For Lebanese passports
Lebanese Passport Photo Requirements in Montreal
Applying for a Lebanese passport in Montreal? You need recent colour photos at 35 x 45 mm on a plain white background, and it pays to bring three. Here is what the official rules ask for, and what trips people up.
A Lebanese passport photo is a recent colour photo, 35 mm wide by 45 mm high, showing your full face on a plain white background, and for an application at the Lebanese consulate in Montreal you should bring three identical prints. The photo has to be a fresh original, not a copy of an older picture, and it follows the international ICAO standard. A Canadian passport photo is a different size, so the one you already have will not do. Below are the rules, what they look like in practice, and the mistakes that send people back for new photos.
Lebanese Passport Photo Size: 35 x 45 mm
A Lebanese passport photo is 35 mm wide and 45 mm high, about the size of a large postage stamp. Lebanon's passport rules give it as 4.5 x 3.5 cm, height first, which is the same thing.
You may also see 4.3 x 3.5 cm on one official page for applicants in Canada. 35 x 45 mm is the format we print for Lebanese passports, and it is accepted in Montreal. If you want to be completely sure, ask the consulate when you call to book.
Your face should fill most of the frame: under the international ICAO standard, the distance from chin to crown takes up about 70 to 80 percent of the photo's height. A photo where you look small and far away is the most common reason a print gets set aside.
Lebanese vs Canadian Passport Photo Size, to Scale
Lebanese passport: 35 x 45 mm, full face, plain white background.
Canadian format: 50 x 70 mm. Not accepted for a Lebanese passport.
Lebanese Passport Photo Specifications at a Glance
| Requirement | Specification |
|---|---|
| Photo size | 35 mm wide x 45 mm high (4.5 x 3.5 cm) |
| Number of photos | Bring three identical prints from the same shoot |
| Colour | Colour photo |
| Background | Plain white, with no shadow and no pattern |
| Age of the photo | Recent; it must look like you on the day you apply |
| Original photo | A new photo, not reproduced or cut from another picture |
| Face | Full face visible, facing the camera; chin to crown about 70–80% of the photo height |
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open and looking at the lens |
| Standard | Meets the international ICAO standard for passport photos |
Lebanese Passport Photo Background, Pose and Glasses
The background of a Lebanese passport photo is white. Not cream, not light grey, not the pale blue some countries accept: plain white, evenly lit, with no shadow behind your head.
The official rules ask for your full face. Sit straight, look into the lens, keep a neutral expression with your mouth closed and your eyes open. Pull your hair back from your eyes and the edges of your face.
Glasses are where people get caught out. Thick frames, tinted lenses and glare all hide the eyes, and the ICAO standard wants the eyes clearly visible. Taking them off for the photo is the safest choice. One more tip: against a white background a white shirt makes your shoulders disappear, so wear a darker, solid top.
Lebanese Passport Photo Examples: Acceptable vs. Unacceptable
Acceptable: full face, neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open, plain white background with no shadow.
Unacceptable: tinted lenses and glare over the eyes, and a light grey background instead of white.
How Many Photos for a Lebanese Passport in Montreal?
Bring three identical Lebanese passport photos to the consulate in Montreal. Depending on the application, you may be asked for two or three, and lost-passport replacements call for three. Arriving with three means you are covered either way, and you will not be sent off to find a photo booth in Outremont.
The three prints should come from the same shoot, so they are truly identical. Keep them flat in an envelope: a bent or scratched print is a print you may have to replace.
Lebanese vs Canadian Passport Photos: Three Differences
Size. Lebanese: 35 x 45 mm. Canadian: 50 x 70 mm. Trimming a Canadian photo down does not work, because your face would come out the wrong size.
Background. A Lebanese photo needs plain white. A Canadian one may be white or a light colour, so a Canadian print in your drawer may not even have the right background.
The back of the photo. A Canadian passport photo carries the studio's name, address and date on the back. A Lebanese one does not need any of that: the consulate itself certifies the photo when you apply.
Applying for a Lebanese Passport in Montreal: Where the Photos Fit
A Lebanese passport application in Montreal goes through the Consulate General of Lebanon at 40 Côte-Sainte-Catherine Road in Outremont. Call ahead to book a time: the consulate asks visitors to make an appointment before coming in.
Your photos go in the file with the application form and your civil status documents, such as an individual civil status extract or your Lebanese ID card. When you apply from abroad, the photo is certified by the Lebanese mission, and you sign and give your fingerprint in front of a consular officer.
Your details need to match your previous passport and your civil records. If they do not, you may be asked for fresh civil status extracts, which takes time. For a child under 18, both parents sign a consent letter.
The passport is produced in Lebanon, so plan ahead: count on at least three months. Document lists change from time to time, so check the current list when you book.
Why Lebanese Passport Photos Get Sent Back
• A Canadian-format 50 x 70 mm photo, or one trimmed down from a larger print
• A grey, cream or blue background instead of plain white
• A shadow behind the head or across the face
• A black-and-white print
• A photo of a photo, or a picture cut out of an older print
• A face that is too small in the frame
• Tinted glasses, thick frames or glare on the lenses
• A smile, an open mouth, or hair over the eyes
• Only two prints when the file needs three
A photo problem means another trip to the consulate, and appointments are not always easy to get.
Where to Get Lebanese Passport Photos in Montreal
Lebanese passport photos are part of our international passport photo service at 683 Rue Jean-Talon O in Montreal. We shoot on a plain white background, print at 35 x 45 mm in colour, and check the face size before you leave. Tell us the photos are for a Lebanese passport and we print the three you need from the same shoot.
No appointment is needed, and photos are usually ready in about 15 minutes.
Current prices are on our international passport photo service page. If your photo is turned down, we reshoot it free. We have been taking passport photos for over 20 years.
Related Services and Guides
Lebanese passport photos are part of our international passport and visa photo service. Applying for a little one as well? Our baby and child passport photo service takes the time it needs. Holding a Canadian passport too? The Canadian passport photo requirements cover the 50 x 70 mm photo, and our guide to international passport and visa photo sizes by country compares the other formats.
Official Resources
Rules can change, so check the official pages before you apply: the biometric passport page and the requirements for applications through a Lebanese mission from Lebanon's General Directorate of General Security, the passport page of the Embassy of Lebanon in Canada, and the Consulate General of Lebanon in Montreal for news and contact details.
Pro Tips
- 1Ask for 35 x 45 mm colour prints on a plain white background. A Canadian 50 x 70 mm photo cannot be reused.
- 2Bring three identical prints from the same shoot, even if the list you were given says two.
- 3Take your glasses off for the photo; tinted lenses, thick frames and glare all hide the eyes.
- 4Wear a darker, solid top so your shoulders stand out against the white background.
- 5Keep the prints flat in an envelope until your appointment.
- 6Call the consulate to book before you go, and check the current document list at the same time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Need Lebanese Passport Photos in Montreal?
Come to our Jean-Talon studio for Lebanese passport photos at 35 x 45 mm in colour on a white background, three identical prints if you need them. No appointment needed.