Passport Photo Size Chart and Dimensions | AnyPassportPhoto

Last month, a user came to our support team after having their UK passport renewal rejected — twice. The photos looked fine to the naked eye. The photographer at their local pharmacy in Chicago had given them 2×2 inch prints, assuming “passport photos are passport photos.” The UK Home Office automated system flagged the 51×51mm format as non-compliant within seconds. They needed 35×45mm.

This happens more often than anyone admits. A 2026 data report from photo verification service Snap2Pass analyzed self-submitted passport photos across 24 countries and found that 31% of all self-submitted photos fail at least one compliance check before correction. In strict-verification markets like Japan and France, the rejection rate pushes past 40% Snap2Pass, 2026.

There is no such thing as a universal “passport size photo.” Use this passport photo size guide to compare passport photo dimensions, passport photo pixel size rules, and the edge cases that catch people off guard.

The Four Size Standards That Cover the World

Despite 195+ countries each having their own passport issuance rules, photo dimensions collapse into four families. The International Civil Aviation Organization’s Doc 9303 establishes the baseline — a 35×45mm rectangle with specific biometric framing — and each country either follows it or consciously departs ICAO, Doc 9303.

35×45mm — The ICAO Global Default

This is the most common passport photo size on the planet. The UK, all 27 Schengen Area countries, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, and most of Asia and Africa use it. If you’re unsure what size a country requires and you can’t verify, 35×45mm is correct about 85% of the time.

The spec comes directly from ICAO’s biometric standards: the face must occupy 70–80% of the frame height (roughly 27–34mm from chin to crown), eyes must sit 60–69% down from the top edge, and background must be uniform light grey or white depending on the issuing authority Photogov, ICAO 9303 standards.

Common 35×45mm countries and documents: UK, Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Austria, Switzerland, Portugal, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Ireland, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Israel, Ukraine, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan (white BG for passport; blue BG variants exist for some documents), Sri Lanka, Morocco, and all Schengen visa applications. Some countries use nearby but different formats, including Spain at 32×26mm, Malaysia at 35×50mm, Vietnam at 40×60mm, and Turkey at 50×60mm, so always confirm the row for your exact country before cropping.

51×51mm (2×2 Inches) — The Americas-South Asia Square

The United States uses this square format for passport and visa photos, and a few visa or mission-specific workflows in other countries may request it. It predates ICAO standardization — the US adopted 2×2 inches decades before Doc 9303 was published and has never switched U.S. Department of State, Photo Requirements. Do not assume this is the right format for Indian passport renewal: Passport Seva-style flows commonly use a 35×45mm / 630×810px image, while 2×2 inches appears in some OCI, e-visa, or mission-specific instructions.

The US State Department enforces specific framing within that square: head height must measure 25–35mm (1 to 1 3/8 inches), the photo must be taken within the last 6 months, and glasses have been banned since 2016 except for signed medical necessity. As of January 2026, AI-edited or digitally retouched photos are grounds for automatic rejection.

For the US Diversity Visa Lottery (DV Program), the digital spec is more restrictive: exactly 600×600 pixels, JPEG only, under 240KB file size.

50×70mm — Canada’s Outlier Format

Canada is the only G7 country that uses this large rectangular format. The photo must be 50mm wide by 70mm tall — roughly the size of a standard business card. Unlike most countries, Canada also requires the photographer’s studio name, address, and the date the photo was taken to be written or stamped on the back of one print Government of Canada, Passport Photos.

Brazil also uses 50×70mm for passport photos, though its visa applications often use different dimensions.

33×48mm — China’s Unique Rectangular Spec

China’s passport photo specification is narrower and slightly taller than the ICAO standard. At 33×48mm, it’s the most common non-ICAO rectangular format in use. The Chinese requirements are also stricter on photo freshness: photos must be taken within 3 months of application, compared to the 6-month window most other countries allow Photovalid, China requirements.

Additional country-specific outliers: Spain uses 32×26mm for passport photos (smaller than any other EU country), Argentina uses 40×40mm (square, ICAO-inspired but unique), UAE requires 43×55mm, Saudi Arabia uses 40×60mm, and Colombia uses 30×40mm.

Complete Passport Photo Size Chart — 50+ Countries

Country / Document	Size (mm)	Size (inches)	Pixels @300 DPI	Background	Glasses
United States (Passport)	51 × 51	2.00 × 2.00	600 × 600	White / off-white	No*
United Kingdom	35 × 45	1.38 × 1.77	413 × 531	Light grey / cream	No
Canada	50 × 70	1.97 × 2.76	591 × 827	White	No
China	33 × 48	1.30 × 1.89	390 × 567	White	No
India (Passport Seva)	35 × 45	1.38 × 1.77	630 × 810	White	No
Japan	35 × 45	1.38 × 1.77	413 × 531	White (#FFFFFF)	No
Australia	35 × 45	1.38 × 1.77	413 × 531	White	No
Germany	35 × 45	1.38 × 1.77	413 × 531	Light grey	No
France	35 × 45	1.38 × 1.77	413 × 531	Light grey	No
Spain	32 × 26	1.26 × 1.02	378 × 307	White	No
Italy	35 × 45	1.38 × 1.77	413 × 531	Light grey	No
Netherlands	35 × 45	1.38 × 1.77	413 × 531	White	No
South Korea	35 × 45	1.38 × 1.77	413 × 531	White	No
Brazil	50 × 70	1.97 × 2.76	591 × 827	White	No
Mexico	35 × 45	1.38 × 1.77	413 × 531	White	No
Argentina	40 × 40	1.57 × 1.57	472 × 472	White	No
New Zealand	35 × 45	1.38 × 1.77	413 × 531	White	No
Singapore	35 × 45	1.38 × 1.77	413 × 531	White	No
Ireland	35 × 45	1.38 × 1.77	413 × 531	White	No
UAE	43 × 55	1.69 × 2.17	508 × 650	White	No
Saudi Arabia	40 × 60	1.57 × 2.36	472 × 709	White	No
Turkey	50 × 60	1.97 × 2.36	591 × 709	White	No
South Africa	35 × 45	1.38 × 1.77	413 × 531	White	No
Russia	35 × 45	1.38 × 1.77	413 × 531	White / light grey	No
Colombia	30 × 40	1.18 × 1.57	354 × 472	White	No
Malaysia	35 × 50	1.38 × 1.97	413 × 591	Blue	No
Indonesia	35 × 45	1.38 × 1.77	413 × 531	White**	No
Vietnam	40 × 60	1.57 × 2.36	472 × 709	White	No
Thailand	35 × 45	1.38 × 1.77	413 × 531	White	No
Philippines	35 × 45	1.38 × 1.77	413 × 531	White	No
Egypt	40 × 60	1.57 × 2.36	472 × 709	White	No
Cambodia	40 × 60	1.57 × 2.36	472 × 709	White	No
Schengen Visa (27 countries)	35 × 45	1.38 × 1.77	413 × 531	Light grey / white	No

*US: medical exception only with signed doctor letter. **Indonesia: red background for some document types (KTP, SIM).

How to Read Pixel Dimensions

Pixel values in the table assume 300 DPI — the universal print-resolution standard for passport photos. The formula is Pixels = (mm ÷ 25.4) × DPI. For example, 35mm at 300 DPI yields 413 pixels.

Some countries specify pixel dimensions directly for digital submissions rather than accepting any resolution that achieves the physical size:

• US DS-160 visa photo tool: 600×600 px minimum, 1200×1200 px maximum, JPEG only, under 240KB
• US online passport renewal: 600×600 px minimum, 1200×1200 px maximum, JPEG or PNG, 54KB–10MB
• UK HMPO digital: minimum 600×750 px, maximum 5MB file size
• India Passport Seva online: minimum 350×350 px, 10KB–300KB, minimum 200 DPI
• DV Lottery: exactly 600×600 px, JPEG only, under 240KB

Common Conversion Mistakes That Cause Rejection

Mistake	Why It Happens	Result
Using US 2×2 for UK/Schengen	Assuming "passport size" is universal	Rejected instantly by automated validation
35×45mm for China	Defaulting to ICAO standard	Photo is 2mm too narrow, 3mm too short — manual rejection
Cropping instead of resizing	Cutting a 35×45 photo to make 2×2	Head cut off or face below 50% of frame height
150 DPI print from 600×600 file	Printer defaults to 150 DPI	Photo prints at 4×4 inches — way too large
White background for UK	Assuming white is always safest	UK HMPO automated system rejects pure white; wants light grey/cream

Passport Photo Rejection Rates — What the 2026 Data Shows

Snap2Pass analyzed anonymized compliance data from 24 countries in 2026 and found that self-submitted photos fail at an average rate of 31% before correction. The strictest and most lenient authorities paint a clear picture of where travelers should be most careful Snap2Pass, May 2026.

Highest rejection rates (most strict):

• Japan MOFA / MOJ: 41% — rejects for ±0.5mm head-height deviation; no medical glasses exemption since 2019; enforces JIS Z 8721 color standard for pure white (#FFFFFF)
• France ANTS: 39% — light grey background requirement trips up users who submit white
• India Passport Seva: 38% — face size below 70% of frame height is the top failure mode
• UK HMPO: 36% — automated system rejects pure white backgrounds in favor of light grey/cream
• Germany Bundesdruckerei: 35% — glass reflection and background tint issues dominate

Lowest rejection rates (most lenient):

• Mexico SRE: 18% — wider tolerance for background tones at the delegation counter
• Taiwan BOCA: 20%
• Italy Polizia di Stato: 20%
• Greece Hellenic Police: 21%

The top five rejection reasons globally, aggregated across all 24 countries:

1. Glasses with visible lens reflection — 28% of all rejections
2. Background tint or wrong color — 22%
3. Shadow on face or background — 14%
4. Face size out of specification — 12%
5. Expression non-neutral (smile, open mouth) — 8%

Remaining 16% clusters around hair-over-eyes, head tilt, low resolution, and the newest category: AI-edited photos with visible retouching artifacts.

YouTube: Visual Guide to 2026 Passport Photo Rules

This video from the U.S. Passport Service Guide walks through the specific 2026 rule changes, including the AI editing ban and updated biometric framing requirements that all applicants should know before submitting:

Digital File Rules Across Major Countries

Beyond physical dimensions, digital photo submissions come with their own file-size, format, and resolution constraints. Get one wrong, and the online uploader refuses the file before a human ever sees it.

Country	File Format	File Size	Min Resolution	Notes
US DS-160 visa photo	JPEG	≤240KB	600×600 px	24-bit color; max 1200×1200 px
US online passport renewal	JPEG / PNG	54KB–10MB	600×600 px	Max 1200×1200 px
UK (HMPO Digital)	JPEG	≤5MB	600×750 px	No filters or digital enhancements
India (Passport Seva)	JPEG	10KB–300KB	350×350 px	Minimum 200 DPI
US DV Lottery	JPEG	≤240KB	600×600 px	Must be exactly square 600×600
Germany (Digital-Only)	Encrypted transfer	Varies	—	No printed photos accepted since May 2025
Japan (Online)	JPEG	≤5MB	480×640 px	No editing, no beauty apps

A key 2025 policy change: Germany became digital-only on May 1, 2025. German applicants can no longer submit printed passport photos for any ID document — photos must be taken at certified studios that encrypt and transfer the image directly to government servers VisaPics, Nov 2025.

Head Size and Biometric Framing — The Overlooked Variable

Every country specifies a head-height range within the photo frame, usually expressed as a percentage of total image height. ICAO Doc 9303 requires 70–80%, which translates to about 27–34mm in a 35×45mm frame. Here are the country-specific ranges:

• US: 25–35mm (1 to 1 3/8 inches), or 50–69% of image height
• UK: 29–34mm, measured chin to crown
• Canada: 31–36mm
• Schengen: face must fill 70–80% of frame height
• Japan: precisely 27–33mm, with ±0.5mm tolerance enforced to JIS standards

If your face is too small in the frame (common in selfies taken at arm’s length), automated biometric systems cannot extract enough facial feature points. If too large (common when cropping tightly around the face), the system cannot establish proper eye-line positioning. Both scenarios trigger manual review or outright rejection.

How to Avoid Paying for Separate Photos for Every Country

The most practical approach for travelers who need photos for multiple destinations: generate one high-resolution digital master image that exceeds the largest requirement, then resize and crop from that master for each specific country. We have written about this strategy in detail in our one-selfie-multiple-passport-sizes guide.

For a 50×70mm (Canada) master photo at 300 DPI, you have 591×827 pixels to work with. From that file, you can crop 35×45mm for ICAO-style passport formats and India Passport Seva, 51×51mm (600×600 pixels) for US passport and visa photos, or 33×48mm for China without losing quality. The key is starting with the largest requirement and working downward.

AnyPassportPhoto handles this automatically: upload one selfie, and the tool crops, resizes, and formats separate photos for the US, UK, India, Canada, China, Japan, Schengen, and Australia — each matched to the latest 2026 official specification for that country’s passport authority. See our country-specific guides for US passport photo requirements, UK passport photos, and Indian passport photo specs for detailed per-country walkthroughs.

For travelers who need to verify their photo meets all specifications before submitting, our free passport photo checker validates dimensions, background, head size, and expression against the target country’s 2026 rules.

Try free passport photo resizing at AnyPassportPhoto →

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Last verified: July 2026. Always check your destination country’s official passport-issuing authority website for the most current requirements before submitting. Photo standards can change between publication dates.

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