Passport Photo Size Requirements by Country

Why passport photo size matters

A passport or visa application can be delayed or rejected over a photo that is the wrong size, has the wrong background, or shows your head at the wrong scale. Government agencies are strict about specifications because the photo is used for facial recognition systems and identity verification for years.

Taking the photo on your phone is fine — millions of applicants do it. The challenge is meeting the precise dimensional requirements that vary by country. A standard selfie is the wrong aspect ratio, the wrong head size, and almost certainly the wrong background.

Common passport photo dimensions

Always verify requirements on your government's official passport website before submitting. Rules change, and some visa types have different specifications.

Universal passport photo rules

Regardless of country, most passport photos must follow these guidelines:

• Plain background — No patterns, shadows, objects, or other people visible.
• Neutral expression — Mouth closed, eyes open, looking directly at the camera.
• No accessories — Remove sunglasses, hats, and headphones. Prescription glasses are allowed in some countries if eyes are clearly visible.
• Recent photo — Taken within the last 6 months, reflecting your current appearance.
• Good lighting — Even illumination with no harsh shadows on the face or background.
• Sharp focus — No blur, pixelation, or overexposure.

How to create a compliant passport photo

Step 1: Take the photo

Stand against a plain white wall. Ask someone to take the photo at eye level, about 1.5 meters away. Ensure your face is well-lit with no shadows.

Step 2: Resize and crop

Use the passport photo resizer to crop your image to the correct dimensions and head size for your country.

Step 3: Check the output

Before printing or submitting digitally, verify:

• Head size falls within the required range
• Background is uniform with no shadows
• Face is centered and looking straight ahead
• Image resolution is at least 300 DPI for print (600×600 px minimum for 2×2 inch)

Step 4: Print or submit

For printed applications, use photo-quality paper at actual size (not scaled). For online submissions, upload the digital file at the required pixel dimensions and file size.

Digital vs printed passport photos

Many countries now accept online passport renewal with a digital photo upload. Digital submissions often have additional constraints:

• File size — Typically 200 KB to 1 MB
• Format — JPG is universally accepted
• Color space — sRGB, not Adobe RGB
• No editing — Filters, beauty mode, and background replacement must not alter your natural appearance

If your digital upload is rejected for file size, compress the JPG moderately without changing dimensions.

Common rejection reasons

• Head too small or too large — The most frequent issue. Use a resizer with head-size guides.
• Background not plain — Visible texture, furniture, or color gradients fail automated checks.
• Photo too old — Significant appearance changes since the photo was taken.
• Wrong dimensions — A 1×1 inch crop submitted for a 2×2 inch requirement.

For social media sizing reference, see our Instagram image size guide.