Passport photo rules vary between countries. Most follow the ICAO biometric standard of 35×45 mm, but there are important exceptions, and even within the standard the background colour and head size rules differ. Below are the specifications country by country, including the countries where the passport office takes the photo itself.
The ICAO standard (most countries)
The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) sets the global baseline for biometric passport photos. Most countries, including the entire European Union, the UK, Canada and Australia, use the ICAO standard or a close variant.
- Size: 35×45 mm (width × height)
- Digital: approximately 413×531 px at 300 DPI
- Background: white or light grey
- Head height: 70–80% of the photo, about 32–36 mm on 45 mm
- Expression: neutral, mouth closed
- Both eyes open and clearly visible
The US exception: a square format
The United States is the most notable exception to the ICAO standard. American passport photos use a square format rather than the portrait rectangle used everywhere else.
- Size: 2×2 inches (51×51 mm), square
- Digital: 600×600 px at 300 DPI
- Background: white or off-white only
- Head height: 1–1⅜ inches (25–35 mm)
Passport photo sizes by country
The official passport photo dimensions for major countries:
- United States: 51×51 mm (2×2 in), white background
- United Kingdom: 35×45 mm, light grey or cream background
- Canada: 50×70 mm, white or light-coloured background (taken by a commercial photographer only)
- Australia: 35×45 mm, white or light grey background
- Germany: 35×45 mm, light grey background (in Germany, taken by a certified photographer or at the passport office)
- France: 35×45 mm, plain light background but not white (from an authorised photographer or photo booth only)
- India: passport applied for abroad, 35×45 mm, white background (in India the Passport Seva Kendra takes the photo); visa and OCI card, 51×51 mm, light background (not white for OCI)
- Japan: 35×45 mm, white or light grey background
- China: 33×48 mm, white background (in mainland China, taken at the exit-entry office or by a networked photo studio)
- Brazil: 30×40 mm, white background (in Brazil, the Polícia Federal takes the photo at the appointment)
- Mexico: 35×45 mm, white background (the SRE office takes the photo)
- South Korea: 35×45 mm, white background
- Italy: 35×45 mm, white background
- Spain: 26×32 mm (written 32×26 in Spanish rules: 32 mm tall), white background; consulates abroad take 30–40 × 40–53 mm with the head at 50%
- Netherlands: 35×45 mm, white or light grey background
- Sweden: 35×45 mm, white or light grey background (the police take the photo at the passport office)
- Norway: 35×45 mm, white or light grey background (the police take the photo at the passport office)
- Denmark: 35×45 mm, white or light grey background
- Switzerland: 35×45 mm, white background (the cantonal biometric centre takes the photo)
- Austria: 35×45 mm, white or light grey background
- Belgium: 35×45 mm, white or light grey background (many communes take the photo at the counter)
- Portugal: 35×45 mm, white background (the photo is captured at the desk when you apply)
- Ireland: 35×45 mm, white background
- New Zealand: 35×45 mm (printed), plain light-coloured background such as pale blue, grey or cream
- Singapore: 35×45 mm, white background
- Malaysia: 35×45 mm, blue background
- Philippines: 35×45 mm, white background (the DFA takes the photo at the appointment)
- Thailand: 35×45 mm, white background (the passport office takes the photo)
- Vietnam: 40×60 mm, white background
- Indonesia: 51×51 mm, blue or red background (alternates by year)
- Pakistan: 35×45 mm, white background (the passport office captures the photo)
- Bangladesh: 55×55 mm, white background (the e-passport photo is captured at enrolment)
- Sri Lanka: 35×45 mm, white background
- Egypt: 40×60 mm, white background
- Nigeria: 35×45 mm, white background
- South Africa: 35×45 mm, white background (live-capture Home Affairs offices take the photo)
- Kenya: 35×45 mm, white background
- Ghana: 35×45 mm, white background
Common size groups
In short, most of the world uses 35×45 mm. North American countries tend toward larger or square formats. A handful of countries in Southeast Asia and the Middle East use 40×60 mm. Spain is an outlier at home: its own rule is a small 26×32 mm photo (32 mm tall, 26 mm wide), while Spanish consulates abroad accept 35×45 mm.
35×45 mm (most common)
UK, Australia, Germany, France, Japan, Mexico, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, Portugal, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, Philippines, Thailand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, and many more.
51×51 mm square
United States passports and visas, plus Indian visas and OCI cards. These require a square crop, unlike the portrait rectangle used by most of the world.
Non-standard sizes
Canada (50×70 mm), China (33×48 mm), Spain (26×32 mm), Brazil (30×40 mm), Vietnam (40×60 mm), Egypt (40×60 mm), Bangladesh (55×55 mm), Indonesia (51×51 mm but with coloured background).
Getting the right size
Instead of working out these dimensions and cropping by hand, you can use CropPass. Pick your country and upload your photo, and the tool crops and resizes it to the right size in your browser, without uploading it. Where a passport office only accepts photos from a photographer, or takes the photo itself (Canada, France, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland and several others), CropPass says so and points you to what you can make instead.