Passport photo size by country
By Mehroz Shabir · Updated 15 October 2026
Every country sets its own photo size, head size and background. Here are the rules for seven of the most common applications in one place, and how to get a photo that passes first time.
Quick comparison
| Country / document | Photo size | Head size (chin to crown) | Background | Make it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States passport | 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm) | 25–35 mm | White or off-white | US photo maker |
| United Kingdom passport | 35 × 45 mm | 29–34 mm | Plain, light-coloured | UK photo maker |
| Canada passport | 50 × 70 mm | 31–36 mm | White or light-coloured | Canada photo maker |
| Australia passport | 35–40 × 45–50 mm | 32–36 mm | Plain white or light grey | Australia photo maker |
| India passport (applying in India) | 35 × 45 mm (3.5 × 4.5 cm) | Head centred, both ears visible | Plain white | India photo maker |
| Schengen visa | 35 × 45 mm | 32–36 mm, chin to hairline (German missions) | Plain, one light colour | Schengen photo maker |
| China visa | 33 × 48 mm | 28–33 mm | Plain white | China photo maker |
Each row was checked against the official source listed at the end of this guide in October 2026.
The most common size in the world is 35 × 45 mm, used by the UK, India, Australia, the Schengen countries and many others. The United States is the big exception with its square 2 × 2 inch photo, and Canada and China use their own sizes.
Rules almost every country shares
- Recent: usually taken in the last six months. The UK is stricter: no more than one month old.
- Neutral expression: mouth closed, eyes open and looking straight at the camera.
- No glasses: the US does not accept glasses at all, and most other countries strongly prefer you take them off to avoid glare.
- Even light: no shadows on your face or behind your head.
- No filters or editing: beauty filters, smoothing and background replacement can get a photo rejected.
- Nothing covering the face: hats and head coverings are allowed only for religious or medical reasons, and your face must still be fully visible from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead.
How to take a passport photo at home
- Find a plain wall in the right colour. A white sheet hung flat works if your wall isn't plain.
- Use daylight from a window in front of you, not behind you. Stand about half a metre from the wall so your shadow doesn't fall on it.
- Ask someone else to take it from about 1–1.5 metres away, with the phone at your eye level. Selfies distort the face and are often rejected.
- Open the photo maker for your country. The size is already set; move and zoom the photo so the top of your head and your chin sit on the guide lines.
- Download the 4 × 6 inch print sheet and print it at 100% scale at home or at any photo shop. One sheet gives you several photos for a few cents.
Online applications need a digital photo
More and more applications are made online, and they ask for a digital file instead of a print. These have their own rules:
- US visa (DS-160): a square JPEG from 600 × 600 to 1200 × 1200 pixels, no larger than 240 KB.
- UK online passport: at least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall. Upload your original photo rather than a small crop.
- Other portals often give a size in pixels and a limit in KB. Make the photo first, then use Compress Image to 100 KB or the size you need.
Countries where you can't print your own
Canada requires passport photos taken by a commercial photographer or photo studio and professionally printed. Photos printed at home are not accepted, and this also applies to the digital photo for online renewals. Our Canada tool is still useful to check your framing before you go, or for documents that accept self-made photos.
Why photos get rejected
- Head too big or too small for the frame.
- Shadows on the background or under the chin.
- Photo printed at the wrong scale. Always print at 100%, not “fit to page”.
- Background in the wrong colour, or with patterns or objects.
- Glare on glasses, or hair covering the eyes.
Indian passports: when you need a photo
If you apply at a Passport Seva Kendra or Post Office Passport Seva Kendra in India, your photo is taken there and you don't need to bring one. A printed 4.5 × 3.5 cm photo is needed when you apply through a District Passport Cell, Speed Post Centre or Citizen Service Centre. Indian embassies and consulates abroad set their own photo size, often a square photo, so check the website of the mission you apply to.
Official sources
- United States: travel.state.gov – Passport photos
- United Kingdom: GOV.UK – Photo requirements
- Canada: canada.ca – Passport photos
- Australia: passports.gov.au – Photo guidelines
- India: Passport Seva – Application instruction booklet (PDF)
- Schengen visa: German Missions – Biometric photo requirements (PDF). Other Schengen countries follow the same international (ICAO) standard; check your embassy's checklist.
- China visa: Chinese Visa Application Service Center – Photo requirements
Questions
What is the most common passport photo size?
35 × 45 mm. It is used by the UK, India, Australia, the Schengen countries and many others. The US uses 2 × 2 inches instead.
Can I take my passport photo with my phone?
Yes, for most countries, as long as someone else takes it in good light against a plain background. Canada is an exception: it needs a commercial photographer.
How many photos do I need?
Usually two printed photos. A 4 × 6 inch sheet from our photo makers gives you several, so you have spares.