Passport and visa photo sizes by country, and how to take one that gets accepted

Passport and visa photo rules look simple until a clerk or a website rejects yours. The photo is the right size, and it is still refused because the head is too small, the background has a shadow on it, or the picture was taken eight months ago. These rules exist because passport photos are checked by software that matches faces, and the software only works when every photo follows the same layout.

This guide lists the common photo sizes by country, explains the rules behind them, and walks through taking a photo that passes on the first attempt. If you are making a photo for an online submission, there is also a section on pixel sizes and print sheets.

The sizes at a glance

The table shows the sizes used by the most common destinations and issuing countries. Use it as a starting point and then check the official page, because countries update their rules, and visa photos can differ from passport photos in the same country.

Notice how many entries use 35 x 45 mm. This is the size defined for travel documents by the international standard that most passports follow, which is why it shows up almost everywhere outside North America and a few other places.

Head size matters as much as photo size

Every country specifies how large the face must be inside the frame. A photo at exactly the right paper size can still fail if the head is too small, which is the most common mistake in photos taken at home.

As a rule of thumb, the face from the chin to the top of the head should fill about 70 to 80 percent of the photo's height. For a 35 x 45 mm photo that means a head about 32 to 36 mm tall. The US uses a similar idea in inches, asking for a head between 1 and 1 3/8 inches (25 to 35 mm) in a 2 inch frame. Canada and the UK publish their own exact ranges, so read the numbers on the issuing authority's page.

The face should also be centred, with the eyes roughly in the upper-middle part of the picture and a small gap of background above the hair. If your hair is voluminous, the measurement is still taken to the top of the head, not the top of the hair.

Rules that apply almost everywhere

• Recent. The photo should have been taken within the last six months. The US specifies this directly, and other countries are similar. Some authorities check by looking at your current appearance.
• Neutral expression. Mouth closed, eyes open, looking straight into the camera. A small natural smile is accepted in some countries and refused in others, so a neutral face is the safe choice.
• Plain background. One flat colour with no patterns, no shadows and no other people or objects.
• No filters or retouching. Skin smoothing, blemish removal and changes to eye or face shape are not allowed and are often detectable.
• Glasses. Many countries no longer accept glasses at all, and others accept them only if there is no glare and the eyes are fully visible. Remove them if you can.
• Head coverings. Allowed for religious or medical reasons in most countries, as long as the full face from chin to forehead stays visible and there are no shadows on it. You may need to submit a signed statement.
• Colour. Colour photos are required, not black and white.

How to take the photo at home

You do not need a studio. A phone camera is good enough when the setup is right, and most rejections come from lighting and background rather than from camera quality.

1. Pick the wall. Stand about half a metre in front of a plain white or light wall. Moving away from the wall helps prevent your shadow from falling on it.
2. Use even light. Face a window in daylight and keep the light on your face. Avoid direct sunshine, which creates hard shadows. If the window is behind you, turn around.
3. Raise the camera to eye level. Prop the phone on a stack of books or have someone hold it. Photos from below or above change the proportions of your face.
4. Stand about one to one and a half metres away and use the rear camera. Selfie cameras at arm's length stretch the nose and forehead, and this can cause problems at border control, where your real face is compared with the photo.
5. Take several shots with a neutral expression and eyes open, and choose the sharpest.
6. Crop to the standard ratio. Keep the head the right size inside the frame. Do not zoom the original so far that it becomes blurry.

Digital submissions: pixels and file size

Many applications are now online, and they ask for a digital photo rather than a print. The rules are usually stated in pixels. For example, the US asks for a square image between 600 and 1200 pixels on each side, and the UK asks for a minimum size of around 600 x 750 pixels. Online systems also set a maximum file size, so check both numbers on the page.

If you need a deeper explanation of how pixels and KB limits work together, see our guide on getting a photo under 100 KB for an online form.

Print sheets for studios and kiosks

If you print at home or at a photo shop, a 4 x 6 inch sheet, which is the standard postcard print size, can hold several photos at once:

• Six photos of 2 x 2 inches, in three columns and two rows.
• Eight photos of 35 x 45 mm, in four columns and two rows.

Print on proper photo paper, with no borders and the printer set to actual size, not "fit to page". Fit to page rescales the image and a 35 x 45 mm photo comes out the wrong size. Measure a printed photo with a ruler before you cut the rest of the sheet.

Common reasons for rejection

• Photo too old or not recognisable as you.
• Shadows on the face or the background.
• Glare on glasses, or reflections in the lenses.
• Head too small, or cropped too tightly so the chin or the top of the head is cut off.
• Mouth open, eyes squinting or head tilted.
• Printed on ordinary office paper, or with visible dots from a low-quality printer.
• Digital retouching, or a background replaced so badly that the hair edges look cut out.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use the same photo for my passport and my visa?

Sometimes, but not always. The US passport and US visa photos share a size, but a Schengen visa uses 35 x 45 mm, and a Chinese visa has its own size. Check each application separately.

Is a smile allowed?

A neutral expression is accepted everywhere. Some authorities allow a natural, closed-mouth smile, but there is no benefit to risking a rejection.

Can I change the background with software?

Some authorities allow it as long as the result looks natural and the face itself is not edited. Others require the photo to be taken against a plain background in the first place. A clean wall is more reliable than software.

How many photos should I print?

Print more than you need. Many applications ask for two, and visa centres sometimes ask for a spare. A sheet of six or eight costs very little.