Kenya eTA photo size — 2×2 inch (51×51 mm) eCitizen dimensions

Exact dimensions and pixel size

Kenya uses the 2×2 inch square format at 51×51 millimeters, 300 DPI, for a 600×600 pixel digital file. The eCitizen eTA portal at etakenya.go.ke accepts JPEG up to 2 MB — generous compared to the K-ETA's 100 KB or the DV Lottery's 240 KB caps.

Since 2024, the eTA is mandatory for almost all foreign tourists arriving for safari, Maasai Mara travel, Mt Kenya climbing, or beach holidays along the Indian Ocean coast (Mombasa, Diani, Lamu). The Department of Immigration Services replaced the legacy visa-on-arrival programme with the eTA to streamline pre-flight screening.

Head height and framing

Head height chin to crown should be 25-35 mm — 50-70% of the photo height. Eyes between 56% and 69% from the bottom edge. The face is centered horizontally with shoulders visible.

The eCitizen eTA portal's automated checker is forgiving on minor framing variations but rejects heads below 25 mm. The reasonable tolerance reflects the high volume of casual safari traveller applications — first-time international travellers often don't have professional passport photos ready.

Background and colour

Plain white background, uniform, no shadows. The Department of Immigration Services explicitly rejects coloured or patterned backgrounds. Visible shadows from indoor lighting are a common rejection cause when applicants take selfies against a cream or beige wall.

Photo must be in colour with natural skin tone. Black-and-white and sepia images are rejected. Heavy beauty filtering is flagged as 'altered photograph' on the eTA file.

Recency, glasses and expression

Photo must be taken within the last 6 months. The eCitizen system matches the eTA photo against your passport biographic page. Significant divergence (different hair, weight, age) triggers manual officer review but is rarely outright refused for genuine tourists.

Glasses are not permitted under ICAO 9303 alignment. Religious head coverings are accepted only when the face is fully visible. Expression must be neutral with mouth closed; eyes open and looking directly at the lens.

eCitizen eTA portal upload requirements

The eCitizen eTA portal at etakenya.go.ke accepts JPEG only, file size up to 2 MB, minimum 600×600 pixels for the digital photo. complypic delivers JPEG at ~200 KB for fast portal upload, well under the 2 MB cap.

The same 51×51 mm white-background spec applies to the East Africa Tourist Visa (covering Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda), which is a useful upgrade for travellers planning multi-country safari itineraries that include gorilla trekking in Rwanda or Uganda alongside Kenyan safari. The single photo covers all three eTA-style applications.

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