What to know before you apply
Upload your passport’s identity page in the passport field and a separate recent portrait in the photograph field. Our application accepts JPEG, PNG, BMP or PDF files of 5–250 KB each. A file that passes the size check still needs to show readable details; a passport-page image is not a substitute for the separate portrait.
Prepare my documents and applyYour passport page and portrait are different documents
The passport biodata page shows who holds the travel document: the photograph printed in the passport, identifying text and machine-readable lines. The recent passport photograph is a separate portrait of you. The application has separate upload fields because those files answer different questions.
Start with two original files, not two copies of the same passport image. Keep one clearly labelled working copy for the passport page and another for the portrait. Do this locally on your own device; you do not need to email identity documents simply to work out which field is which.
Create a readable passport-page image
- Open the passport to the identity page and place it on a stable surface in even light.
- Keep the page flat without hiding its corners, printed details or machine-readable area with your fingers.
- Check for reflections over the name, document number and expiry date. Move the light or camera rather than editing those details.
- Save a copy showing the complete page. Avoid a distant photograph of the entire desk or a crop that cuts through printed information.
- Open the saved output and read the characters yourself before selecting it in the form.
These are practical capture checks, not an official passport certification process. The image must represent the genuine document. Do not reconstruct blurred characters, remove marks or use an image editor to change passport information.
Check the separate portrait
Use a recent, clear passport-style photograph showing the applicant. Start with an evenly lit image and a simple background. Avoid beauty filters, heavy retouching, another person in the frame or a screenshot that includes camera controls. Check the face is recognisable at the final saved size.
The current form describes a photograph taken within the last six months. This guide does not invent an official pixel dimension or a country-specific printed-photo size. Follow any updated instructions presented for your application, especially if immigration asks you to replace an image.
Meet the format and size checks without losing the information
Our upload fields accept JPEG, PNG, BMP or PDF, from 5,120 to 256,000 bytes per file. That is the 5–250 KB range used by the current checker and the portal instructions checked on 31 October 2026. A different file extension does not convert a document: changing “booking.pdf” to “booking.jpg” only changes its name.
| What you see | What to try |
|---|---|
| A large phone photo | Make a smaller exported copy, then inspect the name, number and face again. |
| A PDF containing the whole email conversation | Export only the relevant genuine booking or document pages where that preserves the required information. |
| A tiny file with fuzzy lettering | Return to the original capture and improve it; further compression is unlikely to restore detail. |
| An unsupported phone image format | Export a genuine JPEG or another accepted format rather than renaming the original. |
An example of a useful correction
From a large image to a usable upload
A traveller has a clear 3 MB passport photograph. The first compressed copy is 40 KB, but the passport number becomes difficult to read. The better next step is to return to the clear original, crop only irrelevant surrounding space and export another copy with less aggressive compression. The goal is a readable accepted file, not the smallest possible number.
The application can resize supported larger images when possible. Inspect the preview after preparation. If an oversized PDF remains too large, use an appropriate local document tool or ask for preparation guidance; automatic image resizing does not mean every PDF will be repaired automatically.
Put each document in its own field
Use “See example” on the document card for a short illustration and checklist. Image previews help you catch a family member’s passport in the wrong field. The repeated-filename warning is a useful prompt to look again, but matching filenames do not prove identical content, and different filenames do not prove different content.
For several travellers, finish organising one person’s files before moving to the next. For the ticket field, use the return or onward travel evidence guide. For a regional itinerary, use the Uganda-first itinerary guide. Once the files are clear and correctly assigned, continue to the review screen and compare the form details with the physical passport one more time.
Your questions answered
Can I use my passport biodata page as the passport photograph?
Use separate files. The biodata field needs the passport details page; the photograph field needs a recent passport-style portrait of the applicant. Putting the passport page into both fields does not provide those two different documents.
What file sizes does this application accept?
The current upload checker accepts 5,120–256,000 bytes per file, displayed as 5–250 KB, in JPEG, PNG, BMP or PDF format. The form may resize supported larger images; inspect the result for readability.
Can I fix an oversized PDF by changing its file extension?
No. Renaming a PDF to .jpg does not convert its content. Export or compress a genuine copy using a suitable document tool, then open the saved output and check it before selecting it.
Will a successful upload guarantee that immigration accepts the document?
No. Format and size checks are technical checks. Immigration can request better images or further evidence, and a readable file does not establish that a document is valid or sufficient.
Sources and review notes
Guidance reviewed 2 November 2026. Practical examples are our preparation advice, not official forms or booking confirmations. Older checklists may differ from newer notices; follow current instructions for your situation.
- Official application upload instructions: JPEG, PNG, BMP or PDF; 5–250 KB; documents in English. Checked 31 October 2026.
- Uganda immigration: Tourist Visa — single entry
- Uganda immigration: application and document-review process
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Ready for the next step?
Open the final version at a readable size. In the application, use “See example” beside each upload to confirm which document belongs there.
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