A Vietnam e-visa application needs two different images: a scan of the passport biographical page and a recent portrait photo. The portrait should be in a 4×6 cm style, with a white background, taken from the front and without glasses. Preparing those files before completing the form helps you focus on checking the details instead of searching for images halfway through.
A clear photo is part of a complete application, but no checklist can promise an approval. This guide explains the documented portrait requirements and gives practical ways to organise the files. It keeps the passport scan and portrait separate, because they have different jobs: one records your travel document and the other shows your face.
Begin with the portrait requirements#
Use a recent portrait that shows you facing the camera, without glasses, against a white background. The requested style is 4×6 cm. Keep these requirements together when arranging the photo, rather than treating each one as an optional preference. A convenient holiday picture is not necessarily a suitable starting point for a visa application.
Before choosing a file, look at the actual image rather than its filename or the small preview in a messaging app. Check that it is the portrait you intended to send and that the background, direction of view and glasses requirement are all addressed. This simple review is particularly useful if your photo folder contains several older versions.
If you are asking someone to take the photo, share the requirements first. It is easier to prepare a suitable setting and take a fresh image than to try to explain what needs changing after everyone has moved on to another task. The aim is a straightforward portrait, not a polished holiday photograph.
Set up a clear, uncomplicated image#
As a practical photography check, look for even lighting and a clear view of your face. Review the full image for blur, distracting shadows or objects in the background. These checks help you see whether the file is useful for review; they are preparation advice rather than additional official measurement rules.
Take off your glasses before making the portrait and face the camera directly. Use the white background required for the application. If the result is unclear, taking another photo is usually simpler than trying to rescue a poor image through repeated edits. Keep the version that you intend to upload separate from any earlier attempts.
Do not confuse presentation with identity. The photograph needs to be a recent portrait of you, and the application needs to match your passport. A file that looks attractive at a glance still deserves a careful check against the basic requirements before you use it.
Prepare the passport bio-page separately#
The passport biographical page is the page containing your identity details. Prepare its scan as a separate file from the portrait. As a practical readability check, open it at a comfortable size and confirm that you can read the name, passport number and other details you will copy into the form.
Check the passport itself at the same time. It needs at least six months of validity from your intended entry date and blank pages. A readable scan does not replace that document check. If you have more than one passport, keep only the scan of the document you will use for this application in your working folder.
When helping a family member, compare the selected scan against their original passport rather than relying on your memory of the filename. Similar filenames are easy to confuse. A short pause at this stage can prevent a long search later for which image belongs to which traveller.
Keep the two image checks distinct#
| File | What to prepare | What to review before upload |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | Recent, white background, front-facing, no glasses, 4×6 cm style | The correct recent image and the required presentation |
| Passport scan | Biographical page of the travel passport | Readable identity details and the correct passport |
Do not submit a passport-page image where a portrait is requested, or use a portrait as a substitute for the passport scan. The files support different parts of the application. Keep their names clear enough that you can distinguish them when the upload window shows only a small preview.
For a household preparing several applications, a separate folder for each traveller can help. That is an organisational suggestion, not an application rule. The important point is that each person's portrait, passport details and travel information stay together throughout your review.
Check the upload instructions where you apply#
Use the official Vietnam e-visa portal to check the upload instructions shown with the application. Follow its file-format and size instructions at the point of submission. This guide does not replace those on-screen instructions with an assumed pixel count or a file limit copied from an unrelated application process.
If an upload does not work, read the message beside the field before changing the file. Identify whether the issue concerns the selected file or an instruction you have missed. Keep the original scan and portrait available while you prepare another upload version, so that you can compare the result without losing the source image.
Before submitting, review the uploaded previews if the application screen provides them. Make sure the right portrait and passport page are attached to the right application. The fact that an upload completed does not tell you whether you selected the intended file.
Finish the rest of the application as one set#
The images are only part of the preparation. You also need entry and exit dates, the intended entry port, an address in Vietnam and an email address. Keep the full requirements checklist nearby and work through it alongside your image review.
The official processing time is about three working days after a complete application, and peak periods or holidays can make it longer. Prepare the files early enough to allow time for your own checks. A processing estimate is not a reason to rush through the identity details at the end of the form.
When the e-visa PDF is issued, check that its details match your passport exactly. Save the document for printing or showing on arrival. The photo preparation, form review and final PDF check are connected parts of the same task: keeping the application consistent with the passport and journey.
Get help with the final document review#
If you would like assistance, tell us your passport type and travel dates and explain which part of the document preparation you are unsure about. A specific question, such as whether you have selected the correct portrait version, is easier to resolve than a general request to check an entire photo folder.
Our private service can help you organise the application and review the documents before submission. For the next steps, read how to apply for a Vietnam visa or start an application with us. Keep the original passport nearby so that any identity detail can be checked directly against it.
Questions about this guide
01What background should my portrait use?
Use a recent portrait with a white background, facing the camera and without glasses, in a 4×6 cm style.
02Is the passport scan the same as the portrait?
No. Prepare a passport biographical-page scan and a separate recent portrait.
03Where should I check file size and format?
Follow the upload instructions displayed on the official e-visa portal when submitting your application.
04Does a suitable photo guarantee approval?
No. The portrait is one part of the complete application; it does not guarantee a visa decision.
