Russian Visa Photo: All You Need to Know About Size & Format [And a Hassle-Free Visa Photo Tool]

If you want to visit Russian Federation, you need to apply for a visa. You must provide the filled application form and five identical photos in color, not older than six months. You don’t need to search a professional photographer studio or photo booth; especially now, when going to the mall or city center is not recommendable by authorities because of covid-19 pandemic.

You can take your picture at home or any other place and you may have your Russia visa photo checked in a moment.

Russian Visa Photo Tool - make and check it online!

Do you know that you are able to get your Russian visa photo online? Try our visa photo editor!

This tool will resize, crop, edit and on the end check the photo in terms of Russia visa photo requirements.

Every picture you prepare on passport-photo.online has the warranty of acceptance by a given institution. You can order it in a digital version and print on your own or we will print it for you and deliver wherever you wish.

These photos must meet certain requirements like size and quality, paper structure, posture, color of background, face expression and some more. It is important to know and apply them all to make sure that your pictures will be accepted by a Russian embassy or consulate. Acquaint yourself with the Russian visa photo specification, below we present a full list of them.

Russian visa photo size

Russia visa photo requirement in these terms are clear:

• format of the photo (width x height) must be: 35 mm x 45 mm without frames and special corners
• it must not be a selfie
• the head must be placed in the centre of the picture
• face should cover about 50% of the whole area (27mm - 36 mm from the chin to the top of the head) and the head and shoulders - not less than 70% and not more than 80% of the photo
• the candidate must look straight forward, both sides of your face must be equally seen, side and angled views are not acceptable

Remember: all incorrectly cropped photos will be rejected, so a cropping tool for Russia visa photo may be useful for you. 

Background and lighting

The background in russian visa photo must be gray, totally free of shadows, patterns and other visible objects or people. If you are not able to prepare the required background, you can use a tool erasing unsuitable background and making it any color, in such a case grey. Just use a dedicated tool on passport-photo.online and relax, we will do the job.

The best light is natural, both sides of the face must be evenly illuminated. A photo must reproduce your skin tones accurately.

Head position and face expression

The candidate should not look down or to either side, his/her head must be square to the camera. The camera lens must be at the eye level of the applicant. A neutral expression with your mouth closed and eyes open is the must. Don’t smile but just relax your face muscles in a natural way.

Your eyes must be well visible and recognizable, so if you don’t need glasses, take them off, make sure also that your hair doesn't cover your eyes’ line.

Eyeglasses on the Russian visa photo

If you want to be sure your photo will be accepted, take off your glasses (also sunglasses are not acceptable). If you must wear glasses for medical reasons and you really cannot take them off, remember that there must not be any glare on the glass and the frame cannot cover any part of your eyes. Moreover, there should not be shadows or refraction on your face.

Clothing

This is a frequently asked question: how to dress for a Russian visa photo?

You can wear as you like – your everyday style. There are no special requirements in this term. Only uniforms must not be worn.

Beard

If you normally wear a beard, you can keep it for the photo. But remember that your face must be recognizable for an immigration officer, so don’t grow a beard before your picture is taken if you normally do not wear it.

Hats and head coverings

Generally speaking, head wear is not permitted on a Russia visa photo. You may wear your religious head covering only if it does not obscure your face. Your  face must be visible from the lower tip of the chin to the forehead. Face covering like niqabs are not acceptable.

Russian visa for children and babies

If you are planning to visit Russian Federation with your children, they must have a visa too. Babies who are unable to support themselves should be photographed lying down from above and they must have open eyes. If you support an infant, your hands or used to support the child should not be visible in the photo.

Retouching tools and Photoshop on the Russia visa photo

You must not use Photoshop on your Russian visa photo -  it applies to your face and also the background. So, no retouch, no artistic effect are acceptable. Instead, you may wear make-up and for the background use tool for the Russia visa photo just using a dedicated tool on passport-photo.online.

Russian visa photo specs about paper structure

The photo must be in color, printed on glossy, plain or opaque high quality photo paper.The relief or raster structure are not acceptable.

The print resolution must be of at least 600 dpi (especially when taken with a digital camera).The face must be sharply focused in all areas, adequate contrast and clear are also important.

Russia visa photo maker

passport-photo.online will be a perfect editor if you are looking for a tool with which you will be able to get your Russian visa photo online in a couple of minutes.

This tool resizes, crops, edits and on the end checks the photo to make you sure that it will be accepted by a given institution. We guarantee it! 

You can order it as in a digital version and print on your own or order already printed pictures that we deliver on a given physical address.

We will provide you with high quality Russian visa photos, correctly sized and cropped, meeting the criteria demanded by the Russian Government.

Last important thing: groupa images will be rejected. Your five delivered photos must be identical.

Summary for Russia Visa photo requirements and application

Photo is one of the most important elements during the visa application. The picture will be positively verified by the embassy official if it meets official requirements. Recommended photo size is 3,5 x 4,5 cm. The picture should have a balanced contrast, sharpness and lightning, hence, it is highly advised to use the service of an experienced photographer. The photo should be taken against a plain and uniform background. It should be printed in color, on a high quality photograph paper. The person in the photo should face the camera with eyes turned directly towards it. It is obligatory not to cover the face or hairline – it should remain clear and one is not allowed to cover it with hair or jewellery. While posing for a photograph one should close the mouth and have a neutral face expression, without any emotions.

Russia Visa online application for in USA

The Consular Section of The Russian Embassy in the United States states that electronic visa application in Russian or English language is the only form of applying for the document.

Sources:
https://evisa.kdmid.ru/ru-RU/Home/Index
https://ru.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/russian-visas/