FIAP Distinction

To apply for distinctions or recognition from the International Federation of Photographic Art (FIAP), photographers in Bangladesh must submit their applications through the Bangladesh Photographic Society (BPS). The BPS serves as the official liaison for FIAP applications in the country, with a dedicated committee member appointed to oversee the process. This representative assists applicants in preparing and submitting their portfolios to FIAP, ensuring compliance with its stringent international standards. By streamlining communication and providing guidance, the BPS facilitates a seamless pathway for Bangladeshi photographers to achieve global recognition, fostering connections between local talent and the international photographic community.

Rules to apply for FIAP Distinctions

We invite all valid BPS members and BPS Associate Club Members to apply for the AFIAP, EFIAP, and EFIAP Distinctions. Your application must reach the Secretary General of BPS by 25th May every year. Please email us with all the details at info@bpsbd.org.

AFIAP Distinctions

The candidate for this distinction must:

  • Have taken part with success in different international salons under FIAP Patronage for at least 1 year; i.e. his first FIAP-recognised acceptance must have occurred at least 1 year ago.
  • Have taken part with success in different international salons under FIAP Patronage in at least 15 different countries. In this respect, a Circuit is to be considered as a single salon.
  • Have obtained at least 90 acceptances with at least 30 different works in international salons under FIAP Patronage.

Candidates for AFIAP Distinction must submit:

  • A complete application form prescribed by FIAP.
  • 5 photographic works of the candidate in the form of digital files to be submitted and must have obtained 3 FIAP–recognized acceptances in different salons. In this respect, a Circuit is considered to be a single salon.

When the AFIAP distinction is awarded, the candidate will receive a diploma and a badge with green enamel.

EFIAP & EFIAP Levels Distinctions

The candidate for the distinctions EFIAP , EFIAP/b, EFIAP/s, EFIAP/g and EFIAP/p must:

  1. Be the holder of the previous distinction for at least one year, based on the date of the diploma.
  2. Have taken part with success in different international salons under FIAP Patronage in at least 30 different countries. In this respect, a Circuit is considered to be a single salon.
  3. Have obtained at least 250 new acceptances with at least 100 different new works in international salons under FIAP Patronage

The candidate for the distinctions EFIAP:d1, EFIAP/d2, EFIAP/d3, EFIAP/d4 and EFIAP/d5 must :

  1. Be the holder of the EFIAP/p distinction for at least one year, based on the date of the diploma.
  2. Have taken part with success in different international salons under FIAP Patronage in at least 15 different countries. In this respect, a Circuit is considered to be a single salon.
  3. Have obtained at least 90 new awards with at least 30 different new works in international salons under FIAP Patronage

Candidates for the distinctions EFIAP and EFIAP levels must submit:

  • A complete application form prescribed by FIAP.
  • 5 photographic works of the candidate in the form of a digital file. These works must be different and not resemble or be similar to those submitted for the previous distinctions. The submitted works must have obtained an award in different countries and a Circuit is considered to be a single salon.

Distinctions between EFIAP levels and MFIAP are cumulative. An author, who holds these two distinctions, can use the initials of both distinctions after his/her name.
When the EFIAP distinction is awarded, the candidate will receive a diploma and a badge with red enamel. For the EFIAP level, the candidate will receive a diploma and a badge with red enamel combined with a distinctive addition for each level: bronze color for EFIAP/b, silver color for EFIAP/s, gold color for EFIAP/g and black-platinum color for EFIAP/p. For the EFIAP Diamond levels, the addition is black with one, two, three, four, or five Swarovski stones.

MFIAP Distinctions

The candidate for this distinction must:

Be a holder of the EFIAP distinction for at least 3 years, based on the date of the diploma.

The candidate for this distinction must submit:

Candidates for the distinctions EFIAP and EFIAP levels must submit:

  1. A completed application using the most recent forms prescribed by FIAP (which can be downloaded from FIAP’s website).
  2. A digital portfolio of 20 images sent by WeTransfer to FIAP. Each image must have the following properties: – format JPEG, compression 10, and at least 3600 pixels on the longest dimension.
  3. A complete curriculum vitae using forms prescribed by FIAP. The text should be written in one of the official FIAP languages
  4. An introductory text that describes the subject and the creative concept of the photographic artist. The text must be written in one of the official FIAP languages.
  5. This collection must be coherent from its conception to its realization and presentation

If the portfolio of the author is accepted, it becomes the property of FIAP. The collection of works of holders of the MFIAP distinction can be used by FIAP for exhibitions or other events for the benefit of FIAP. The digital images of the accepted MFIAP candidate will be published on the FIAP Web Site. It must be possible to open this file with Adobe Photoshop software.
When the MFIAP distinction is awarded, the candidate will receive a diploma and a badge with yellow enamel.

Important Information

  1. The FIAP Photographer’s Life Card: Any candidate for a photographic distinction of FIAP must be a holder of a FIAP Photographer’s Card. The requests for distinctions must be mentioned on page “A” of the form for distinctions the number of the Photographer’s Card. A copy or scan of the recent card is added on the application.
  2. The Personal Profile (FP): Any candidate for a photographic distinction of FIAP must have their Personal Profile on our platform (MyFIAP.net). The requests for distinctions must be mentioned in the page “A” of the form for distinctions the number of the Personal Profile.
  3. The amount of the acceptances/awards of one title (work) is limited to 5 acceptances/awards.
  4. An image (title) can only be used for one distinction. For the next distinction, the applicant must use new images.
  5. The same work submitted to more than one salon under FIAP Patronage or to FIAP Biennials must always bear the same title.
  6. Works “without title” will not be accepted by the Distinctions Service as counting towards applications for distinctions.
  7. The acceptance of a series of prints or projected images is taken into account as 1 acceptance.
  8. For the AFIAP and EFIAP distinctions, a maximum 10% of the required acceptances in international salons under FIAP Patronage can be acquired by youth salons or FIAP Biennials; the other 90% of required acceptances in international salons under FIAP Patronage have to be gained in normal salons open to anyone.
  9. Within reasonable limits national federations have the right to add national requirements for FIAP distinctions. If the required number of acceptances is reached, the application for the distinction has to be forwarded to FIAP, without any supplementary judging of the works.
  10. Application fee: For every application for an AFIAP, EFIAP, EFIAP levels, MFIAP an application fee must be paid to the FIAP Treasurer. The amount is determined by the FIAP Board of Directors. The fee is to cover the cost of examining the application and, if the application is granted, the dispatch of the diploma, the badge and the new FIAP Photographer’s Card. Applications will only be processed after the FIAP Treasurer has received the application fee.
  11. When a distinction application is rejected, the applicant must wait for at least one year before submitting a new application. If the application of a MFIAP candidate is rejected, the MFIAP applicant must wait for at least 3 years before submitting a new application. The candidate must send an updated dossier and, if necessary, other photographic works. In all cases of rejection, the applicant must again pay the application fee. A person may only make a maximum of 3 applications for MFIAP.
  12. All photographic works presented by the candidate for AFIAP, EFIAP, and EFIAP Levels Distinctions should be accompanied by a list giving the acceptances, medals, and diplomas obtained in salons under FIAP Patronage (page C of the dossier). The national federations have to verify all the acceptances. Only acceptances/awards that appear in the FIAP Salon files are valid. The FIAP Distinctions Service can ask for proof of the acceptances and awards, if necessary.
  13. Whether or not the distinction is awarded, the digital files of the works become the property of FIAP. They will become part of the artistic patrimony of FIAP. FIAP reserves the right to use or reproduce in his favor without compensation to the author. By way of example and without limitation, FIAP can put the works in collections, publications or photographic events on condition that the name and surname of the author is mentioned.
  14. The photographic works must be sent as digital files by “WeTransfer” with the following properties:- format JPEG, compression10, and at least 3600 pixels on the longest dimension.
  15. Name of the files:
    • UN Code of the Federation (or ILFIAP number) + underscore + First name + underscore + Name + underscore + Title of the work + .jpg
    • Example: 056_Bart_Peeters_Sunrise.jpg
  16. By the sole act of submitting his/her application for a FIAP Distinction, the candidate accepts without exception and with no objection that the FIAP decision is final and not subject to appeal.

Some Definitions

  • International salon under FIAP Patronage:
    • Any photographic salon organized in accordance with the rules laid down in the regulations “FIAP Patronage” and having been awarded the patronage by the FIAP Patronage Service (mention the Patronage number on the forms)
  • Photographic work:
    • Black and white or color works in the form of prints, projected images, or series of prints or projected images
  • Series of prints or projected images:
    • A series of prints or projected images to be viewed in a predetermined order and without any sound, or a series of prints or projected images about one subject forming a whole.
  • Acceptance:
    • Any photographic work that has been selected by the jury of the salon for inclusion in the exhibition projected image presentation or catalog
  • Award:
    • Any special recognition is given to photographic work by the jury of the salon in the form of a prize, a medal, an honorable mention, or a diploma.
  • See also “FIAP DISTINCTIONS – PRACTICAL INFORMATION”
    • This regulation comes into force on 1st January 2022.

Application Fee

One must have a FIAP Photographic Card before one can apply for FIAP Distinction. If you already have one then it will be replaced with the latest distinction on your card, without any fee for upgrading.

  • The fee for AFIAP / EFIAP / EFIAP Levels is BDT 6500.
  • The fee for AFIAP with a Photographer’s Card is BDT 13000.
  • The fee for EFIAP / EFIAP Levels is BDT 6500.
  • The fee for MFIAP is BDT 11000.

All these charges are payable to BPS by Cheque in favour of: Bangladesh Photographic Society Or Hand to hand by Cash. A 2000 BDT(Two thousand) service charge will be added along with the application fee.

Application Forms

One must have a FIAP Photographic Card before one can apply for FIAP Distinction. If you already have one then it will be replaced with the latest distinction on your card, without any fee for upgrading.

AFIAP-EFIAP-EFIAP Levels Application Form
MFIAP Application Form