Vietnam e-Visa photo error: “Portrait photo was captured from another source.”

What the message means

In the site’s code this message belongs to the error “EVISA_ERROR_IMAGE_FAKE_FACE”. The check looks for signs that the face was re-captured from another picture rather than photographed directly: screen pixels, moiré stripes, paper texture, reflections or the edge of a print or a device. It’s a warning, not a block, but the site says the application may be rejected.

Why it happens

• You photographed a printed passport photo or an old photo instead of yourself.
• You photographed a photo shown on a phone or computer screen.
• You scanned a printed photo.
• Less often: strong glare or heavy filters make a real photo look re-captured.

How to fix it

1. Take a new photo of yourself with the phone camera: someone else holds the phone about 1.5 m (5 ft) away.
2. Stand in front of a white wall in even daylight, facing the camera, no hat, no glasses.
3. Upload the photo file the camera made, not a screenshot or a photo of it, as a JPG of 2 MB or less.
4. Don’t add filters or edits: they can make a real photo look unnatural to the check.

Before you upload again

IDPlain’s free checker works on the original photo from your camera and checks head size, background, sharpness and light against the Vietnam e-Visa rules, on your device.