Paraguay Passport Photo

Paraguay Passport Photo -- Departamento de Identificaciones Requirements

Paraguay's passport operations fall under the Departamento de Identificaciones of the Policia Nacional, which manages both the cedula de identidad (national ID) and the passport from the same institutional framework. The central office is located in Asuncion's Sajonia neighborhood, with delegaciones in Ciudad del Este, Encarnacion, Pedro Juan Caballero, and other departmental capitals. Paraguay stands out in South America for using a 30x40 mm photo format -- smaller than the 35x45 mm European standard and the 51x51 mm format used by several other Western Hemisphere countries.

Since introducing the biometric ePassport in 2018, the Departamento de Identificaciones has modernized its photo validation process. The biometric enrollment station at each office includes automated face detection that checks the submitted photo's geometry before the application is accepted. Paraguay processes approximately 250,000 passport applications per year, with photo compliance errors accounting for a notable portion of rejected or delayed applications -- particularly among applicants who bring photos in the wrong dimensions.

Technical Photo Specifications

Dimensions:

• 30 x 40 mm (354 x 472 pixels at 300 DPI) -- smaller than the international standard
• Color photograph on photographic paper
• Sharp, well-exposed image with natural color rendering
• Printed on matte or semi-gloss paper -- not glossy, not plain printer paper

Background:

• Pure white with uniform lighting
• No shadows, marks, textures, or background objects
• The background must extend cleanly to all four edges of the photo

Face positioning and expression:

• Face centered in the frame
• Chin-to-crown height: approximately 25-32 mm within the 40 mm height
• Neutral expression, mouth closed, no teeth showing
• Both eyes open and directed at the camera
• Head facing straight forward with no tilt or rotation in any axis

Paraguay-Specific Photo Rules

Glasses: The Departamento de Identificaciones does not permit glasses in biometric passport photos. All types of eyewear must be removed, including prescription glasses, non-prescription fashion frames, and sunglasses. No medical exemptions are available.

Head coverings: Permitted only for religious reasons. The applicant must declare the religious basis at the application window. The covering cannot hide the forehead, jawline, or any other part of the face. Paraguay's population is overwhelmingly Catholic, making head covering requests uncommon.

Ear visibility: Paraguay does not explicitly mandate ear visibility, but the full face must be visible "from ear to ear," which effectively requires that hair not cover the sides of the face. Tucking hair behind the ears is the safest approach to avoid ambiguity.

Photo dimensions warning: The 30x40 mm format is the most distinctive aspect of Paraguay's passport photo requirement. Studios accustomed to serving applicants for Brazilian, Argentine, or Uruguayan passports may default to 35x45 mm or 40x50 mm formats. Always confirm that you need the 30x40 mm Paraguayan specification. This mismatch is the most common source of passport photo rejection in Paraguay.

Digital retouching: Any digital alteration of the photo -- skin smoothing, facial reshaping, color correction beyond basic exposure adjustment, beauty filters -- is prohibited. The biometric enrollment system compares the printed photo to the live capture taken at the office, and significant discrepancies trigger rejection.

Clothing: Avoid white or very light clothing against the white background. Dark or medium-toned clothing provides the contrast needed for the biometric scanner to detect the boundary between the subject and the background. Military, police, and institutional uniforms are not permitted.

Biometric Enrollment at Identificaciones

When you submit your application at the Departamento de Identificaciones, the biometric enrollment process involves:

• A live digital photo taken by the enrollment station's camera
• Fingerprint scanning of all ten digits
• Signature capture on a digital pad

The live photo captured at the counter is compared to the printed photos you submit. If the two do not match closely -- for example, due to a change in hairstyle, facial hair, or weight between the photo session and your visit -- the officer will pause your application until you return with updated prints.

Biometric enrollment is available at the Asuncion headquarters and all departmental delegaciones. However, passport printing occurs centrally, and finished passports are dispatched to regional offices for collection.

Where to Get Passport Photos in Paraguay

Asuncion studios: Photo studios along Palma Street in the centro historico, near the Departamento de Identificaciones in Sajonia, and in the commercial areas around Shopping del Sol charge 15,000-40,000 PYG (Paraguayan Guarani) for a set of passport photos. Studios closest to the Identificaciones office are the most reliable for the correct 30x40 mm format. Ask for "foto carnet tamano pasaporte paraguayo" and verify the dimensions before leaving.

Ciudad del Este: As Paraguay's second-largest city and a major commercial hub on the Brazilian border, Ciudad del Este has numerous photo studios along Avenida San Blas and in Shopping Paris. Prices range from 10,000-30,000 PYG. Many studios here serve both Paraguayan and Brazilian passport customers and maintain templates for multiple photo sizes -- double-check that you receive the 30x40 mm format rather than the Brazilian 50x70 mm.

Encarnacion, Pedro Juan Caballero, and regional cities: Studios in departmental capitals charge 10,000-25,000 PYG. In smaller towns, options are more limited. Studios near the local Identificaciones delegacion or the municipal government building are the most experienced with the correct specifications.

Supermarket and pharmacy photo kiosks: Some Superseis, Stock, and Farmacity locations in Asuncion have automated photo kiosks that offer passport photo options for 10,000-20,000 PYG. These machines include format selection -- choose the 30x40 mm Paraguay passport option specifically.

DIY printing: Digital photo labs, internet cafes, and print shops can produce passport prints from a USB drive or phone transfer. A 10x15 cm print costs 2,000-5,000 PYG. Two 30x40 mm photos fit easily on a single 10x15 cm print.

Photos for Babies and Young Children

All Paraguayan citizens require their own passport for international travel, regardless of age. The Departamento de Identificaciones specifies:

• The child must be alone in the photo. No parent, guardian, or sibling.
• Infants: lay the baby face-up on a white surface and photograph from directly above. A white sheet or blanket provides the required background.
• Under 6 months: partially open or unfocused eyes are tolerated. The face must still be clearly visible and properly exposed.
• Ages 6 months to 4 years: eyes must be open. A neutral expression is encouraged, but the office shows flexibility for young children.
• Age 5 and above: full adult specifications apply.
• No pacifiers, bottles, hats, hair bows, or toys visible.
• The 30x40 mm format applies to children's photos just as it does to adults -- do not submit a different size.
• Paraguayan child passports are valid for 5 years. The Departamento de Identificaciones may request updated photos if a child's appearance has changed substantially since the original submission.

Common Rejection Reasons at Identificaciones

The Departamento de Identificaciones and its biometric enrollment stations reject photos most frequently for:

1. Wrong dimensions -- 35x45 mm or 51x51 mm photos instead of the required 30x40 mm. This is the most common rejection in Paraguay by a significant margin, driven by studios defaulting to international standard sizes.
2. Glasses present -- eyewear of any kind, submitted despite the prohibition.
3. Background not uniformly white -- grey or cream tones, shadows, or visible wall texture behind the applicant.
4. Head too large or too small -- the smaller 30x40 mm format makes proper head sizing more challenging. Photographers must frame the shot carefully to keep the chin-to-crown measurement within the 25-32 mm range.
5. Digital retouching detected -- the biometric system flags discrepancies between the printed photo and the live capture taken at the office.
6. Non-neutral expression -- smiling, pursed lips, or squinting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why does Paraguay use 30x40 mm instead of the standard 35x45 mm? A: Paraguay adopted its own national photo size that has been carried forward through successive passport formats. The 30x40 mm dimension is used for both the passport and the cedula de identidad. When ordering photos, always specify this Paraguayan size to avoid receiving standard international dimensions.

Q: Can I use the same photo for my cedula and my passport? A: Yes. Both documents use the 30x40 mm format and the same photo specifications. A single photo session can produce prints for both applications.

Q: How many photos do I need for a Paraguayan passport application? A: Two identical 30x40 mm photos are required. Bringing four provides a safety margin.

Q: What is the processing time for a Paraguayan passport? A: Standard processing at the Asuncion headquarters takes approximately 5-15 business days. Express service is available for an additional fee. Regional delegaciones forward applications to Asuncion, adding transit time. Photo rejection pauses the process until corrected photos are submitted.

Q: Can I apply for my passport at the Ciudad del Este office? A: Yes. The Departamento de Identificaciones has delegaciones in several cities. Biometric enrollment can be completed at these regional offices, but passport printing occurs centrally and the finished document is sent to the regional office for pickup. For consular applications abroad, visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MRE).

Q: Is a Paraguayan passport photo accepted for Mercosur travel? A: Within Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay), citizens can often travel using the cedula de identidad rather than a passport. However, the passport is required for travel outside South America. The 30x40 mm photo is specific to Paraguayan documents and may not match other Mercosur member states' photo sizes.