Passport Photo Requirements by Country

Every country has different passport photo specifications. Size, background color, head position — get them wrong and your application gets rejected. Use this guide or let IDPicly AI handle it automatically.

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Is there a single ICAO photo size?

No — and this is the most common way people get the size wrong. ICAO Doc 9303, the standard behind machine-readable passports, describes the portrait mostly in proportions: how much of the frame your head fills, where your eyes sit. Proportions survive being printed at any size, which is exactly the point.

So countries that all follow the same standard still print at different sizes. There is no one “ICAO photo size” to copy, and a photo cropped to the wrong country’s proportions is rejected however carefully it was measured.

Issuer	Print size	Head height
UK, Schengen, Australia, Japan	35mm x 45mm	about 74–76% of the frame
United States	2 x 2 inch (51mm x 51mm)	about 65%
India (Passport Seva, online)	53.3mm x 68.6mm	about 80%
Canada	50mm x 70mm	about 48%

Canada is the one that catches people. Guides repeat that an ICAO photo means 35mm x 45mm with the head filling 70–80% of the frame. Canada asks for 50mm x 70mm with the face measuring 31–36mm chin to crown — under half the frame. A head sized by the usual rule of thumb is far too large, and it will come back.

Passport Photo Size by Country

Country	Print Size	Digital Size	Background	Notes
🇺🇸United States	2×2 inch (51×51 mm)	600×600 px	White	No glasses since Nov 2016
🇬🇧United Kingdom (Online)	51×64 mm equiv	600×750 px	Light grey	Online applications, within 1 month
🇬🇧United Kingdom (Print)	35×45 mm	413×531 px	Light grey	Paper applications, face 29-34mm
🇨🇦Canada (Print)	50×70 mm (2×2.8 in)	591×827 px	White	Face 31-36mm, 2 prints needed
🇨🇦Canada (PR Online)	Digital only	1500×2100 px	White	PR Portal, no editing allowed
🇨🇦Canada (Visa/TRV)	35×45 mm	413×531 px	White	Visitor, study, work permits
🇮🇳India (Online)	~53×69 mm equiv	630×810 px	White	Passport Seva portal
🇮🇳India (OCI/Print)	2×2 inch (51×51 mm)	600×600 px	White	OCI, e-Visa, print copies
🇪🇺EU/Schengen	35×45 mm	413×531 px	White/light	ICAO standard
🇦🇺Australia	35×45 mm	413×531 px	White/light	ICAO standard
🇨🇳China (COVA Online)	35×47 mm equiv	413×560 px	White	COVA system upload, 40-120KB
🇨🇳China (Print)	33×48 mm	390×567 px	White	Physical photo on application
🇯🇵Japan	35×45 mm	413×531 px	White	ICAO standard
🇵🇭Philippines	35×45 mm	413×531 px	Blue	Royal blue background required!
🇰🇷South Korea	35×45 mm	413×531 px	White	ICAO standard
🇻🇳Vietnam	40×60 mm	472×709 px	White	4×6 cm standard
🇵🇰Pakistan	35×45 mm	413×531 px	White	NADRA/NICOP compatible
🇧🇩Bangladesh	45×55 mm	531×650 px	White	Non-standard size
🇹🇼Taiwan	35×45 mm	413×531 px	White	ICAO standard
🇳🇬Nigeria	35×45 mm	413×531 px	White	NIS standard
🇲🇽Mexico	35×45 mm	413×531 px	White	Within 30 days
🇮🇩Indonesia	40×60 mm (4×6cm)	472×709 px	Red	Red background required!
🇲🇾Malaysia	35×50 mm	413×591 px	White	Hijab allowed
🇦🇪UAE	43×55 mm	508×650 px	White	Emirates ID & Visa
🇸🇬Singapore	35×45 mm	400×514 px	White	Max 60KB, 3 months recent
🇹🇭Thailand	35×45 mm	413×531 px	White	Glasses allowed (thin frames)
🇧🇷Brazil	50×70 mm (5×7cm)	591×827 px	White	Same as Canada print
🇳🇿New Zealand	35×45 mm	900×1200 px	White/light	Glasses allowed
🇸🇦Saudi Arabia	2×2 inch (51×51 mm)	200×200 px (online)	White	Hajj/Umrah visa

IDPicly supports all these countries plus 25+ more. Select your country when you upload and we'll format correctly.

Universal Requirements

While sizes vary, most countries follow similar rules based on ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) standards:

Face Position

• Face centered in frame
• Eyes at horizontal midline
• Face takes 50-70% of height
• Looking straight at camera

Lighting

• Even lighting on face
• No shadows on face or background
• No red-eye
• Natural skin tones

Quality

• High resolution, sharp focus
• No filters or editing
• Recent (within 6 months)
• Color, not black & white

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Wrong size

Check exact dimensions for your country

Wrong background

Use white or specified color only

Glasses on

Remove all eyewear (US rule since 2016)

Smiling with teeth

Keep neutral expression, mouth closed

Head tilted

Face camera straight on, chin level

Shadows

Use even front lighting

Old photo

Must be taken within 6 months

Low resolution

Use minimum required pixels

Photo already rejected? See how to fix it.

Requirements FAQ

What is the standard passport photo size?▼

There's no universal standard. US uses 2x2 inches (51x51 mm). Most of Europe, Canada, and Asia use 35x45 mm. Some countries like China use 33x48 mm. Always check the specific requirements for your country.

What background color is required for passport photos?▼

Most countries require white or off-white backgrounds. UK accepts light gray. A few countries have unique requirements: Philippines requires royal blue, Indonesia requires red. Middle Eastern countries (Saudi Arabia, UAE) use white. IDPicly AI sets the correct background for your selected country.

Can I smile in my passport photo?▼

Most countries require a neutral expression with mouth closed. Some countries (like the US) allow a natural smile as long as your mouth is closed. Never show teeth, as this can cause rejection in most countries.

Can I wear glasses in passport photos?▼

US has banned glasses since 2016. UK, Canada, and most EU countries also prohibit eyewear. Only prescription glasses for medical reasons may be allowed in some countries with a doctor's note.

How recent must a passport photo be?▼

Most countries require photos taken within 6 months. Some (like India for visa applications) may require 3 months. The photo should accurately represent your current appearance.