The 35x45mm European Alignment
The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) in South Africa aligns with the European standard, requiring photos to be 35mm wide and 45mm high. The face must consume 70-80% of the photo.
Expression and Lighting
South Africa is particularly strict about the 'neutral expression' rule. Teeth cannot be visible under any circumstances. Furthermore, the lighting must be perfectly uniform—any shadow on the face or the background will lead to a rejection.
The Print Quality
If submitting physical photos, they must be printed on high-quality matte paper. Glossy paper is sometimes rejected due to the glare it causes when the consulate attempts to scan the physical photo into their digital database.
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