Passport and visa photo sizes by country
Photo dimensions are the easy part and the part most guides stop at. Rejections are far more often caused by head size, background, shadows or expression than by a few pixels either way. Both are covered here.
Open the passport photo tool →Official photo dimensions by country
| Country / scheme | Physical size | Pixels at 300 DPI |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51mm) | 600 × 600 |
| United Kingdom | 35 × 45mm | 826 × 1062 |
| European Union | 35 × 45mm | 826 × 1062 |
| Schengen visa | 35 × 45mm | 826 × 1062 |
| India | 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51mm) | 600 × 600 |
| Canada | 50 × 70mm | 600 × 780 |
| Australia | 35 × 45mm | 826 × 1062 |
| China | 33 × 48mm | 780 × 1024 |
| Japan | 35 × 45mm | 826 × 1062 |
| Brazil | 50 × 70mm | 600 × 780 |
| Mexico | 35 × 45mm | 826 × 1062 |
| Nigeria | 35 × 45mm | 826 × 1062 |
| South Africa | 35 × 45mm | 826 × 1062 |
| Saudi Arabia | 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51mm) | 600 × 600 |
| UAE | 40 × 60mm | 472 × 708 |
Head size is the most common rejection
Most schemes specify how much of the frame your head must occupy, not just the frame size. The US requires the head to be 50–69% of the image height (roughly 1 to 1⅜ inches from chin to crown). The UK and most 35×45mm schemes require 29–34mm from chin to crown, which is a noticeably tighter crop than people expect.
A correctly sized image with an incorrectly sized head is rejected just as fast as one with the wrong dimensions.
Background and lighting
Plain, light, uniform — off-white or light grey for most countries. The background must be genuinely even: a gradient from a nearby lamp, or a shadow cast behind your head, is a rejection. Standing about a metre away from the wall removes most shadow problems, because the light falls off before it reaches the surface behind you.
Expression and accessories
Neutral expression, mouth closed, both eyes open and visible, facing straight at the camera. No sunglasses or tinted lenses; glasses are now disallowed entirely for UK and US passports. Head coverings are accepted only for religious or medical reasons, and must not obscure any part of the face from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead.
Check the official source before submitting
Requirements do change, and some countries publish different rules for passports, visas and residence permits. The table above reflects the standard published dimensions, but the issuing authority's own page is the only authoritative version for your specific application.
Common questions
Can I take the photo on a phone?
Yes, provided the lighting is even and the camera is roughly at eye level about a metre away. Phone cameras easily exceed the resolution required; framing and lighting are what fail.
Can I smile?
No. Nearly every scheme requires a neutral expression with the mouth closed. A visible smile is a common rejection reason.
Is the photo uploaded anywhere?
No. Cropping and resizing happen entirely in your browser, which matters more than usual for an identity document.