Vietnam eVisa Photo Requirements 2026: Portrait Photo, Passport Bio Page, and the HEIC Problem
VietnamVisaEasy • Updated July 20, 2026 • eVisa processing experience since 2010
Direct answer
Vietnam eVisa requires two photos: (1) Portrait — JPEG only, white background, neutral expression, no glasses, face fills at least 70% of frame, file under 2MB. (2) Passport bio page scan — full page including MRZ, all text legible, JPEG, under 2MB. HEIC format from iPhone is the most common rejection cause.
iPhone fix: Settings → Camera → Formats → Most Compatible before taking any photo for the application. Or use WhatsApp camera — it saves as JPEG automatically.
Already submitted with wrong format and status shows Amendment Required: WhatsApp +84 947 754 252 — free Path B correction, no reapplication needed.
No physical printed photos required for Vietnam eVisa — the application is fully online. Visa on arrival (which required printed photos at the airport) was abolished in 2023.
Photo 1 — Portrait Photo: Full Requirements
The portrait photo is the most scrutinised of the two submissions. Vietnamese immigration uses it for facial recognition matching on arrival. Any deviation from the technical or visual requirements can trigger Amendment Required during the government review stage, stopping the application without notification.
| Requirement | Required | Not accepted |
|---|---|---|
| File format | JPEG / JPG only | HEIC (iPhone default), PNG, WEBP, BMP, GIF, TIFF |
| File size | Under 2MB | Over 2MB (portal rejects at upload) |
| Background | Solid white or off-white. No shadows or gradients. | Coloured, patterned, or outdoor backgrounds |
| Face coverage | Face fills at least 70–80% of the frame. Full face from crown to chin visible. | Face too small, cut off at top or chin, angled |
| Glasses | No glasses of any kind | Sunglasses, prescription glasses, tinted lenses |
| Expression | Neutral. Eyes open, looking directly at camera. | Smiling, squinting, eyes closed or downcast |
| Head coverings | Religious coverings permitted if face, hairline, and jawline remain visible | Hats, beanies, or anything obscuring facial outline |
| Recency | Taken within the last 6 months | Photos older than 6 months |
| Lighting | Even, well-lit, no harsh shadows on face or background | Flash glare, red-eye, shadows crossing the face |
The portal does not always reject non-compliant photos at upload. HEIC and expression issues may pass the upload step but be flagged during government manual review, triggering Amendment Required with no email sent. The processing clock stops until corrected.
Photo 2 — Passport Bio Page Scan: Full Requirements
The passport bio page scan is used to verify the passport number, name, date of birth, and MRZ (machine-readable zone) against the information entered in the application form. Mismatches between the scan and the form data are a common secondary cause of Amendment Required — particularly where the name on the form omits middle names that are visible in the MRZ.
| Requirement | Required | Not accepted |
|---|---|---|
| File format | JPEG / JPG only | HEIC, PNG, WEBP, PDF |
| File size | Under 2MB | Over 2MB |
| Page coverage | Full passport photo page visible. MRZ two-line zone at bottom must be fully included. | Cropped MRZ, partial page, folded corners |
| Legibility | All text, numbers, and MRZ characters readable. Passport number clearly visible. | Blurry, pixelated, overexposed from flash glare |
| Orientation | Flat on a surface, not held in hand. Scanner preferred over camera photo. | Angled, curved pages, passport held open in hand |
| Glare | No flash glare on the laminate. Ambient light or scanner only. | Flash glare obscuring photo or text fields |
Tip: use a flatbed scanner app (Adobe Scan, Microsoft Lens, CamScanner) rather than a direct camera photo. Scanner apps flatten the page, correct perspective, and adjust brightness automatically for better legibility. iPhone users: save the scan as JPEG, not PDF.
The HEIC Problem: Why iPhone Photos Fail
HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) is Apple's default photo format since iOS 11. iPhone and iPad cameras save all photos as HEIC unless configured otherwise. HEIC files typically have a .heic extension, though some devices show them as .jpg in the file picker while remaining in HEIC encoding internally — meaning the file looks like a JPEG but is not.
The Vietnam eVisa portal accepts JPEG only. When a HEIC file is uploaded, the portal may not always reject it immediately at the upload stage. Instead, the issue is caught during Vietnamese immigration's manual document review. The application is flagged as Amendment Required, processing stops, and no email is sent. Travellers see the same "In Process" status in their confirmation email and do not know anything is wrong until they check the live status portal — often too close to the flight date.
From agency processing data, HEIC photo errors are the single most frequent cause of Amendment Required across US, Australian, and Canadian applicants. The fix takes 30 seconds before applying:
| 1 | Change iPhone camera setting | Settings → Camera → Formats → Most Compatible. This switches the camera to JPEG capture. Do this before taking any photo for the application. It remains set until changed back. |
| 2 | Use WhatsApp camera | Open WhatsApp → New Message → Camera icon. Take the photo inside WhatsApp. It saves as JPEG automatically regardless of iPhone camera settings. Works for portrait and passport scan. |
| 3 | Convert existing HEIC file | On iPhone: open the photo → Share → Mail (to yourself) → the email attachment converts to JPEG. Or use a free online converter: heictojpeg.com, CloudConvert. On Mac: open in Preview → File → Export → JPEG. |
| 4 | Verify before uploading | Check the file extension: .jpg or .jpeg (true JPEG). If it shows .heic or has no extension visible: convert before uploading. File size should be under 2MB. |
Already Submitted — What to Do If Status Shows Amendment Required
If a photo was already submitted in the wrong format or with a quality issue, check live status immediately at evisa.gov.vn/e-visa/search using the Reference Code (E260705...) from the post-payment email. The confirmation email status does not update — only the live portal shows the current status.
| Status: Approved | Photo was accepted. Download PDF from portal and verify name, entry port, and entry date on the approved document. |
| Status: In Process | Still under review. If within normal processing timeline and flight is not imminent, wait. Check again in 24 hours. If flight is within 3 days: Speed Up via WhatsApp +84 947 754 252. |
| Status: Amendment Required | Error found — likely photo format or quality. No email sent. Processing stopped. Contact WhatsApp +84 947 754 252 with Reference Code + registered email. Free Path B correction: convert photo to JPEG, replace in application, priority resubmit. Clock resets to Day 1 from correction. Do not reapply — creates 24–48h duplication hold. |
Common Portrait Photo Rejection Reasons Beyond Format
Even in correct JPEG format, photos are rejected for the following reasons. Check against these before uploading.
| Issue | What happens / Fix |
|---|---|
| Face too small in frame | Amendment Required. Retake closer to camera so face fills 70%+ of frame. Do not crop from a wider photo. |
| Non-white background | Amendment Required. Use a white wall or white sheet of paper as background. Do not use background removal apps — edges become artificial and are flagged. |
| Glasses visible | Amendment Required. Remove all glasses including prescription glasses. Retake. |
| Heavy shadows on face | Amendment Required. Move to natural daylight near a window or use two light sources (one either side) to eliminate shadows. |
| Photo older than 6 months | Flagged if appearance differs significantly from passport or if metadata date is checked. Retake with current appearance. |
| Smiling or mouth open | Amendment Required. Facial recognition requires neutral expression. Close mouth, relax face, look directly at camera. |
No Physical Photos Required for Vietnam eVisa
A note for travelers who visited Vietnam before 2023 or who encountered outdated information online: the old visa on arrival system required two physical printed passport-sized photos to be presented at the airport stamping counter. That system no longer exists. Vietnam abolished visa on arrival for most nationalities in 2023.
The Vietnam eVisa is fully online. Both photos are uploaded digitally during the application. The approved eVisa is a PDF document presented at airline check-in and at Vietnamese immigration on arrival. No printed photos, no airport counter, no stamping fee. Any guidance suggesting to bring printed photos to the airport reflects pre-2023 processes and does not apply in 2026.
Related guides
| 1 | Vietnam eVisa requirements complete checklist | All 6 requirements — photo, entry port, date, MRZ, passport validity |
| 2 | Vietnam eVisa pending for days? Fix Amendment Required | Path A/B — stalled application, free correction |
| 3 | How long does Vietnam eVisa take? | Amendment Required clock reset — impact on processing time |
| 4 | eVisa mistakes that cause denied boarding | HEIC photo as #1 cause of denied boarding |
| 5 | How to apply for Vietnam eVisa step by step | Full application guide including photo upload step |
Frequently asked questions
What are the photo requirements for Vietnam eVisa?VietnamVisaEasy is a private licensed travel agency that has processed Vietnam eVisa applications since 2010. Photo requirement data reflects current Vietnamese government eVisa portal requirements and agency experience with Amendment Required patterns across US, Australian, Canadian, and European applicants. Last updated July 20, 2026.
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iPhone: Settings → Camera → Formats → Most Compatible before applying. Agency processing from USD 90 with photo verification included. JPEG only, not HEIC • White background • No glasses • No physical photos needed • Amendment Required: free correction via WhatsApp |
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