Laos eVisa photo requirements: the 4 x 6 cm shape and upload limits
The official Lao eVisa at laoevisa.gov.la requires a color photograph in 4 x 6 cm proportions, taken within the last 6 months, on a plain white background with no shadows, facing the camera directly with a neutral expression and both eyes open. That 2:3 shape is taller than the 35 x 45 mm photo most travelers already have, so a standard passport photo fails the proportion check until recropped. Uploads are scanned color copies of your passport bio page and the photo; secondary guidance cites JPG or PNG files up to 2 MB.
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The 4 x 6 shape, and why your existing photo fails
Laos asks for 4 x 6 cm, a 2:3 ratio, while the world's default passport photo is 35 x 45 mm, a 7:9 ratio. Upload the 35 x 45 file and the proportions are wrong even though the photo itself is compliant in every other way. Recrop to the 2:3 shape with your head centered and clear space above it; the resize tool below does it in your browser without touching the image content.
The rest of the official checklist
The official FAQ lists: color photo, taken within the last 6 months, no shadows, plain white background only, facing the camera directly, neutral expression, both eyes open. Alongside the photo you upload a scanned color copy of your passport bio page, and the FAQ notes additional documents may be requested.
Processing is quoted at 3 working days once the application and payment are complete, with morning applications on Lao time sometimes processed the same day. Fix the photo shape before you submit and the photo step will not be what slows you down.
Frequently asked questions
What size photo does the Laos eVisa require?
4 x 6 cm proportions, in color, on a plain white background, taken within the last 6 months. Digital guidance cites JPG or PNG files up to 2 MB.
Can I upload a standard 35 x 45 mm passport photo for Laos?
Not as-is: the ratio is different. Recrop the same photo to a 2:3 (4 x 6) shape with your head centered and it will fit the requirement.
How long does the Lao eVisa take?
The official FAQ quotes 3 working days after complete application and payment, sometimes same-day for morning submissions on Lao local time.
Do Cambodia or Thailand use the same 4 x 6 cm shape?
No, each portal sets its own crop. Cambodia's eVisa accepts a wider pixel range without a fixed ratio (/guides/cambodia-evisa-photo-upload-failed) and Thailand's e-visa has its own separate spec (/guides/thailand-evisa-photo-requirements), so recheck the target country's page before reusing a photo.
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