Passport & Visa Photo Size Requirements by Country

Quick-reference table

Applying online? Read the right-hand column. Print size and online-upload size are two different specifications: a 35×45 mm print converts to 413×531 px at 300 DPI, but the UK and Canada portals insist on much larger uploads with a strict file-size ceiling. Where a country still wants printed photos, the upload cell says n/a.

* Pixel values are the 300-DPI equivalent of the print size: pixels = mm ÷ 25.4 × 300. Online application portals often set their own minimum dimensions and file-size limits — always check the official source for your application channel.

The “Digital upload” column lists the online-upload channel where one exists (minimum and maximum pixels, accepted file type, and file-size ceiling). Rows marked n/a require printed photos. These caps were checked against the cited official sources on 2026-10-06; portals can change them without notice — re-confirm before you submit.

India: visa and OCI photos are 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm), the same square template as the United States. Indian passport applications vary by channel — some overseas posts specify 35 × 45 mm (630 × 810 px, 7:9 aspect) while the printed affixed photo is commonly 2 × 2 in; confirm with the Passport Seva portal or the post handling your application before choosing a template.

Print size ≠ upload size. If your application is submitted online, satisfy the digital-upload column (pixels + KB + file type), not just the mm measurement. If a portal rejects an oversize upload, trim the file in-browser with the compressor — your photo never leaves your device.

United States — 2×2 passport & visa photo

• 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm), in color, printed on matte or glossy photo-quality paper.
• Head between 1 and 1⅛ inches (25–35 mm) from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head.
• Plain white or off-white background with no shadow behind the head.
• Taken within the last 6 months to reflect your current appearance.
• No eyeglasses, no uniforms, no headphones or wireless hands-free devices; no digital retouching.
• For online uploads: a square color image, at least 600 × 600 pixels.

Source: U.S. Department of State — travel.state.gov/photos (linked below).

Canada — 50×70 mm print and digital upload

• Printed: 50 mm wide × 70 mm high (2 × 2¾ in); face 31–36 mm from chin to crown; plain, uniform white or light background; two photos, one endorsed by your guarantor.
• Online (digital): portrait orientation with a 3:2 aspect ratio; at least 1200 × 1800 px and no larger than 3000 × 4500 px; file size between 200 KB and 4 MB; chin-to-crown height 45–50% of the image.

Source: Government of Canada passport photo pages and IRCC digital photo specification (linked below).

United Kingdom — 35×45 mm passport photo

• 35 mm wide × 45 mm high; face between 29 and 34 mm from chin to crown.
• Plain cream or light-grey background, evenly lit with no shadows.
• Must be a close likeness — a recent photo; neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open and looking at the camera.
• For the online renewal portal the image must be at least 600 px wide × 750 px high and pass the government's automatic checks.

Source: GOV.UK — Photos for passports (linked below).

Schengen visa — one 35×45 mm standard for all 27 states

• 35 mm wide × 45 mm high, based on the ICAO biometric standard.
• Face 32–36 mm from chin to crown, filling roughly 70–80% of the frame.
• Plain white, off-white or light background, even lighting, no shadows; full color.
• Taken within the last 6 months; typically two identical prints (one attached to the form, one for biometrics).
• Glasses are generally not permitted; head coverings only for religious or medical reasons with the full face visible.

Source: Schengen member-state consulates and VFS Global photo guidance; ICAO Doc 9303 (linked below).

Australia — 35–40 × 45–50 mm

• Width 35–40 mm, height 45–50 mm (35 × 45 mm is the standard print); face 32–36 mm.
• Plain light background; high-quality glossy dye-sublimation prints (≥ 200 gsm).
• Two identical photos taken within 6 months; one must be endorsed by a guarantor (except PC7 renewals).
• Neutral expression, mouth closed, facing the camera squarely.

Source: Australian Passport Office — Camera operator guidelines (linked below).

Japan — 35×45 mm borderless

• 35 mm wide × 45 mm high, with no border; face height about 34 mm from the top of the head to the chin.
• No headwear, plain background, taken straight-on, sharp and clear.
• Taken within the last 6 months; color or black-and-white accepted.

Source: Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs / consular photo guidance (linked below).

China — 33×48 mm

• 33 mm wide × 48 mm high.
• Head width 15–22 mm; head height (chin to crown) 28–33 mm.
• 3–5 mm gap from the top of the head to the top edge; at least 7 mm from below the chin to the bottom edge.
• Plain white background; hair must not cover the eyebrows, eyes or ears, and no facial feature may be obscured.

Source: Chinese consular services — passport portrait photo specification (linked below).

Biometric photo rules that almost every country shares

• Face the camera directly with your head straight and shoulders square — no tilt.
• Neutral expression, mouth closed, both eyes open and clearly visible.
• Even, diffused lighting with no shadows on the face or background; sharp focus and natural colors (no filters or retouching).
• Remove glasses unless the issuing authority explicitly allows them; avoid flash glare and tinted lenses.
• Head coverings only for religious or medical reasons, with the full oval of the face visible.
• Use a recent photo that shows your current appearance (usually within 6 months; the UK is stricter).

Print size to pixels at 300 DPI

pixels = mm ÷ 25.4 × 300. So 35 × 45 mm → 413 × 531 px; 51 × 51 mm → 600 × 600 px; 50 × 70 mm → 591 × 827 px; 33 × 48 mm → 390 × 567 px. For online uploads, follow the portal’s own pixel and file-size limits rather than the print conversion.

Shooting a compliant photo at home

You do not need a professional photographer. A phone camera against a plain wall, lit from both sides, passes every country's rules if you follow a few constraints:

1. Background: stand against a plain white or off-white wall. A sheet taped to the wall works. No patterns, no shadows cast on the wall behind you.
2. Lighting: face a window during the day, or use two desk lamps at 45° on either side of the camera. Even light kills the under-chin shadow that gets photos rejected.
3. Expression: neutral face, mouth closed, both eyes open and looking at the lens. No smiling, no teeth showing for most authorities.
4. Position: shoulders square to the camera, head straight (not tilted), fill about 70% of the frame with your head.
5. Distance: hold the phone 1.2–1.5 m away, use the rear camera, and take several shots.

Run the best shot through the ID photo cropper: pick your country, drag the face markers, and the tool resizes the photo to the exact required dimensions and a plain background.

Laying out a 6-inch print sheet at home

Printing your own photos is cheap because photo labs price by the sheet, not by the print. A standard 10 × 15 cm (4 × 6 in) glossy print costs roughly the same as one wallet-size print, so fit as many ID photos on it as possible. For the full step-by-step see the guide on printing passport photos online.

1. Crop your photo to the exact required size (e.g. 35 × 45 mm) at 300 DPI.
2. Open a blank canvas sized 10 × 15 cm at 300 DPI (1181 × 1775 pixels).
3. Tile the cropped photos on the sheet. For 35 × 45 mm photos you can fit 4 columns × 4 rows = 16 copies, or for US 2×2 in photos 3 columns × 2 rows = 6 copies.
4. Export as JPG and send the sheet to a pharmacy photo printer or print it at home on glossy photo paper. Do not use plain copy paper — the office will reject it.
5. Cut along the edges of each photo with a paper guillotine, not scissors.

Heads-up: some countries (notably the US State Department for in-person applications) require photos taken by a commercial service and will reject printed-at-home photos. For online DS-160 uploads a digital crop is fine; for the physical appointment, check the acceptance rule in advance.

Create a compliant photo in your browser

Open the free Passport & ID Photo Maker, choose the country or standard size, set the required background color, crop to the head-height rule and export a ready-to-print sheet. Everything runs locally — your photo never leaves your device.

Official sources

1. U.S. Department of State — Passport Photos: travel.state.gov/.../photos.html
2. Government of Canada — Passport photos: canada.ca — passport photos
3. Government of Canada — Digital Passport Photo Specifications (PDF): digital-photo-spec-eng.pdf
4. GOV.UK — Photos for passports: gov.uk/photos-for-passports
5. Schengen photo guidance (35 × 45 mm, ICAO Doc 9303) — Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs / VFS Global: exteriores.gob.es — Schengen visas
6. Australian Passport Office — Camera Operator Guidelines (PDF): passports.gov.au — camera operator guidelines
7. Consulate-General of Japan — passport photo specifications: sydney.au.emb-japan.go.jp
8. Consulate General of China in Chicago — passport portrait photo specification: chicago.china-consulate.gov.cn
9. New Zealand Passports (Department of Internal Affairs) — online photo technical requirements (3:4 JPG, 900×1200 min, 250 KB–5 MB): passports.govt.nz/passport-photos
10. Brazil Ministry of Foreign Affairs (gov.br) — passport photo 5 × 7 cm on a white background: gov.br — Brazilian passport
11. Consulate General of India, San Francisco — photo specification (visa/OCI 51 × 51 mm): cgisf.gov.in — photo specification (PDF)

Last reviewed October 2026. Requirements differ between paper and online applications and can change without notice. PixlReady provides this summary for convenience only; always confirm the size, background, digital dimensions and file-size limits with the issuing government before you print or submit.