Congo (DRC)のパスポート写真

DR Congo Passport Photo -- DGM Standards and Practical Guidance

The Democratic Republic of the Congo issues passports through the Direction Generale de Migration (DGM -- General Directorate of Migration), the sole authority for travel document issuance in the country. The DRC transitioned to biometric passports (passeport biometrique) in 2015, which tightened photo requirements considerably compared to the previous machine-readable format. With a population exceeding 100 million and a diaspora scattered across Belgium, France, South Africa, and North America, demand for Congolese passports consistently outstrips DGM processing capacity -- making it critical to submit a compliant photo on the first attempt to avoid being sent to the back of lengthy queues.

Official passport requirements are managed by the DGM, accessible at dgm.cd. Applications are filed at DGM provincial offices throughout the country or through Congolese embassies and consulates abroad, with consular services coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ministere des Affaires Etrangeres).

Technical Photo Specifications

Dimensions and resolution:

• 35 x 45 mm (413 x 531 pixels at 300 DPI)
• Head height from chin to top of skull: 28-33 mm
• Face centered horizontally in the frame
• Printed on quality photo paper -- matte or semi-gloss

Background:

• Plain white, completely uniform
• No shadows, gradients, or visible wall textures
• The background must be distinct from the subject's clothing and skin tone

Expression and pose:

• Neutral expression with mouth closed -- no smiling, no teeth visible
• Both eyes fully open and looking directly at the camera
• Head straight, not tilted or rotated in any direction
• Shoulders visible and level at the bottom edge of the frame

Print quality:

• Colour photograph only -- no black-and-white
• Clear focus throughout the face area
• No creases, smudges, or damage to the print surface
• Correct 35x45mm cutting -- imprecise hand-trimmed edges are a common quality issue
• No digital filters, beauty enhancement, or AI modification applied to the image

DRC-Specific Photo Rules

Glasses: The DGM discourages wearing glasses in passport photos. If prescription glasses are worn, lenses must be completely clear with no tinting or reflection. Frames must not obscure the eyes. For biometric enrollment, the DGM office may require you to remove glasses regardless of what your submitted photo shows.

Head coverings: Religious head coverings are permitted but must not cover the forehead, must not cast shadows on the face, and must leave the full facial contour from ear to ear visible. Non-religious headwear -- hats, caps, decorative headbands -- is prohibited.

Facial visibility: The DGM requires that the entire face, from the hairline to the bottom of the chin and from one ear to the other, be unobstructed. Hair must not fall across the forehead or cover the eyebrows. This rule is enforced more strictly with the biometric passport system than it was under the older format.

Photo age: Photos must have been taken within three months of application submission. The DGM applies a shorter window than the six-month standard used by many countries. Plan your photo session accordingly.

Number of photos required: Six identical photos per application -- a high number driven by the multiple stages of the DGM processing pipeline, where copies are retained at provincial, national, and archival levels.

Clothing: Civilian clothing only. Military uniforms, FARDC (Forces Armees de la Republique Democratique du Congo) attire, and police uniforms are not permitted. Avoid white clothing, which blends with the white background.

Retouching prohibition: The DGM does not accept digitally altered photos. Skin smoothing, blemish removal, facial reshaping, and filter application all produce images that fail biometric comparison. The photo must represent your natural, unmodified appearance. Studios near DGM offices understand this and will adjust lighting and exposure without retouching facial features.

Where to Get Passport Photos in the DRC

Photo studios in Kinshasa (Studio photo): Studios clustered around the Gombe administrative district and near the DGM headquarters on Boulevard du 30 Juin are the most reliable for passport-compliant work. Expect to pay 5,000-15,000 CDF (Congolese francs) for a set of six prints. Studios in Gombe deal exclusively with document photography and understand DGM specifications. Ask for "photos d'identite biometriques" to ensure correct formatting.

Studios in Lubumbashi: As the DRC's second city and capital of Haut-Katanga province, Lubumbashi has numerous photo studios along Avenue Kasavubu and near the central post office. Pricing ranges from 4,000-12,000 CDF. Studios near the provincial DGM office know the specifications well.

Studios in other provincial capitals: Mbuji-Mayi, Kisangani, Goma, Bukavu, and Kananga all have photo studios near their respective DGM provincial offices. Pricing is similar to Kinshasa or slightly lower -- 4,000-12,000 CDF per set. Quality varies more widely outside Kinshasa; check that the background is truly white and the head sizing is correct before accepting prints.

Street photographers (Photographe ambulant): In many Congolese cities and towns, mobile photographers with portable setups operate near government offices and markets. They charge 2,000-5,000 CDF and produce prints on the spot. While convenient, the quality and compliance of these photos is inconsistent -- backgrounds may be off-white or shadowed, and head framing may not meet biometric proportions. Use this option only if no studio is accessible, and inspect the results carefully.

Diaspora applicants: Congolese citizens applying through embassies in Brussels, Paris, Pretoria, or Washington can use any local photo studio that offers 35x45mm passport photos. Ensure the studio produces a white background, not the light-coloured options acceptable in some European countries. The Brussels embassy processes the highest volume of diaspora applications and applies photo standards strictly.

DIY at home: For applicants in areas without professional studios, hang a clean white sheet on a wall and photograph in natural shade or with front-facing window light. Use a smartphone rear camera from approximately 1.5 metres distance. Crop to 35x45mm using an online tool, then print six copies on photo paper at the nearest available facility. Verify the head height and framing before printing.

Baby and Child Passport Photos

Every Congolese citizen, including newborns, requires a biometric passport for international travel:

Infants under 12 months: Photograph the baby lying on a white cloth, shooting from directly above. The infant's eyes do not need to be open for very young babies under 6 months, but the DGM prefers them open when feasible. No hands, no toys, no pacifiers in the frame. The baby must be the only subject visible. Keep the white cloth smooth and wrinkle-free to avoid background texture. If a parent is holding the baby, their hands must be completely covered by the white cloth and not visible in the photo.

Children aged 1 to 5: The child should be upright, either seated or held, with both eyes open and looking toward the camera. Neutral expression preferred, though practical tolerance is applied. The white background and head-height proportions must match adult standards. Six photos are required, same as for adults.

Children aged 6 and above: Full adult specifications apply. No exceptions for head coverings, expression, or framing.

Practical tip for DRC applicants: Photo studios near DGM offices in Kinshasa and major cities are experienced with infant document photography and typically have small chairs and white backdrops designed for young children. Budget an extra 2,000-3,000 CDF for the additional time infant photos require, as most studios will allow multiple retakes without extra charge. Morning sessions tend to produce better results with young children who are more cooperative earlier in the day.

Common Rejection Reasons

DGM offices and studio operators report these as the most frequent causes of photo rejection:

1. Background not white enough -- Off-white walls, grey tones, and visible wall texture are the leading reason for rejected photos, especially from home setups and street photographers
2. Insufficient number of photos -- Submitting fewer than six identical prints delays processing at every stage of the pipeline
3. Hair covering the forehead or eyebrows -- The biometric system requires a clear view of the full face from hairline to chin
4. Photo older than three months -- The DGM enforces its three-month recency rule, which is shorter than the six months most other countries allow
5. Head too small in frame -- Standing too far from the camera produces a head height below the 28mm minimum
6. Uneven lighting or shadows on face -- Single-source lighting from one side creates shadows across half the face, making biometric scanning unreliable
7. Imprecise cutting -- Hand-trimmed photos with uneven edges or dimensions that deviate from the 35x45mm requirement

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How many photos do I need for a DRC biometric passport? A: Six identical 35x45mm photos are required per application. This is more than most countries require, so make sure your studio provides enough prints in a single session.

Q: What is the processing time for a Congolese passport? A: Official processing at DGM Kinshasa ranges from several weeks to several months depending on demand and operational capacity. Submitting a fully compliant application with correct photos on the first attempt significantly reduces the timeline.

Q: Can I wear glasses in my DRC passport photo? A: The DGM discourages it. If you do wear prescription glasses, they must have completely clear, non-reflective lenses. Be aware that the DGM may ask you to remove glasses during biometric enrollment regardless of what your submitted photo shows.

Q: I live in a rural area with no photo studio. What should I do? A: Take a photo at home against a white sheet hung on a wall, using natural daylight from a front-facing direction. Use our online tool to verify the dimensions and head positioning, then print at the nearest available facility. Ensure you produce six identical copies on photo paper.

Q: Are there separate photo rules for the DRC's laissez-passer travel document? A: The laissez-passer (emergency travel document) uses the same 35x45mm photo specifications as the standard biometric passport. The number of photos required may vary -- check with the issuing DGM office.

Q: Why is the recency window only three months instead of six? A: The DGM applies a stricter standard than ICAO's six-month recommendation. This is partly driven by the lengthy processing times -- a photo taken six months before application may be nearly a year old by the time the passport is produced. The three-month window helps ensure the photo still resembles the holder when the passport is issued.