PassportSizePhoto.ai
International photo field manual

Passport Photo Requirements by Country: Sizes, Rules and Checklist

Passport photo requirements by country depend on the issuing authority and the application method you use. There is no universal passport size, and paper submission may use different rules from online submission in the same country.

Find my countryRead the final checklist

What document photo do you need?

Tell me the purpose and upload a photo. The output settings are matched automatically.

Decision path

Confirm the Passport Photo Requirements Before Formatting

Check these four passport photo requirements before formatting the file to prevent most specification mismatches.

  1. 01

    Issuing country

    Use the country issuing the passport, not the place where the photograph is taken.

  2. 02

    Application route

    Confirm first issue, renewal, child, overseas, paper, online or live-capture process.

  3. 03

    Output type

    Identify whether the authority wants prints, an original file, a photo code or secure capture.

  4. 04

    Editing policy

    Check whether cropping, background processing or any other software change is allowed.

02Country directory

Start with the passport-issuing country

Use this directory to compare passport photo requirements by country, then open the official source for the exact applicant age, passport type and application method before creating a file. Maker-ready presets remain separate from official channels.

16 countries shown

Official source: U.S. Department of State

Details

Official source: Government of Canada

Details

Official source: Brazilian Federal Police

Details

Official source: GOV.UK

Official source: Australian Passport Office

Details

Official source: Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior

Details

Official source: NetherlandsWorldwide

Official source: New Zealand Passports

Details

Official source: German Federal Portal

Details

Official source: Gov.pl

Details

Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

Official source: Chinese Consulate passport photo specification

Official source: Ireland DFA

Details

Official source: Passport Seva overseas photo guidelines

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Official source: Service-Public.fr

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Official source: Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs ICAO photo guide

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Country coverage is shown from the selected country details.

United States flagUnited States

2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm) for paper photos

Details

Size illustration

United States passport photo size illustration showing Fictional Black American adult in a neutral, front-facing pose. with 2 in (51 mm) by 2 in (51 mm) photo dimensions and 1–1⅜ in (25–35 mm) head measurement.
Fictional Black American adult in a neutral, front-facing pose.
Example dimensions
51 × 51 mm paper-photo example
Permitted background
Plain white or off-white
Head measurement
Chin to crown: 25–35 mm (49–69% of photo height)

AI-generated educational illustration. The subject’s ethnicity is only a localisation cue, never a passport rule. Do not submit this image; use a real, unaltered likeness and the issuing authority’s current route.

Application route
Paper and online applications use different output instructions. Start from the process linked by your actual application.
Editing boundary
The current paper-photo guidance says not to submit a digitally altered image. Use a compliant physical setup and preserve a recognisable likeness.
Official source

This site verification date:2026-07-28

U.S. Department of State

Create a United States passport photo
03Page index

Use the guide in decision order

Start with the issuing route, then inspect the physical setup, output and final checklist.

04Requirements baseline

Passport Photo Requirements: Universal Checks vs Country Rules

Official pages repeatedly check likeness, visibility, pose, lighting, output and authenticity. The precise values and exceptions are country- and application-specific.

The image is a recognisable likeness
How recent the photograph must be and whether appearance changes require a new one
The face is visible and in focus
Which facial edges, ears or head measurements must be visible
The subject faces the camera
The accepted expression and any infant, medical or disability exception
Lighting preserves facial detail
The permitted physical background colour and contrast
The output fits the application
Printed dimensions, face measurement, paper, copies and reverse-side information
Digital files must be usable
Pixels, aspect ratio, file type, size, orientation and cropping workflow
Accessories must not hide the face
Rules for glasses, jewellery, hair and religious or medical coverings
The image must not misrepresent the applicant
Whether cropping, retouching, background processing or AI-assisted changes are allowed

A rule from one country is evidence only for that country and application. The issuing authority’s current page remains the final source.

05Five official examples

Passport photo dimensions differ by country

This comparison of passport photo requirements by country demonstrates why a single global passport size does not exist. The printed examples are not a substitute for the linked instructions.

United States flagUnited States

01
2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm)
Chin to top of head: 1–1⅜ in (25–35 mm)
Plain white or off-white background. Paper and online submission methods must be checked separately.
U.S. State Department

Canada flagCanada

02
50 × 70 mm
Chin to crown: 31–36 mm
Plain white or light-coloured background with contrast. Online renewal has different specifications.
Canada.ca

United Kingdom flagUnited Kingdom

03
35 × 45 mm
Chin to crown: 29–34 mm for printed photos
Printed and online applications use separate output rules.
GOV.UK

Australia flagAustralia

04
35–40 mm × 45–50 mm
Chin to crown: 32–36 mm
Plain white or light-grey background. Official guidance recommends a professional passport photo provider.
Australian Passport Office

Netherlands flagNetherlands

05
35 × 45 mm
Ages 11+: chin to crown 26–30 mm; face width 16–20 mm
Light grey, light blue or white background, with official print-quality and age-based measurements.
NetherlandsWorldwide

A first-time request, online renewal, child request or overseas process may add or replace these requirements. Follow the instructions linked from the actual submission.

06Output specification

Passport Photo Requirements for Prints, Digital Files and Pixels

Passport photo requirements treat prints, digital files and pixels differently. Choose the submission method first: a correct-looking screen preview does not prove that the physical print or uploaded file is compliant.

Print: measure the finished physical photograph: Two-panel illustration comparing a measured physical photo print with a digital portrait file showing pixels, crop handles and upload.
Print: measure the finished physical photograph
A

Printed passport photo

A printed passport photo is a physical object. Measure the finished print rather than relying on the image size shown by an editor.

Some authorities also specify the number of identical copies, paper finish, print quality and information that a photographer, guarantor or countersignatory must write on the back.

  • 01Width and height in millimetres or inches
  • 02Distance from chin to crown and position inside the frame
  • 03Required number of identical copies
  • 04Paper weight, surface and print quality
  • 05Photographer, guarantor or countersignatory details on the reverse
Digital: follow the portal’s file and upload specification: Two-panel illustration comparing a measured physical photo print with a digital portrait file showing pixels, crop handles and upload.
Digital: follow the portal’s file and upload specification
B

Digital passport photo

A digital passport photo is an image file. It may need to preserve more head, shoulder or upper-body space than the final passport crop.

The submission portal may perform the crop, reject scanned prints, require a photographer’s code or accept only files transferred through an approved service.

  • 01Minimum and maximum pixel dimensions
  • 02Aspect ratio and portrait orientation
  • 03Accepted format such as JPG, JPEG, PNG or another stated type
  • 04Minimum and maximum file size
  • 05Source framing and who performs the final crop
  • 06Approved photographer, code or secure-transfer requirements

The illustration separates physical measurements from digital image data. It does not represent a universal print size, pixel count or submission method.

Pixel logic

Why pixels are not universal

pixels = inches × pixels per inch

A 2 × 2 inch image at 300 pixels per inch is mathematically 600 × 600 pixels. That example is not a universal passport upload rule.

Millimetres and inches describe physical size. Pixels describe digital image data. Connecting them requires a chosen print resolution, but an upload portal can require a larger source, a different aspect ratio or an uncropped original.

Do not convert a print size to pixels and assume that the result is an accepted upload specification.

  • 01If printing, follow physical dimensions, head measurement and print-quality rules.
  • 02If uploading, follow the exact pixels, file type, size, orientation and cropping instructions in that portal.
  • 03If the authority requires a photo code or live capture, do not replace it with a manually resized file.
07Capture quality

Passport Photo Requirements for Face, Pose and Appearance

Perfect dimensions cannot rescue an unsuitable capture. Passport systems also need a dependable, natural view of the applicant.

Face the camera directly with the head level and the camera near eye height. Keep enough distance to avoid close-selfie distortion and enough space for the required crop.

Use a real plain background in a permitted colour. White is common but not universal: some official systems accept off-white, cream, light grey or light blue.

Fix physical problems in the setup and retake the photo. Moving away from the wall, softening the light, cleaning the lens or removing a reflective item is safer than assuming software repair is allowed.

Full-size inspection

  • 01No hard shadow under the eyes, nose or chin
  • 02No dark halo or shadow on the wall
  • 03No glare on glasses, jewellery or skin
  • 04No clipped highlights or missing facial detail
  • 05No unnatural blue, yellow or grey colour cast
  • 06No motion blur, missed focus, grain or compression blocks
  • 07No red-eye, printer dots or visible pixels
01

Expression and smiling

Three controlled portraits of the same woman with a neutral expression, a subtle natural smile and an exaggerated open-mouth smile.
  1. 01Neutral, mouth closed: lowest-risk starting point
  2. 02Natural smile: allowed by some authorities
  3. 03Broad open-mouth smile: verify before using

Expression rules vary by authority. These panels show visible differences and are not universal accepted or rejected examples.

Expression rules differ. The UK asks for a plain expression with the mouth closed; Canada uses neutral-expression wording; current U.S. guidance allows a neutral expression or natural smile under its own conditions.

Until the exact rule is confirmed, the lowest-risk default is to look directly at the lens, relax the forehead and jaw, keep both eyes naturally open, close the mouth and avoid an exaggerated expression.

02

Clothing and shirt colour

Three controlled portraits comparing an ordinary dark top, a light top with weak background contrast and a bulky high collar with a scarf near the jaw.
  1. 01Ordinary plain top with a clear jaw outline
  2. 02Light top: lower practical contrast, not a global ban
  3. 03High collar and scarf: check visibility and local rules

Clothing colour is not globally prescribed. Use these panels to check practical contrast and whether fabric obscures the chin or jaw.

Wear ordinary clothing that leaves the face, chin and jaw visible. Formalwear is usually unnecessary. A medium or dark plain top may give useful contrast against a light background, but that is practical photography advice rather than a worldwide rule.

Check the authority’s restrictions on uniforms, camouflage, hats, scarves, high collars and religious or medical coverings.

03

Glasses, makeup, jewellery, hair and head coverings

Six controlled portraits showing no glasses, clear glasses, glare and tint, light makeup with small earrings, hair and large jewellery obstruction, and a face-visible head covering.
  1. 01No glasses; hair clear of the eyes
  2. 02Clear glasses without glare: accepted only where allowed
  3. 03Tint and glare obscure the eyes
  4. 04Natural makeup and small non-reflective earrings
  5. 05Hair and reflective jewellery obstruct or distract
  6. 06Head covering leaves the full face visible

Accessory and covering policies differ. Confirm the selected authority’s rule even when the full face appears visible.

There is no universal glasses rule. U.S. and Australian guidance generally requires removal except for limited medical circumstances, while Canada and the Netherlands may allow clear glasses when the eyes remain fully visible without tint, glare, shadow or frame obstruction.

Ordinary makeup is not the same as digital retouching. The image must remain a natural, recognisable likeness with accurate skin tone and facial detail.

Small jewellery may be accepted when it does not hide the face or create glare. Hair should not cover the eyes or required facial edges, but ears do not universally need to show.

Fashion hats are commonly restricted. Religious and medical coverings may be allowed when the full face remains visible and any required statement or evidence is supplied.

08Field procedure

Passport Photo Requirements: Four-Step Capture Guide

Use the process before visiting a photographer, asking another person to help or preparing an allowed upload.

  1. 01

    Confirm the issuing country and application method

    Open the official photo page for the country issuing the passport, not the country where the picture happens to be taken.

    If two official pages appear to conflict, prioritise the instructions linked from the actual submission flow and contact the authority before submitting.

    Measured print photo and digital upload illustration showing that application route determines the required output.
    Start from the actual application route before choosing print dimensions, upload pixels or a photo-code workflow.
    • 01Passport type and applicant age
    • 02First issue, replacement or renewal
    • 03Paper, in-person, overseas or online submission method
    • 04Print, digital file, photo code or live capture
    • 05Dimensions, head measurement and recency
    • 06Background, expression, accessories and editing
    • 07Photographer, guarantor or medical documentation
  2. 02

    Set up the background, camera and lighting

    Choose a plain physical backdrop in the accepted colour and remove textures, objects and other people. Move the subject away from the wall to reduce shadows.

    Place the camera near eye level and far enough away for natural perspective. Use a stable surface, tripod or another person rather than a close selfie.

    Change the physical setup until the test image works without digital repair.

    Side-view capture setup with a tripod-mounted camera near eye level, balanced soft lights and clear space between the subject and a plain backdrop.
    Use the diagram to arrange the physical scene. Exact background, capture and editing rules still depend on the issuing authority.
    • 01Both sides of the face have similar brightness
    • 02No background shadow behind the head
    • 03Natural skin tone is preserved
    • 04Eyes are sharp and easy to see
    • 05Reflective items produce no glare
  3. 03

    Capture a clean, unedited source

    Take several high-quality originals with the subject facing the lens, head level, shoulders square and the required expression.

    Keep the original file. A choice of clean captures is more useful than one weak image that later needs prohibited correction.

    A convenient crop cannot make prohibited editing acceptable.

    Clean front-facing portrait source with a level head, neutral expression and plain background.
    Capture a strong original before any crop or formatting step. A clean source reduces the temptation to repair the image later.
    • 01Do not stretch or compress the image
    • 02Do not reshape the face or body
    • 03Do not smooth skin or erase permanent features
    • 04Do not generate eyes, hair, teeth or facial details
    • 05Do not apply beauty or colour filters
    • 06Do not digitally cover red-eye or replace the background
    • 07Do not scan an old print or synthesize a new face
  4. 04

    Check the output before printing or uploading

    Compare the result with the official accepted and rejected examples. Reproduce or retake it if a mandatory check fails.

    Preview the actual upload or measure the finished print. Do not force a weak source through by hiding the problem.

    Grid of passport photo examples showing acceptable framing and common rejection issues.
    Use official examples and the final portal or print output to catch framing, lighting, glare, quality and editing problems.
    • 01Print: measure width, height and required face distance
    • 02Print: confirm paper, finish, copies and reverse-side details
    • 03Digital: confirm type, pixels, file size and orientation
    • 04Digital: preserve the requested crop space or upper body
    • 05Digital: use the photo code or transfer method when required
    • 06Preview the submitted image before completing the submission
09Side-by-side examples

Passport Photo Examples: Likely Acceptable vs Likely to Be Rejected

Use these comparisons as a fast pre-check. A strong-looking photo still has to match the exact issuing country and application method.

Six-panel instructional comparison showing a clear baseline portrait and problems with pose, background shadow, face obstruction, compression and over-processing.
  1. 01Baseline: front-facing, clear and evenly lit
  2. 02Framing: tilted head and crop too tight
  3. 03Background: texture and a hard shadow
  4. 04Visibility: lens glare and hair obstruction
  5. 05Quality: blur and compression damage
  6. 06Editing: over-smoothed, unnatural detail

Illustrative pre-check only. The baseline is not a universal passport template and does not replace the issuing authority’s current official examples.

These are screening examples, not an acceptance guarantee. The issuing authority makes the final decision, so compare the photo with its current official examples before submitting.

01Framing and pose

Likely acceptable

Front-facing baseline portrait with the head level and space around the head and shoulders.
Controlled baseline

The head is level, the face points toward the camera, and the crop leaves the exact head and shoulder space required for the selected format.

Likely to be rejected

Portrait with the head tilted and the face cropped too tightly.
Tilted and too tight

The head is tilted or turned, the face is too close or too far away, or the crop removes space required by the official example.

02Background and lighting

Likely acceptable

Baseline portrait against a plain evenly lit physical background.
Plain, evenly lit setup

The permitted plain background is evenly lit, the face has natural detail, and no object or hard shadow touches the head outline.

Likely to be rejected

Portrait against a textured background with a hard shadow behind the head.
Texture and hard shadow

The background has texture, the wrong colour, visible objects or shadows, or the lighting loses facial detail through darkness or overexposure.

03Expression and face visibility

Likely acceptable

Baseline portrait with both eyes and the full face clearly visible.
Face fully visible

The expression follows the official rules, both eyes and the full face are clearly visible, and hair or permitted accessories do not hide required features.

Likely to be rejected

Portrait with strong glare on glasses and hair crossing the eyes.
Glare and obstruction

The expression breaks the rule, glare covers the eyes, or hair, glasses, a hand or another item obstructs part of the face.

04Image quality and authenticity

Likely acceptable

Sharp natural baseline portrait with visible facial detail.
Sharp, natural detail

The photo is sharp, current and natural, comes from a clean original, and uses only formatting explicitly allowed by the authority.

Likely to be rejected

Portrait with visible blur and blocky compression damage.
Blur and compression
Portrait with over-smoothed skin and unnatural digitally processed facial detail.
Over-processing

The image is blurred, compressed, filtered, heavily retouched, AI-altered or repaired with a background replacement that the authority does not allow.

05Output and submission method

Likely acceptable

The print or digital file matches the selected country, applicant type and process, including the required dimensions, file method and source.

Likely to be rejected

The wrong country preset, print size, file specification or capture method was used, or a printed photograph was scanned when an original digital file was required.

10Pre-check matrix

Common problems, their impact and the better next action

If your passport photo was rejected, start here: identify the likely issue, why it matters and the better next action.

01Wrong country or document preset

The dimensions and policies may belong to another authority.

Return to the official instructions and choose the exact process.

02Print or head measurement is wrong

The face may not fit the passport’s biometric layout.

Reprint correctly or retake with enough crop space.

03Head is tilted, turned, too close or too far

Facial geometry becomes harder to compare.

Reposition the camera and subject, then retake.

04Background has texture, colour, objects or shadows

The face and head outline are less distinct.

Use a permitted physical backdrop and retake.

05Lighting is uneven, too dark or overexposed

Important facial detail is lost.

Move or soften the light and retake.

06Image is blurred, grainy or heavily compressed

The authority cannot capture a clear likeness.

Stabilise, refocus and save a higher-quality original.

07Hair, glasses, glare or an item hides the face

Required features are obstructed.

Remove the obstruction and retake.

08Expression does not match the rule

The eyes or mouth may not meet the biometric guidance.

Relax the face and use the specified expression.

09Another person, hand, toy or support is visible

The image no longer shows only the applicant.

Change the setup; do not erase the object digitally.

10Photo is older than the permitted window

It may no longer show a current likeness.

Take a new photograph.

11Filter, AI change or prohibited retouching was used

The submitted image may not be an authentic capture.

Start again from an unaltered source.

12A printed photo was scanned for a digital submission

The selected process may require an original digital capture.

Use the capture method stated by the authority.

A photo problem may delay a request or trigger a replacement request. The exact result depends on the authority and selected method; not every defect means permanent passport refusal.

11Age-based exceptions

Baby and child passport photo requirements

Children still need a clear current likeness, but eye, expression and support exceptions use country-specific age thresholds.

Never transfer an infant exception from one country to another. Open the official child section for the exact case.

For a baby, an authority may suggest a plain sheet or a covered car seat. Position the camera safely and keep adult support outside the visible image when required.

Do not photograph a baby with a visible adult and assume that software can erase the adult later. If editing is prohibited, that creates a second problem.

Open infant passport photo requirements
Two-panel baby photo setup comparison: a clean plain-sheet capture beside a setup with a visible adult hand, toys, patterned fabric and a hard shadow.
The image compares capture conditions, not country-specific infant exceptions. Verify the exact eye, expression and support rules for the child’s application.

Prepare the capture

  • 01Only the child appears in the photograph
  • 02Adult hands, toys, pacifiers and visible supports stay out
  • 03Use the permitted plain background
  • 04Keep the face visible and avoid car-seat or wall shadows
  • 05Take several sharp photographs

Verify the exception

  • 01Whether the eyes must be fully open
  • 02Whether the mouth must be closed
  • 03Whether a neutral expression is required
  • 04Whether the child must look at the lens
  • 05How much physical support is permitted
  • 06Whether medical or disability evidence is required
12Final control

Passport photo submission checklist

Use the current passport photo requirements for your selected process to complete every relevant line immediately before submitting.

Progress: 0/17

Application and source
Shooting and appearance
Output and authenticity

13FAQ

Passport photo requirements questions

Short answers to the most common submission, size, appearance and editing questions.

01

What are the requirements for a passport photo?

Passport photo requirements by country and submission method normally cover a recent, clear and recognisable image with the face visible, an accepted pose and expression, a permitted plain background, even lighting and the exact print or digital output required by the issuing authority. Precise measurements and exceptions vary by case.

02

What size is a passport photo?

There is no universal size. Current printed examples include 2 × 2 inches in the United States, 35 × 45 mm in the UK and Netherlands, 50 × 70 mm in Canada, and a 35–40 × 45–50 mm range in Australia. Use the value for the exact submission method.

03

Can you smile in a passport photo?

It depends on the country. Many authorities require a neutral or plain expression with the mouth closed. Current U.S. guidance allows a neutral expression or natural smile under its rules, while UK and Canadian wording is stricter.

04

What should you wear for a passport photo?

Wear ordinary clothing that leaves the face, chin and jaw visible. Avoid any uniform, camouflage, hat, scarf or high collar restricted by the authority. Clothing should not disappear into the background or cast shadows.

05

What colour shirt should you wear?

No shirt colour is globally required. A plain medium or dark top can provide practical contrast against a light background, but that is photography advice, not an official worldwide standard.

06

Can you wear glasses in a passport photo?

Rules differ. Some countries generally require removal; others allow clear lenses when the eyes are fully visible and there is no glare, tint, shadow or frame obstruction. Follow the exact country rule.

07

Can you wear makeup or earrings?

Often yes, provided the applicant remains easy to recognise and the item does not hide facial features or create glare. Ordinary makeup is different from digital retouching, filters, reshaping or generated details.

08

What is the pixel size of a passport photo?

There is no universal pixel size. Pixels apply to digital files, while inches and millimetres describe prints. Use the pixel dimensions, aspect ratio, type and file-size limits shown by the exact online portal.

09

How recent does a passport photo need to be?

The time limit varies by authority and submission method, and the photograph must still be a current likeness. Check the issuing authority immediately before applying instead of relying on a general recency rule.

10

Can you edit or replace the background?

Only when the issuing authority and selected method permit it. Some authorities prohibit software correction, filters, retouching, AI changes or background replacement. When unclear, create the correct physical background and retake the photo.

Verify first, create second

Check the submission method, then create your passport photo

If the selected workflow allows digital formatting and a supported preset is available, upload a suitable source image and inspect the prepared result before continuing.

Create my passport photoReview country requirements35 × 45 mm size guide

PassportSizePhoto.ai is an independent third-party service and is not affiliated with a government, embassy, consulate or passport authority. Only the issuing authority can decide whether a photograph is accepted.