Passport Photo Size Requirements by Country 2026: Complete Guide + Free Maker
Getting your passport photo rejected is one of the most frustrating travel experiences. This guide covers the exact requirements for 20+ countries in 2026, with a free browser-based tool to create your own.
Table of Contents
Key takeaway
Passport photo requirements vary significantly by country. The most common size is 35x45mm (used by the UK, EU, Australia, Japan, and most of Asia), while the US and India use 2x2 inches (51x51mm) and Canada uses 50x70mm. File size limits range from 60KB (Singapore) to 10MB (UK). Background is almost always white, with France (light grey/blue) and Indonesia (red/blue) being notable exceptions. Getting even one detail wrong, whether dimensions, head height ratio, background color, or file size, will result in rejection.
Getting your passport photo rejected is one of the most frustrating experiences in travel. I know because it happened to me twice. Every country has slightly different requirements: dimensions, file size, background color, head size ratio. Get even one detail wrong and you are starting over.
I had visa photos rejected twice, UK and India, before I figured out the exact specifications. The UK rejection was because my background was off-white instead of pure white. The India rejection? My file was 350KB, over their 300KB limit. Both times, I had to retake the photo, resubmit, and wait again. Incredibly frustrating.
This guide covers the exact requirements for 20+ countries in 2026, with downloadable quick-reference tables and a free browser-based tool to create your own passport photos.
Quick reference table: 20 countries
This table includes the official passport photo requirements for the 20 most-requested countries. All data is sourced from official government immigration websites as of March 2026.
| Country | Dimensions | File size | Background | Head height |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2x2 in (51x51mm) | < 240KB | White | 25–35mm |
| United Kingdom | 35x45mm | < 10MB | Light grey or white | 29–34mm |
| India | 2x2 in (51x51mm) | 10–300KB | White | 25–35mm |
| Canada | 50x70mm | < 5MB | White or light grey | 31–36mm |
| Australia | 35x45mm | < 5MB | Light, uniform | 32–36mm |
| Germany | 35x45mm | Varies | Light grey | 32–36mm |
| France | 35x45mm | Varies | Light grey or blue | 32–36mm |
| Japan | 35x45mm | Varies | White or light | 34–38mm |
| China | 33x48mm | 40–120KB | White | 28–33mm |
| Brazil | 50x70mm | Varies | White | Varies |
| South Korea | 35x45mm | < 700KB | White | Varies |
| Italy | 35x45mm | Varies | White | Varies |
| Spain | 32x26mm | Varies | White | Varies |
| Mexico | 35x45mm | Varies | White | Varies |
| UAE | 35x45mm | < 200KB | White | Varies |
| Singapore | 35x45mm | < 60KB | White | Varies |
| Thailand | 35x45mm | Varies | White | Varies |
| Indonesia | 40x60mm | Varies | Red (last 3 pages) / Blue | Varies |
| Russia | 35x45mm | Varies | White | Varies |
| Turkey | 50x60mm | Varies | White | Varies |
Note: “Varies” means the government portal doesn't enforce a strict file size limit for online submissions, or the requirement varies by application type (new vs. renewal, online vs. in-person). Always check the specific portal you're submitting through.
Key patterns: the most common photo size worldwide is 35x45mm (used by 14 of these 20 countries). The US and India use the 2x2 inch (51x51mm) format. Canada, Brazil, and Turkey use larger formats. If you need to resize your photo to any of these dimensions, you can use the SammaPix resize tool . It's free and runs entirely in your browser.
Most common rejection reasons
Based on data from passport processing agencies and my own experience with rejected photos, these are the five most frequent reasons photos get rejected:
1. Wrong dimensions or aspect ratio
This is the number one rejection reason. A 2x2 inch photo is not the same as a 35x45mm photo, and submitting the wrong size is an instant rejection. Many people crop their photo to roughly the right shape but miss the exact pixel dimensions. For the US, you need exactly 600x600 pixels at 300 DPI. For a 35x45mm photo, you need 413x531 pixels at 300 DPI.
2. Shadows on face or background
Even subtle shadows behind your head or under your chin will get flagged. This happens when you stand too close to the wall or use a single overhead light source. The fix: stand about 50cm away from the wall and face a large window for even, diffused lighting.
3. Eyes not fully visible
Glasses glare, hair covering one eye, or half-closed eyes. Since 2021, most countries recommend removing glasses entirely for passport photos. If you must wear glasses for medical reasons, ensure there is zero glare on the lenses. Tilt your head slightly down and move the light source to the side.
4. Incorrect background color
Off-white, cream, or yellowish backgrounds get rejected. Your wall might look white to your eyes, but your camera's white balance can introduce a warm tint. Check your photo on a calibrated screen. The background should be pure white (#FFFFFF or close to it). Some countries like France accept light grey or light blue, but when in doubt, go with pure white.
5. File size exceeds maximum
Digital submissions through government portals often have strict file size limits. Singapore requires under 60KB. The US requires under 240KB. India requires between 10KB and 300KB. A typical smartphone photo is 3-8 MB, so you need to compress it by 90%+ to meet these limits. Use a target-size compression tool to hit the exact requirement.
How to take a perfect passport photo at home
You don't need a professional photographer or a photo booth. Here's the step-by-step process I use to take passport photos at home that pass on the first try:
Find a plain white wall
A flat, matte-finish white wall works best. Avoid textured walls, wallpaper, or doors with panels. If your walls are off-white, tape a large sheet of white poster board behind you.
Use natural light
Face a large window. The best time is mid-morning or late afternoon when sunlight is diffused. Avoid direct sunlight because it creates harsh shadows. If the light is too strong, close sheer curtains to soften it.
Position yourself correctly
Stand about 50cm (20 inches) in front of the wall to avoid casting a shadow on it. Have someone hold the camera at eye level, about 1.5 meters (5 feet) away. If using a selfie setup, use the rear camera with a timer for better quality.
Get the expression right
Neutral expression, mouth closed, both eyes open, looking directly at the camera. Most countries do not accept smiling photos. Even a slight smile can trigger rejection in automated systems. Remove glasses, headphones, and any head coverings (unless for religious purposes).
Take multiple shots
Take at least 10 photos. Review them on a larger screen and check for shadows, closed eyes, and off-center positioning. Pick the best one and move to the next step.
Crop and resize to exact specifications
Use the SammaPix crop tool to crop your photo to the correct aspect ratio, then resize it to the exact pixel dimensions required by your country. For the US, that's 600x600px. For 35x45mm countries at 300 DPI, that's 413x531px.
Compress to required file size
Most government portals have strict file size limits. Use SammaPix compress to bring your photo down to the required size, whether that's 240KB for the US, 60KB for Singapore, or 100KB for a visa application. The compression runs entirely in your browser, so your photo never leaves your device.
Digital vs physical: file size requirements
There's a big difference between photos for printed passport applications and photos for online digital submissions. Understanding this distinction saves you from the most common file size errors.
Physical (printed)
- Print at 300 DPI on matte or glossy photo paper
- File size doesn't matter, only print quality
- Higher resolution = better print quality
- Use the highest quality JPEG (90–100%)
- Standard sizes: 4x6 or 5x7 sheet with multiple photos
Digital (online submission)
- Strict file size limits (60KB to 10MB)
- Specific pixel dimensions required
- JPEG format almost always required
- Must compress to meet size limit while keeping clarity
- Some portals reject if file is too small (India: min 10KB)
The tricky part is digital submissions. A typical smartphone photo is 3–8 MB. If you need to get it under 240KB (US requirement), that's a 95%+ reduction. Simply reducing JPEG quality to 10% will destroy the image. The smart approach is to:
- Crop first — remove everything outside the required frame
- Resize — scale down to the exact required pixel dimensions
- Compress last — use smart compression to hit the file size target
This order matters. Cropping and resizing first removes most of the excess data, so the final compression step only needs to reduce the file by 20-40% instead of 95%. The result is much better image quality. SammaPix has dedicated pages for common targets: compress to 100KB, compress to 200KB, and more.
Free tool: SammaPix passport photo maker
After dealing with rejected passport photos myself, I built a tool that handles the entire process. The SammaPix passport photo maker lets you:
- Select your country — automatically sets the correct dimensions, aspect ratio, and file size target
- Crop with guidelines — visual overlay showing where your head, chin, and shoulders should be
- Auto-compress — hits the exact file size requirement while maintaining maximum quality
- Download instantly — your photo is ready to upload to any government portal
Everything runs 100% in your browser. Your photo never leaves your device — no upload to any server, no data collection, no account required. This is especially important for identity documents where privacy matters.
Why browser-based matters for passport photos: When you upload your passport photo to a third-party server, you're giving them a high-quality facial image tied to your identity documents. Browser-based processing means your photo stays on your device throughout the entire process. No server, no database, no risk.
Tips by region
Asia — strict file size limits
Asian countries are the strictest about digital file sizes. Singapore requires under 60KB, China requires 40-120KB, and South Korea caps at 700KB. India has both a minimum (10KB) and maximum (300KB), which means you can't just over-compress. You need to hit a specific range. For these countries, use a target-size compression tool that gives you precise control over the output file size.
Europe — more relaxed, but backgrounds matter
European countries generally follow the ICAO 35x45mm standard and are more lenient on file sizes. However, they're strict about background colors. Germany requires specifically light grey (not white), France accepts light grey or light blue, and the UK accepts both white and light grey. The EU also has strict rules about head position: your face must be perfectly centered with specific head-to-chin ratios.
Americas — US/Canada differ significantly
The US uses a unique 2x2 inch (51x51mm) square format, while Canada uses 50x70mm, a taller format that includes more of your shoulders. Brazil also uses 50x70mm. Mexico follows the European 35x45mm standard. For the US specifically, the 240KB file size limit combined with 600x600px minimum resolution means you need smart compression, not just quality reduction.
Middle East — white background, strict digital portals
UAE and other Gulf states follow the 35x45mm standard with white backgrounds. The UAE has a 200KB file size limit for online applications. Saudi Arabia requires 200x200 pixels minimum for online submissions. These countries also tend to have automated facial recognition checks in their portals, making proper centering and expression even more critical.
Southeast Asia — unique requirements
Indonesia stands out with its colored background requirement: red for the last three passport pages, blue for earlier pages. The size is also larger at 40x60mm. Thailand and Singapore follow the 35x45mm standard but Singapore's 60KB limit is the strictest in the world. You will almost certainly need compression. For all these countries, learning to compress without losing quality is essential.
FAQ
What is the standard US passport photo size?
The standard US passport photo size is 2x2 inches (51x51mm). For digital submissions, this translates to 600x600 pixels at 300 DPI. The head height must be between 25mm and 35mm (1 inch to 1-3/8 inches) from chin to crown. Background must be plain white, and file size must be under 240KB.
What background color is required for passport photos?
Most countries require white or light-colored backgrounds. The US, India, China, and most Asian countries require plain white. The UK accepts light grey or white. France accepts light grey or light blue. Indonesia is unique with red and blue background requirements depending on the passport page.
How do I compress my passport photo to the required file size?
First crop and resize your photo to the exact required dimensions. This removes most of the excess data. Then use a target-size compression tool to compress to the exact limit (e.g., 240KB for US, 60KB for Singapore). Cropping first means less aggressive compression is needed, resulting in better image quality.
Can I take my own passport photo at home?
Yes. Use a plain white wall as background, stand about 1.5 meters from the camera, face a large window for natural light, keep a neutral expression with both eyes open, and take at least 10 shots to choose from. Then crop, resize, and compress using the steps described in this guide.
What is the most common reason for passport photo rejection?
Wrong dimensions or aspect ratio is the most common reason. Other frequent causes include shadows on face or background, eyes not visible, incorrect background color, and exceeding the file size limit for digital submissions.
Are passport photo requirements the same for visas?
No. Visa photo requirements often differ from passport requirements. For example, the US uses 2x2 inches for both, but Schengen visa photos use 35x45mm regardless of which European country you're applying to. Always check the specific visa application requirements.
What file format should passport photos be in?
JPEG (JPG) is the universally accepted format for passport photo submissions. Some portals also accept PNG. Avoid WebP, HEIC, or AVIF because government systems typically don't support modern formats. If your phone saves in HEIC, you can convert HEIC to JPG before processing.
How do I get a plain white background for my passport photo?
The simplest method is to take the photo against a plain white wall with good, even lighting. Stand about 50cm away from the wall to avoid casting shadows. Use natural daylight from a window facing you. If your wall isn't perfectly white, tape a large sheet of white poster board or a white bedsheet behind you.
Bottom line
Passport photo requirements look complex, but they boil down to three things: correct dimensions for your country, a plain (usually white) background, and proper file size for digital submissions. Get those three right and your photo will pass. Use the quick reference table above as your checklist, and the SammaPix passport photo maker to handle the technical details automatically.
