Quick reference: the two most common formats
There is no single global passport photo size, but most countries follow one of two families. The square 2 x 2 inch (51 x 51 mm) format is the U.S. standard. The 35 x 45 mm portrait format is the standard across the United Kingdom, the EU and Schengen area, Australia, Japan, and much of the world. A photo cropped for one family is rarely valid for the other. If you need the China passport photo size, treat it as a country-specific exception: China commonly uses 33 x 48 mm, not the U.S. square or the 35 x 45 mm Schengen/UK format.
- U.S. family (2 x 2 inch square): United States, India (sometimes), and several other countries that adopted U.S.-style 51 x 51 mm squares.
- Global portrait family (35 x 45 mm): United Kingdom, EU and Schengen, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, most of Africa and Latin America. Same outer rectangle, different head-height ranges by country.
- Exceptions: Canada uses 50 x 70 mm. China uses 33 x 48 mm. Brazil uses 30 x 40 mm. Mexico uses 35 x 45 mm or 45 x 35 mm depending on document.
Passport photo size by country (reference table)
Common passport and visa photo dimensions by country. Pixel values are calculated at 300 DPI — divide the mm by 25.4 to get inches, then multiply by 300 for the pixel count at that resolution.
| Country | Size | Pixels at 300 DPI | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2 x 2 in (51 x 51 mm) | 600 x 600 | Square; passport and visa |
| United Kingdom | 35 x 45 mm | 413 x 531 | Grey or cream background OK |
| EU / Schengen visa | 35 x 45 mm | 413 x 531 | White or light grey, ICAO |
| Germany | 35 x 45 mm | 413 x 531 | Schengen rules |
| France | 35 x 45 mm | 413 x 531 | Schengen rules |
| Australia | 35 x 45 mm | 413 x 531 | Portrait |
| New Zealand | 35 x 45 mm | 413 x 531 | Portrait |
| Canada | 50 x 70 mm | 591 x 827 | Photographer stamp on the back |
| China | 33 x 48 mm | 390 x 567 | White passport, blue visa |
| India | 35 x 45 or 51 x 51 mm | 413 x 531 or 600 x 600 | Confirm with Passport Seva |
| Japan | 35 x 45 mm | 413 x 531 | Head about 34 mm |
| Brazil | 30 x 40 mm | 354 x 472 | Portrait |
| Mexico | 35 x 45 or 45 x 35 mm | Varies | By document |
The two families: 2 x 2 inch vs 35 x 45 mm
The U.S. 2 x 2 inch (51 x 51 mm) format is square. The head must sit within a specific range — 1 to 1⅜ inches from chin to crown — so a correctly sized square crop can still fail if the head is too large or too small inside it.
The 35 x 45 mm format is a vertical rectangle, taller than it is wide. Because the shape is different, you cannot simply reuse a U.S. square crop for a UK or Schengen application — and stretching a square crop to fit the rectangle distorts the face. Re-crop from the original photo rather than reshaping an existing crop.
Head size and positioning rules vary too
Dimensions are only half the requirement. Most countries also specify how much of the frame the head should occupy, measured from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head. Getting the outer size right but the head size wrong is one of the most common reasons a technically square or correctly sized photo is rejected.
Approximate head-height ranges by country:
- U.S.: 25–35 mm (1 to 1⅜ inches) inside a 51 x 51 mm square.
- UK: roughly 29–34 mm inside a 35 x 45 mm rectangle.
- EU and Schengen visa: 32–36 mm inside 35 x 45 mm.
- Canada: 31–36 mm chin to crown inside a 50 x 70 mm rectangle.
- Japan: around 34 mm inside 35 x 45 mm.
- When in doubt, allow extra margin in the source shot. A wider capture is easier to crop than a tight one.
Background, AI editing, and other appearance rules
Most countries require a plain white or off-white background with no shadows, patterns, or objects. Common variations are: UK accepts light grey or cream; China requires light blue for visa photos but white for passport photos; some countries accept a light pastel. Check the specific document and portal.
Appearance-changing edits are risky for any country because passport photos are identity documents. The U.S. State Department explicitly rejects AI-edited and filter-touched photos under a rule that took effect in January 2026. Other countries have similar prohibitions on retouching even where they have not (yet) published an explicit AI clause. Skin smoothing, face reshaping, eye whitening, and AI background replacement are best avoided regardless of destination country. If the lighting or background is wrong, retake the photo rather than editing it.
Pixels and DPI for any size
Whatever the physical size, a sharp print needs enough pixels to reach 300 DPI at that size. To convert millimeters to pixels at 300 DPI: divide the millimeter value by 25.4 to get inches, then multiply by 300.
Worked examples at 300 DPI:
- U.S. 2 x 2 inch (51 x 51 mm): 600 x 600 px
- UK / EU / Schengen / Australia / Japan 35 x 45 mm: about 413 x 531 px
- Canada 50 x 70 mm: about 591 x 827 px
- China 33 x 48 mm: about 390 x 567 px
- Brazil 30 x 40 mm: about 354 x 472 px
For U.S. online renewal upload
The State Department's online renewal upload accepts square digital files between 600 x 600 and 1200 x 1200 pixels. See the dedicated U.S. pixel-size article linked below for the full rules.
Visa photos vs passport photos: when sizes differ
For most countries, a visa photo uses the same dimensions as a passport photo for that country — but there are exceptions worth knowing about. Chinese visa photos use a light blue background where the Chinese passport photo uses white. Schengen visa photos use 35 x 45 mm with the same rules as European passport photos. U.S. visa photos use the same 2 x 2 inch square as U.S. passport photos, so one well-prepared U.S. photo usually works for both.
Indian visa photos can use 51 x 51 mm (the U.S.-style square) for e-visa portals, while Indian passport photos lean on 35 x 45 mm. Always check the specific portal's instructions before printing or uploading.
Country-specific quirks worth knowing
A few country-specific rules show up often enough to call out separately.
- Canada's photographer-stamp requirement: Canadian passport applications require a stamp on the back of one printed photo with the photographer's name, address, and the date the photo was taken. A DIY at-home photo that is otherwise correct can be rejected if the back is unsigned.
- China's two background colors: Chinese passport photos use a plain white background; Chinese visa photos use a light blue background. Submitting a white-background photo for a visa application is one of the most common rejections at the consulate.
- India's two acceptable square sizes: India accepts 35 x 45 mm for most paper applications, and 51 x 51 mm (2 x 2 inches) for OCI cards and several e-visa portals. Check the exact form before printing — the wrong square gets rejected at upload.
- UK and EU light-background tolerance: UK passport photos can use a plain light grey or cream background; Schengen photos generally require white. They look similar at a glance but are not interchangeable across all countries.
Official sources to check (by region)
For binding requirements, consult the issuing country's official passport or visa page. The links below cover the major English-language official sources.