Malaysia Visa
Last verified 2026-04-25 against Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia (JIM) — also handled via Malaysian missions abroad (Wisma Putra / KLN) and the eVISA portalStandards: JIM visa photo specification · ICAO Doc 9303Government-spec dimensions, head positioning, and file constraints.
- Pixel size
- 827 × 1181 px
- Print size
- 35 × 50 mm · 600 DPI
- Background
- white#FFFFFF
- Face height
- 70–80% · target 75%
- Eye line
- 50%–60% from bottom
- File size limit
- 100 KB
Note: Max 100 KB file size
Dimensions
- Print size: 35 × 50 mm (aspect 7:10)
- Pixel size at 600 DPI: 827 × 1181 px
- DPI: 600 minimum
- File format: JPEG
- File size: up to 100 KB (online eVISA submissions) — this is the key constraint distinguishing the visa spec from passport
- Color mode: full colour
Head position
- Head height (top of hair to chin): 30–35 mm (slightly larger face area than passport)
- Top margin (top of photo to top of hair): 5 mm minimum
- Face coverage: ~70–80% of photo height
- Head position: full-face view, directly facing camera
- Shoulders: squarely aligned
Background
- Color: white (
#FFFFFF) — standard - Some visa categories accept a blue background (35 × 45 mm or 35 × 50 mm); the white-background, 35 × 50 mm form is the safe default
- Plain, evenly lit, no shadows, no patterns
Expression
- Neutral expression; mouth closed
- Both eyes clearly visible and open; no red-eye
- Even, balanced lighting
Accessories
- Glasses: removal recommended to avoid glare
- Religious head coverings: permitted, provided face is fully visible
- Non-religious head coverings and hats: not permitted
Other rules
- Photo must have been taken within the last 6 months
- No digital alterations or filters
- Photo must contain only the applicant
- Online uploads must respect the 100 KB ceiling — JPEG quality may need to be reduced for high-resolution captures
Notes
- Some visa categories (e.g. certain student / dependant visas) historically accepted a blue background and a 35 × 45 mm size. The 35 × 50 mm white-background photo satisfies the broadest set of categories and matches the form factor used for the Malaysian passport.
- The 100 KB cap is the most common cause of rejection — a 600-DPI 35 × 50 mm JPEG must be encoded at moderate quality (~75) to fit.
Sources
Can I wear glasses in my Malaysian visa photo?
JIM recommends removing glasses to avoid lens glare. Religious head coverings remain permitted, but reflective frames or tinted lenses are a common rejection reason.
Can I wear a head covering for the visa photo?
Religious head coverings are permitted as long as your face is fully visible. Non-religious head coverings and hats are not allowed.
Can I smile in a Malaysian visa photo?
No. JIM requires a neutral expression with your mouth closed. Both eyes must be open and clearly visible, with even lighting and no red-eye.
How recent does the visa photo need to be?
The photo must have been taken within the last six months, contain only the applicant, and must not be digitally altered or filtered.
What file format and size does the eVISA portal accept?
The eVISA portal accepts JPEG only, with a strict ceiling of **100 KB** — the most common cause of visa-photo rejection. The image must be 35 × 50 mm (827 × 1181 px at 600 DPI) on a white background. A 600-DPI capture typically needs JPEG quality around 75 to fit under 100 KB.
Live validation
against the actual rulebook.
Every crop is measured against the published tolerance ranges for the selected document. Pass or warn, in real time — no "submit and hope."
The same checks the authority will run — before you submit.
- Face height & eye line measured from the pupil midpoint with sub-pixel accuracy, clamped to the tolerance range your authority publishes.
- Background colour checked across a sampled grid — catches gradients and fringe from poor segmentation (ΔE < 3 against spec).
- File-size ceiling enforced per-spec — recompressed silently for sub-60 KB e-visa portals, lossless for print.
- Sharpness & expression guards warn on blur, closed eyes, or non-neutral expressions before you export.
Process this in your browser
No install. Photos stay on your device. $2.99 per photo, watermark-free.
Open in browserShoot once. Ship anywhere around the world.
SpecSnap is free to download. Try it on the next passport renewal, visa application, or driving-licence form sitting in your inbox.