Standard passport photo sizes by country
Most countries specify their passport photo dimensions in millimeters. Always verify the exact specification for the specific document and issuing country before printing. Requirements can also specify head height as a percentage of total photo height, background color, and whether glasses are permitted. Common standards:
- United States: 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm), square.
- United Kingdom: 35 x 45 mm (portrait orientation), light-grey or cream background.
- European Union and Schengen visa: 35 x 45 mm, light-grey or off-white background.
- Australia and New Zealand: 35 x 45 mm.
- Canada: 50 x 70 mm. Note Canada requires commercial-photographer back-printing — see the dedicated Canada article.
- China: 33 x 48 mm, white for passport, light blue for visa.
- India: 51 x 51 mm or 35 x 45 mm depending on document type.
- Brazil: 30 x 40 mm.
Photo requirements beyond dimensions
Size is one requirement among several. A photo with correct dimensions will still be rejected if other requirements are not met:
- Background: Plain white or off-white for most countries (US, UK, EU, Schengen, India). Some countries permit light grey or light blue. No patterns, shadows, or objects in the background.
- Face position: Centered, looking directly at the camera, neutral expression, mouth closed. Most countries specify a head- height range within the total photo height.
- Lighting: Even illumination with no harsh shadows on the face or background. No flash reflections in glasses.
- Glasses: Most countries now prohibit glasses in passport photos. Check the current requirement for your specific document.
- Recency: Typically taken within the last six months (one month for the UK). Do not use an old photo even if it meets every technical requirement.
No filters, no AI editing (this affects printing too)
The 2026 update worth knowing before you print: the U.S. State Department began actively detecting AI-edited and filter-touched passport photos in January 2026, and the rule applies to both online uploads and printed submissions (the printed photo's origin file matters). Other countries — UK, Canada, Schengen consulates, India Passport Seva — have long required unaltered photos even where they have not (yet) published an explicit AI rule.
What this means for at-home printing: do not "fix" a too-dark or off-color source photo with filters before printing. Do not AI-upscale a small file to reach 300 DPI. Do not replace the background. If the source photo will not print well, retake the photo against a better real background rather than editing it.
- Allowed: Cropping, rotating, and resizing the source photo to the target print dimensions.
- Rejected: AI upscaling that fabricates pixel detail.
- Rejected: Skin-smoothing or beautifying filters.
- Rejected: Background replacement, even to a "neutral" colour.
- Caution: Some phone auto-enhance or HDR modes apply filtering at capture. Turn them off before the shot.
Taking the source photo
A modern smartphone camera is sufficient for passport photos. Key practices:
- Use natural light from a window facing you — avoid overhead lighting that creates shadows under the eyes and nose.
- Use a plain wall (white for most countries, light grey for UK and Schengen) or hang a plain sheet as a background.
- Stand or sit approximately 1–1.5 meters from the background to avoid background shadows.
- Hold the camera at eye level or ask someone else to take the photo — selfie angles distort face geometry.
- Take multiple shots and choose the sharpest one with the most neutral expression.
- Turn off auto-enhance, portrait mode, beauty mode, and any scene-optimization features at capture.
Pixel requirements for print quality
For a photo to print sharply at passport size, it needs enough pixels to reach at least 300 DPI (dots per inch) at the output size. Most smartphone photos at full resolution are far above these minimums — a 12-megapixel camera at 4032 x 3024 pixels has far more pixels than needed for a passport photo crop. The challenge is selecting the correct face region and resizing to the exact output dimensions. The calculation:
- US 2 x 2 inch at 300 DPI: 600 x 600 pixels minimum.
- UK / EU / Schengen 35 x 45 mm at 300 DPI: Approximately 413 x 531 pixels.
- Canada 50 x 70 mm at 300 DPI: Approximately 591 x 827 pixels.
- China 33 x 48 mm at 300 DPI: Approximately 390 x 567 pixels.
- India 51 x 51 mm at 300 DPI: 600 x 600 pixels minimum.
- Brazil 30 x 40 mm at 300 DPI: Approximately 354 x 472 pixels.
Arranging photos on a print sheet
Photo labs and home printers typically use 4 x 6 inch (10 x 15 cm) photo paper. The print layout needs to be prepared at 300 DPI for the full sheet: a 4 x 6 inch sheet at 300 DPI is 1200 x 1800 pixels, and each passport photo must be placed at its correct physical size within this canvas.
PhotoTools' passport photo tool automates this — choose the target country or custom dimensions, position the crop, and the tool generates a print-ready 4 x 6 inch layout at 300 DPI with the correct number of copies tiled and centered. Typical layouts:
| Photo size | Copies per 4 x 6 sheet |
|---|---|
| US 2 x 2 in | 4 copies |
| UK / EU 35 x 45 mm | 6 copies (3 across, 2 down) |
| Canada 50 x 70 mm | 2 copies |
| China 33 x 48 mm | 8 copies |
Printing at home
Home inkjet printers can produce acceptable passport photos if:
- You print on photo paper (glossy or matte, depending on country requirements — US accepts both; UK prefers matte or satin; Canada accepts both via the photographer).
- You print at the printer's maximum photo quality setting.
- You disable "fit to page" or "scale to fit" in the print dialog — these can change physical dimensions.
- Your ink cartridges are not depleted — faded or streaked prints will be rejected.
- You allow the print to dry completely before cutting, to avoid smearing.
- You measure the final print with a ruler before submitting it.
- Open the print dialog and set scale to 100 percent (actual size, no scaling).
- Select the correct paper size (4 x 6 inch).
- Select maximum photo quality and the correct paper type (glossy or matte).
- Print the sheet.
- Allow 30–60 seconds for the print to dry.
- Cut along the printed guides with scissors or a paper trimmer.
- Measure the final photo with a ruler — the square or rectangle must match the country's exact specification.
Submitting digitally
Many countries now offer online passport applications that accept a digital photo instead of a physical print. The face composition and background requirements are identical to the physical photo. Some portals include an automated face checker that rejects photos where the face is not centered, too small, or has a non-white background. Common digital requirements:
- File format: JPEG, PNG, HEIC, or HEIF (US accepts all five; UK accepts JPEG).
- File size: 54 KB to 10 MB for US; varies by country portal (UK up to 10 MB, OCI India around 10 KB to 1 MB).
- Pixel dimensions: 600 x 600 minimum (US); 600 x 750 minimum (UK); varies by country.
- Color space: sRGB.
- No filters, no AI editing, no background replacement.