Russia Visa photo requirements

Russian visa photo requirements, in plain English

Russia's visa photo rules come from the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs — the same authority that runs the official e-visa portal. The rules are close to the international ICAO standard, with one notable area of flexibility: clear glasses are allowed, and religious head coverings are permitted as long as your face stays fully visible.

Size, framing, and position

Your photo must be 35×45 mm (3.5×4.5 cm), rectangular with a 35×45 aspect ratio, and have no frames. It must be a full-face view that shows the top of your head and the top of your shoulders, with your face filling 70–80% of the frame. Keep your head straight — not tilted and not turned — and look directly at the camera.

Expression and gaze

Use a neutral expression with your mouth closed and your eyes open and clearly visible, looking straight at the camera. A broad smile, visible teeth, or an open mouth will be rejected.

Glasses — allowed, but no glare

Unlike some countries, Russia does not ban glasses. You may wear clear prescription glasses provided your eyes are clearly visible. What is not allowed is flash reflection (glare) off the lenses or tinted/coloured lenses. Sunglasses and any glasses that hide the eyes must come off.

Head coverings and hats

Religious head coverings are permitted — if your beliefs prohibit you from being seen with your head uncovered, you may wear a covering, as long as it does not conceal your facial features and your face is visible from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead. The MFA does not separately address ordinary secular hats; by the international default, remove all caps and hats so the head is uncovered.

Lighting, shadows, and red-eye

Lighting must be uniform with no shadows on the face or background, and no flash reflections on the face and no red eyes. The image must be clear, well defined, and in focus, with a neutral colour scheme that shows natural skin tone.

Background

A plain light-coloured background — light grey or white — with no shadows and no foreign objects or other people in the frame. Snapassport standardizes your background to the exact compliant colour automatically, so a slightly off-colour wall is corrected for you.

Recency and format

Submit a photo taken within the last six months that reflects your current appearance. For the e-visa, the photo is uploaded as a JPEG file.

Infants and children

The MFA's published e-visa requirements do not give separate rules for infants. By international best practice, the same standards apply: a neutral expression with eyes open, a plain light background, the child alone in the frame, and no supporting hands, toys, or other objects visible.