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Vietnam e-Visa file preparation

Vietnam e-Visa “Portrait photo was captured from another source” warning

This warning belongs to the portrait-to-passport comparison path. It is different from a file-format or upload-validation error, so changing the file size alone may not address the underlying issue.

Checked: 2026-08-14

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Vietnam e-Visa portrait and passport face comparison warning

The photo conditions to check first

What the warning is about

“Portrait photo was captured from another source” is a warning associated with the portal’s comparison of the portrait and the passport photo. It should not be treated as the same problem as a rejected extension, a file-size message, or the script-tag upload message.

The wording does not say exactly which image feature caused the warning, and the portal does not explain the reason behind it.

What is officially known about face comparison

The official user manual shows portrait and passport data-page uploads, automatic personal-data extraction, and a “Face compare / Match” step. It also shows that an invalid passport photo can block submission.

That is the official fact: face comparison exists in the documented portal flow. The manual does not publish an algorithm, similarity score calculation, exact threshold, or minimum matching percentage.

What may contribute — possibilities, not official rules

  • A substantial difference between the current portrait and an older passport photo.
  • Different lighting, shadows, pose, expression, or glasses between the two images.
  • A blurred passport face, a very small passport portrait, glare, or strong compression.
  • A file that is technically readable to a person but difficult for the portal’s image processing to interpret.

Use a truthful current portrait — do not edit your face to match

If your appearance has changed substantially since the passport was issued, the portal may still require an official decision or updated document. The app cannot resolve that identity question.

  1. Use a current portrait that accurately represents you and follow the official photography instructions.

Do not digitally alter your face to look more like the passport photo or try to bypass the portal’s face matcher.

What the app can and cannot do

  • It can help with appropriate framing, resolution, JPEG quality, and a clean export.
  • It can help keep the passport data page complete, readable, and free from unnecessary degradation.
  • It cannot control the official face-matching algorithm, score, or acceptance threshold.
  • It cannot make an old passport portrait match a current appearance or guarantee a portal decision.

Related troubleshooting

If the problem is an upload or file-validation error rather than a face-comparison warning, start with the general guide or the separate portal-rejection guide.

Create your photo in the browser

Prepare the photo for Vietnam e-Visa directly in your smartphone or computer browser. Creating and reviewing are free.

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What this tool creates

  • the required face photo (for digital upload)
  • the passport biographical data page (photo page) (for document upload)

Also available as an iPhone appOpen the App Store

Official-source note

The portrait photo and passport data page image follow the Vietnam National Electronic Visa system instructions. The app prepares files; the visa application itself is submitted on the official evisa.gov.vn portal.

Photo conditions that can cause problems

The same kinds of issues can lead to e-Visa file rejections. These checks reduce upload problems, but they do not guarantee that your photo or application will be accepted.

  1. Square crop instead of a 2:3 portrait

    Vietnam e-Visa needs a 4 × 6 cm vertical photo (2:3 ratio). Reusing a square US or India visa crop cuts off the shoulders and is a common upload failure.

  2. Grey or patterned background

    Shadows, color, or texture behind the head often cause a rejection. Use a plain white or very light wall and step forward to soften the shadow.

  3. Glare on glasses or hidden eyes

    Glasses reflections and frames covering the eyes are a leading reason for face photo rejection. Removing glasses before shooting is the safest choice.

  4. Unreadable passport data page

    If the MRZ lines, name, or passport number are blurred or hidden by glare, the file may be rejected even when the face photo looks fine.

  5. File too large or wrong format

    Export a JPG / JPEG under the official 2 MB ceiling. A PNG or oversized file can be rejected at upload even when the image itself looks correct.

  6. Hair over the eyes or tilted head

    Hair across the eyebrows or eyes and a tilted face make the portrait hard to verify. Keep the head straight and hair off the face.

Why use shoumei.org for Vietnam e-Visa files

Exact 4 × 6 cm / 2:3 export

The app outputs an 1200 × 1800 px JPEG that matches the Vietnam e-Visa portrait ratio, so you avoid the square-crop problem from the start.

Under 2 MB with readable detail

It compresses the JPEG below the official file-size ceiling while keeping facial detail and passport text as readable as the source image allows.

Background and face alignment guides

Built-in guides help you center the face, leave correct margins, and check the white background before export.

On-device privacy

Image processing stays on your device. No photo or passport image is uploaded to a server through shoumei.org.

shoumei.org is an independent file preparation tool. It is not affiliated with the Vietnam government or the evisa.gov.vn portal, and using it does not guarantee that your photo, passport image, or visa application will be accepted or approved.

Related guides

All Vietnam e-Visa photo guides

FAQ

What does “Portrait photo was captured from another source” mean?

It is a warning associated with the portal’s portrait-to-passport comparison flow. The exact trigger is not publicly documented, so the wording alone cannot identify the cause.

Does Vietnam e-Visa compare my portrait with my passport photo?

Yes. The official user manual documents a Face compare / Match step. It does not disclose how the comparison is calculated or what threshold is used.

What does “No MRZ detected in the passport image” mean?

It is a passport-image validation message, not a face-comparison warning. The portal reads the machine-readable zone (MRZ) at the bottom of the passport data page automatically; if it is blurred, cropped, or hidden by glare, the portal may report that no MRZ was detected. Retake the full data page with all four corners visible and the MRZ lines readable. See the general upload errors guide for details.

What should I do if my current appearance is different from my passport photo?

Use a truthful current portrait and a clear passport image. Do not edit your face to force a match; if the identity issue remains, follow the official portal or authority’s instructions.

Can I edit my face to make it match my passport photo?

No. Do not digitally change your face to bypass identity checks. The app supports image preparation, not identity manipulation or portal-decision circumvention.

Official sources