Kenya Biometric Photo Size
35×45 mm, ICAO 9303
How should a Kenya passport photo look?
The standard photo size for a Kenya biometric e-passport and national identity card (Kitambulisho cha Taifa) is 35×45 mm. The background must be plain white. Kenya has issued ICAO-compliant biometric e-passports since 2017, and the Huduma Namba system is digitising identity documents.
Photo Size
35×45 mm
Head Ratio
70%
Eye Position
56% from bottom
Top Margin
3-5 mm
Background Color
White
Standard
ICAO 9303
Requirements & Notes
Kenyan photo follows ICAO standards. White background required.
Issuing authorities: Department of Immigration Services and Huduma Centres
Passport applications are processed by the Department of Immigration Services. National identity card (Kitambulisho) applications and Huduma Namba registration can be handled at Huduma Centres located across the country.
Photo preparation workflow
PhotoID Studio automatically crops, resizes and replaces the background of your photo to meet Kenya's 35×45 mm biometric requirements. You save the processed image to your device and bring it to the Immigration Services office or Huduma Centre yourself.
Tips for taking a good photo
Take the photo against a plain white background in natural daylight. Look directly at the camera with a neutral, closed-mouth expression. Remove glasses and keep your head straight without tilting.
Common reasons for photo rejection
• Background is not plain white or contains shadows. • Face is partially obscured by glasses, a hat or hair. • Photo is older than 6 months. • Non-neutral expression or open mouth.
Pricing
With a PhotoID Studio annual subscription, you can generate unlimited biometric photos for Kenya and 100+ other countries. There are no per-photo charges.
Used For
- Passport
- ID card
- Visa
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Frequently asked questions
- Can I use the same photo for both the Kenya passport and identity card?
Yes. Both documents require an ICAO-compliant biometric photo of 35×45 mm with a white background.
- What is the Huduma Namba system?
Huduma Namba is Kenya's national biometric registration system that assigns a unique identification number to citizens and residents. Registration is done at Huduma Centres.
- How recent does the photo need to be?
A photo taken within the last 6 months is accepted.
Create Kenya Biometric Photos
Creating Kenya-compliant photos with PhotoID Studio takes just seconds. Get professional results with AI face detection and automatic background removal.