Chile uses a square 4.5 × 4.5 cm photo on a plain white background — slightly larger than the US 2 × 2 inch format and unlike the 35 × 45 mm portrait used across most of South America's neighbours. The face fills about 70–80% of the frame, glasses are not allowed, and the print is made at 300 DPI. If you apply inside Chile the photo is captured at the Registro Civil; consular applicants abroad supply their own.
Make a Chilean Passport Photo →Per the Servicio de Registro Civil e Identificación requirements, which apply both to on-site capture and to photos supplied at consulates abroad.
| Photo size | 45 × 45 mm (4.5 × 4.5 cm) square, borderless — 1.77 × 1.77 inches |
|---|---|
| Face height | 70 – 80% of the frame height, roughly 32–36 mm from chin to crown |
| Background | Plain white (#FFFFFF), evenly lit, no shadows, patterns or gradients |
| Resolution | 300 DPI; a 45 mm square at 300 DPI is 531 × 531 px |
| Colour | Colour, natural skin tones, no filters |
| Pose | Full frontal view, head straight and centred, shoulders square, eyes into the lens |
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed, both eyes open and clearly visible |
| Glasses | Not allowed — remove prescription glasses, sunglasses and tinted lenses. Contact lenses are fine |
| Hair and accessories | Hair must not cover the eyes or eyebrows. Remove earrings, necklaces and anything near the face |
| Head covering | Religious headwear only, with the face visible from chin to forehead |
| Clothing | Everyday clothing. A dark top gives better contrast against the white background |
| Recency | Taken within the last 6 months |
Two routes, two very different jobs for you.
The Registro Civil captures the photo when you apply. Arrive with a dark collared shirt and without glasses; nothing else is required.
At a Chilean consulate you bring your own print. Check the square 45 × 45 mm size with that consulate before ordering, because local labs default to 35 × 45 mm.
Print at 100% — "fit to page" shrinks the image by a few percent and pushes the face below the required share of the frame.