Kenya eTA Photo Checker & Biometric Crop Tool
Check your selfie or passport photo against official Kenya Directorate of Immigration (ICAO) biometric standards. Align your face to the 70–80% biometric oval guide, verify dimensions, and download an official 600 × 600 px compliant JPEG ready for submission.
Upload Your Passport Photo or Selfie
Drag and drop your photo here, or click to browse. Supports JPG, PNG, and WebP (up to 10MB).
Worried About Overall Application Errors?
Photo violations cause over 45% of Kenya eTA rejections, but so do passport MRZ glare and flight date mismatches. Apply Kenya Concierge offers a full human document pre-check before you finalize your official application.
Official Kenya eTA Photo Specifications (2026)
1:1 Square Dimensions
The photo must be strictly square. Minimum size is 500 × 500 pixels; optimal resolution is 600 × 600 pixels (or up to 1200 × 1200 pixels). Rectangular landscape or portrait crops will be flagged.
70% to 80% Head Coverage
Your head, from the crown of your hair to the bottom of your chin, must measure between 70% and 80% of the total image height. The face must be horizontally centered.
Plain White Background
The background must be completely solid white or off-white. No shadows behind the head or ears, no textured walls, no wallpaper, and no other people or background objects.
No Eyeglasses
Eyeglasses, reading spectacles, and sunglasses are strictly forbidden. Even anti-reflective lenses reflect camera flash, obscuring biometric iris patterns.
Neutral Expression
Maintain a relaxed, neutral facial expression with your mouth completely closed and no teeth visible. Do not smile, frown, squint, or tilt your chin up or down.
Taken Within 6 Months
Your photo must represent your current appearance and have been taken within the last 6 months. Do not submit an old photo from a previous visa or expired passport.
How to Take a Perfect Kenya eTA Photo at Home (5 Steps)
You do not need to visit an expensive photography studio. Follow this quick protocol using any modern smartphone:
Position Near Natural Light
Stand facing a large window with soft, indirect daylight. Do not take the photo in direct harsh sunlight or under ceiling spotlights that cast nose and neck shadows.
Stand 1.5m From a White Wall
Stand approximately 1 to 1.5 meters away from a clean, plain white or cream wall. Standing away from the wall prevents your head and shoulders from casting shadows behind you.
Have Someone Else Hold Camera
Handheld selfies distort facial proportions due to wide-angle lens proximity. Ask a companion to hold the camera at your eye level from 1.5 to 2 meters away.
Remove Glasses & Keep Neutral
Take off all glasses. Keep your shoulders square, lips closed, and look directly into the camera lens with both eyes visible.
Verify & Crop in This Tool
Upload your raw uncompressed photo here. Adjust zoom until your head matches the dashed biometric oval, and click Download to receive an official 600 × 600 px JPEG!
Need Deep-Dive Technical Guidance?
Read our full technical guide covering resolution, lighting ratios, and infant photo guidelines.Read Full Photo GuideFrequently Asked Questions: Kenya eTA Photos
Kenyan immigration requires an electronic photo with a strict 1:1 square aspect ratio. The minimum resolution is 500 × 500 pixels, with 600 × 600 pixels (or 2 × 2 inches at 300 DPI) considered optimal. The file format must be JPEG, PNG, or WebP, and under 10MB in file size.
No. Kenyan immigration enforces strict ICAO biometric standards prohibiting prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses, and tinted lenses. Flash glare or lens reflections obscure the iris and trigger automated OCR rejection. You must remove your glasses for the photo.
Yes. A smartphone camera produces excellent resolution if you follow key rules: stand 1.5 meters from a flat, solid white wall; face a window with indirect daylight (no harsh direct sun or camera flash); position the camera at eye level; keep a neutral facial expression with lips closed; and ensure your head and shoulders fill 70% to 80% of the frame.
Yes. The background must be uniform, plain, and solid white or very light off-white. Textured walls, outdoor landscapes, doors, curtains, or shadows behind your head are among the leading reasons applications are placed on "Action Required" hold or rejected.
Religious headwear (such as hijabs or turbans) is permitted if worn daily for religious purposes. However, the covering must not cast shadows on the face, and your complete facial features—from the bottom of your chin to the top of your forehead and both cheek edges—must remain entirely visible.
This tool is 100% free and completely private. All image analysis, biometric alignment, and cropping occur entirely inside your browser using client-side HTML5 canvas technology. Your photos are never uploaded to any remote server or stored in any database.