Vietnam e-Visa Photo Error: “Portrait Photo Was Captured from Another Source” — What Should You Do?

On this page

What this warning means
Vietnam visa photo requirements
Common reasons this warning appears
How to fix the problem
Can you take the photo yourself?
Can you use an old photo?

When applying for a Vietnam e-visa, one of the most common warnings applicants may encounter is the following message:

“Portrait photo was captured from another source. Your application may be rejected. Please upload another photo.”

This warning usually means that the system is unable to match the uploaded portrait photo closely enough with the photo on your passport data page. As a result, the application may be flagged for additional review or possible rejection.

What this warning means

If the system displays the message “Portrait photo was captured from another source”, it seems that the uploaded photo does not match your passport bio-data scan.

System warning	What it usually means
Portrait photo was captured from another source	The image may have been copied, cropped from another document, scanned, edited too heavily, or may not appear to be a newly taken original portrait photo.
Low match rate between portrait and passport photo	The system cannot clearly confirm that the portrait photo matches the face shown on the passport data page. (Example image shows 2.23% match rate)
Application may be rejected	The uploaded portrait may not satisfy the image verification requirements of the Vietnam e-visa system.

Vietnam visa photo requirements

For Vietnam visa applications, the portrait photo should meet the following requirements.

Requirement	Standard
Photo size	4 x 6 cm or 2 x 2 inches
Recency	Taken within the last 6 months
Color	Color photo
Background	Plain, light-colored background
Face position	Straight face, clearly visible facial features
Head covering	Not permitted, except for religious reasons
Glasses	Not recommended
Expression	No smiling

Common reasons this warning appears

This warning may appear for several reasons, including the following:

Common cause	Explanation
Photo cropped from another document	The portrait may have been taken from a passport, old visa, ID card, or another scanned file.
Old photo	The image may no longer reflect the applicant’s current appearance.
Edited or filtered image	Beautification, retouching, or AI editing may cause the system to reject the image.
Poor image quality	The photo may be blurred, dark, overexposed, pixelated, or unclear.
Low facial match	- The face in the portrait may not match the passport photo clearly enough for automated comparison. - Your current appearance is significantly different from your passport photo.
Photo taken from a screen or printout	The image may look like a screenshot, scan, or photographed copy rather than an original portrait photo.

How to fix the problem

If this warning appears, the most practical solution is to upload a new portrait photo that is freshly taken and clearly meets the required standard.

Recommended action	Purpose
Take a new photo	Helps ensure the image is recent and original
Use a plain light background	Makes facial recognition and comparison easier
Look straight at the camera	Improves match quality with the passport photo
Avoid glasses if possible	Reduces glare and recognition issues
Do not crop from another document	Prevents the system from identifying the image as reused
Avoid filters or beauty edits	Keeps the image natural and easier to verify
Use a high-quality image	Improves system verification and reduces rejection risk

If you do all of the above and the e-visa website still shows the warning, it is recommended that you contact the Immigration Office and attach your photo for verification: https://evisa.gov.vn/support or email [email protected]

Can you take the photo yourself?

Yes. A Vietnam visa photo may be taken at home if the correct setup is available and the final image meets the required standards.

Can you use an old photo?

An older photo may still be used if it was taken within the last 6 months and still reflects the applicant’s current appearance.

Photo status	Can it be used?
Taken within the last 6 months and still matches current appearance	Yes
Older than 6 months	Not recommended
Previously cropped from another document	Not recommended
Edited, filtered, or scanned	Not recommended