo online app, pick up the template you need (here: Kenyan Passport) and upload your image. Artificial intelligence will do the rest. Your photograph will be perfectly resized and cropped in just one second!

Kenyan Passport Photo - The background requirements

The background in the photo dedicated to the Passport of Kenya must be white, unique and free of shadows. The background must be clear and solid; no other people or objects must be visible behind you. On the Internet, you can find some tips on how to produce a photo with such a background. But you really do not need to stand against the white wall or screen. There is a much easier way to be sure that the background of your passport-style photo will be clearly white.

Just use the intelligent background removing photo app and have all the job done in 1 second! This app will erase every type of background from your image and exchange it for the required one.

Posing and smile in the Kenya passport photo

As in every biometric picture, you must not smile in the Kenyan passport photo. A neutral, natural facial expression is required. Relax your facial muscles and do not smile or blink for a moment. The camera lens must be positioned at the level of your eyes, do not look up or down. Moreover, in the photo you must:

• have your head straight, not tilted
• make sure that all your face is clearly visible
• keep your mouths closed but not tightened and keep your eyes open
• must not smile or frown
• not twist your shoulders
• look straightly at the camera

Your head must be centred in the crop but even if you do not obtain this perfect view, don’t worry: the Kenya Passport Photo Maker is able to do it in 3 seconds!

Kenya Passport Photo Recency/Validity

As a biometric photograph required for all types of passports worldwide must show your current look, you can attach to your application only a picture of yourself taken in the last 6 months. Otherwise, your photo is not recent and not valid, so you are obliged to take another one.

But the good news is that once you get a passport-style photo with our Online Kenyan Passport Photo Maker you may use it as many times as you want during the next 6 months. Maybe you want to apply for the ID card together with your passport? Or do you need a visa to another country? After ordering a photo template on our website, you will receive it in your email in JPEG format. You can upload it to different online applications or print it if it is mandatory.

Kenyan passport photo originality

As mentioned above, your passport photo must not be cut out from a larger picture. It must be original and it also means that it must not be:

• distorted or flipped
• pixelated
• altered using computer software or computer app
• unnaturally colored (do not use color filters)

Of course, you can take your passport photo with your smartphone, just do not use any filters or beautifying apps. The use of Photoshop and other graphic processing programs is not allowed. Instead, you can use a smart background erasing App that helps you to remove the wrong background from your picture. After processing your picture with this Passport Photo App your picture is still valid and considered original.

Kenyan Passport Photo - Headgears, Glasses, Piercing, Hairstyle

As you know, in order to successfully complete your passport application in Kenya, you have to submit 2 printed, colour photos were taken within the last 6 months. But this is not all. These photos must be identical and you have to know:

• what head covering is allowed or forbidden in the picture
• if you can wear eyeglasses at the moment of taking a photo
• whether you must remove your facial piercing before taking a passport photo or not
• if you are allowed to have your hair down or a voluminous hairstyle
• if you need to shave your beard before taking a passport photo
• what jewellery is accepted in this type of photos

Head coverings in Kenya Passport Pictures

As mentioned above, your full facial features must be visible in the picture of the passport. Head coverings can obscure your face or cast a shadow on it and that is why they are not allowed in passport pictures.

So, wearing headgear in biometric photos is not allowed but there are some exemptions from this rule.

If a hijab, headscarf, yarmulke, or other head covering is a part of your religious or traditional (cultural) attire and you wear it every day, you can keep it while capturing a photo for your Kenyan Passport. You are not obliged to prove your religious belongingness in such a case.

Anyway, when it comes to fashion head covering like hats, caps, bands, etc. – they are all still forbidden in the official document photos – this is a general rule.

Hairstyle, wigs and hair accessories in Kenyan Passport Pictures

You can keep your everyday hairstyle in your passport photo. Wigs are allowed under the condition that they are in natural colors and your facial features are still clearly visible.

However, remember that there must be some space left between your head (with hair) and the photo’s edges so if your hair is very voluminous, wear it up.

All massive hair accessories, such as ribbons or bandanas must be taken off too as they may obscure your face oval.

Jewellery and piercing in Kenya passport-style photo

The good news is that you do not need to remove your facial piercing as long as your facial features are still recognizable. These items must not give a glare on your shadow either. You also can keep your jewellery but these items must not “touch” your facial oval, so massive earrings are not allowed. Small items are accepted. There are no rules about necklaces and chains so you can wear them if you like.

Beard in the Kenyan passport photos

You are not asked to shave your beard before capturing the Kenya Passport Photo. Of course, your face must still be recognizable but bearded-style is accepted in biometric photos.

Glasses and sunglasses in Kenyan passport photos

The first rule about glasses in formal documentaries is that they must be transparent. Sunglasses and tinted glasses are always forbidden.

So, if you wear eyeglasses every day, you may keep them while capturing a photo for a Kenyan passport but it is not recommended as their frames may obscure your eyes or drop shadows on your face. Remember too, that any glares on glasses disqualify a photo. So, if there is no necessity to keep your glasses on, consider taking them out just to avoid he photo rejection.

Common mistakes in the Kenyan passport photos

Unfortunately, many applicants submit incorrect photos together with their passport applications and such photos must be rejected. It causes problems and delays in the application process. How to avoid a mistake that can cost you a change of travel plans?

We checked which are the most commonly made mistakes that people make. Now you know what to focus on!

The most common mistakes in Kenyan passport photos are:

• wrong background (only white, clear background is correct)

• smile (the neutral facial expression is a must)

• head or face covered (only headgears worn for religious purposes are accepted and they must not obscure the face)

• wrong photo view or angle (selfies, semi-profiles, etc. are not allowed)

• wrong quality of the photo (the picture must focused and sharp, not overexposed or underexposed, not damaged or scratched)

Kenya Online Passport Photo App

Do you want to be 100% sure that your Kenyan passport-style picture satisfies all the requirements? Don’t waste your time and check out an online photo maker which easily crops, resizes, and at the end verifies your photographs if it is suitable. If the application approves it, you may be 100% sure that a passport officer processing your application will do it too! No more worries, no more delays! With this passport photo editor, you make as many shots as you wish and you will pay only for those you like. Isn’t it a great way to save your money and time?

With our passport photo maker for Kenya, you are able to take and prepare your perfect photo at any time and in any place!

Passport Photo Maker for iOS and Android

Do you want to take a photo of your Kenyan passport with your iPhone, Nokia, Samsung or another smartphone? Go for it!

You can download the smart Passport Photo Generator from AppStore or Android Photo App from Google Play Store. It works under Android and iOS on smartphones and tablets. Do not use your webcam to produce such a picture and do not print your pictures with your home inkjet printer, because the quality of such pictures would be too poor.

Use the smart passport photo App which helps people worldwide to prepare and store photo shots and use them for more documents.

App-based on artificial intelligence sends your ready and verified picture directly to your email address, saved as a JPEG file. You can print your photos in, for example, one-hour photo kiosks near you.

Once more - the basic specs for Kenyan passport pictures

The specification for Passport Photo in Kenya is the specification for the biometric pictures in every country. There are some basic rules to follow. In a nutshell, the photo you want to attach to your application must:

• be original (not cut down from a larger picture)
• measure 5.5cm x 5.5cm (207 pixels x 207 pixels)
• reflect your true appearance (especially skin tones must be natural)
• be in color
• be taken against the white, plain background
• be of good quality (not scratched or damaged)
• be printed on photo-quality paper
• not be processed or altered by any graphic software
• be taken within the last 6 months

Last update: 6/6/23