Passport photo size requirements by country
Published
Passport photos look alike, but the size and background color change from country to country, and a photo that is a few millimetres off can get an application sent back. Below are the sizes most people ask about, followed by the rules that apply almost everywhere.
Passport photo sizes at a glance
| Country | Photo size | Background |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm)Head 1–1⅜ in from chin to crown; no glasses | White or off-white |
| United Kingdom | 35 × 45 mm | Plain cream or light grey |
| Schengen / EU countries | 35 × 45 mm | Plain and light (exact shade varies by country) |
| Canada | 50 × 70 mm | Plain white or light-coloured |
| Australia | 35–40 mm wide × 45–50 mm high | Plain white or light grey |
| China | 33 × 48 mm | White |
| Japan | 35 × 45 mm | Plain, light |
| Pakistan | 35 × 45 mm | White |
Rules change. Always confirm on the official passport or visa website of the country you are applying to before you print or upload.
The rules that apply almost everywhere
- A recent photo, usually taken within the last six months.
- Face the camera straight on with a neutral expression, eyes open and mouth closed.
- Even lighting with no shadows on your face or the background.
- No hats or sunglasses. Religious head coverings are usually allowed if your whole face is visible.
- Your whole head and the top of your shoulders in the frame, centred.
35 × 45 mm: the most common size
Most of the world uses 35 × 45 mm, the size recommended by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for machine-readable passports. It covers the UK, the Schengen countries, Japan, Pakistan and many more. The background color is where countries differ, so check it before you print.
2 × 2 inches: United States
The US uses a square 2 × 2 inch photo for both passports and visas. For the online DS-160 visa form you upload a digital version: square, between 600 × 600 and 1200 × 1200 pixels, as a JPEG no larger than 240 KB. Our US visa photo maker produces a 600 × 600 pixel photo on white.
Making a passport photo at home
- Stand facing a window in daylight, about half a metre from a plain wall.
- Ask someone to take the photo at eye level from about 1.5 metres away, rather than a close-up selfie.
- Upload it to the passport and ID photo maker, choose the size and background, and download the result. It removes the background and crops to size for you.
- Print at the exact size on photo paper, or upload the digital file if your application asks for one.
Making one for a specific document? See the Pakistan passport photo (35 × 45 mm) and US visa photo (2 × 2 inches) guides, or the visa photo maker with official specs for countries like Canada, India and Japan.