What should I wear for my passport photo?

Wear everyday, casual clothing. Avoid wearing white shirts if the background is white, as your shoulders will blend in. Uniforms and camouflage are strictly forbidden.

Can I wear jewelry in my passport photo?

Small, discreet earrings or necklaces are usually fine. Large, reflective jewelry that obscures your face, casts a shadow, or draws attention away from your features is not permitted.

Are hats or head coverings allowed?

Hats and head coverings are generally banned unless worn daily for religious or medical reasons (e.g., a hijab or turban). The covering must not cast shadows on the face, and the full face from chin to forehead must be visible.

Can I wear makeup in my passport photo?

Yes, everyday makeup is allowed, but do not dramatically alter your appearance. Heavy contouring, dramatic eyeliner, or anything that changes your natural facial structure might cause rejection.

Can I smile in my passport photo?

No. The vast majority of countries enforce a 'neutral facial expression' with both eyes open and mouth closed. A wide smile distorts your facial proportions for biometric scanners. US allows a 'natural, unexaggerated smile', but neutral is safer.

Where should my eyes be looking?

You must look directly into the camera lens with both eyes completely open and visible. Looking away, squinting, or tilting your head is cause for immediate rejection.

Is it okay if my hair covers my ears?

Generally, yes, your hair can cover your ears as long as it does not cover any part of your eyes, eyebrows, cheeks, or defined edges of your face. However, some specific countries prefer ears to be visible if possible.

Do I need to show my shoulders?

Yes, your head and the top part of your shoulders should be visible. Your head should be centered, taking up roughly 70-80% of the photo space depending on the country.

What are the exact US passport photo specifications?

US passport photos must be precisely 2x2 inches (51x51 mm). Head size from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head must be between 1 and 1 3/8 inches. The background must be pure white or off-white.

Do I need a US visa photo if I have a US passport photo?

US visa photos (DS-160) share the exact same requirements as US passport photos: 2x2 inches (600x600 pixels digital minimum) with a white background and neutral expression.

Can I wear a uniform in my US passport picture?

No. The US Department of State explicitly prohibits the wearing of uniforms, clothing resembling a uniform, or camouflage attire in passport photos.

What is the UK passport photo size?

The UK and standard Schengen/EU passport photo size is 35x45 mm. The length from the chin to the crown of your head must be between 29mm and 34mm.

Can I use a white background for a UK passport photo?

The UK strict guidelines state the background should be plain cream or light grey. While very light grey is acceptable, pure white is often discouraged by the UK Passport Office because the edges of your face need contrast.

What is the Schengen Visa photo size?

All 27 Schengen area European countries use a highly standardized 35x45 mm size with a plain light grey or white background, utilizing the ICAO biometric standard.

What makes the Canadian passport photo unique?

Canada uniquely requests a larger size: 50x70 mm (2 inches wide x 2 3/4 inches high). The face tracking must show a crown-to-chin length of 31mm to 36mm. The background must be white or light-coloured.

Does Canada allow digital photos for applications?

Yes, Canada allows digital uploads for some renewals, but exact specifications remain rigorous. Many applications still demand physical photos printed on high-quality paper with the photographer’s stamp on the back.

What size is an Indian passport photo?

India uses the 2x2 inch (51x51 mm) standard, identical to the United States. Your head must be centered and take up 70% to 80% of the photograph’s height.

What size is an Indian OCI card photo?

The OCI (Overseas Citizenship of India) photo also uses the 2x2 inch sizing standard with a strict requirement for a white background and no glasses.

What are the rules for a Pakistan passport photo?

A standard Pakistani passport photo should be 35x45 mm with a white background. As with biometric standards, neutral expressions and no glasses are enforced.

What is a Pakistan CNIC photo size and background?

A Pakistani CNIC or NICOP application explicitly asks for photos with a blue background, rather than white, sized at 35x45 mm.

What is the Australian passport photo dimension?

Australian pass photos must be 35-40 mm wide and 45-50 mm high (most standard is 35x45 mm). Face size from chin to crown must be 32mm to 36mm. The background must be plain white or light grey.

What background color does Indonesia use for passports?

Indonesian passports uniquely require a bright red background, contrary to the global white standard. Our background tool can apply this instantly.

What size is a Chinese passport or visa photo?

China utilizes a highly specific dimension: 33x48 mm. The head width must be 15-22mm and head height 28-33mm against a stark white background.

What is the Japanese passport photo size?

Japan uses the standard 35x45 mm size with a pristine white background. The distance from the chin to the top of the head must be precisely 32mm to 36mm.

How do I print passport photos from a digital file?

Our tool generates a 4x6 inch (or A4) sheet filled with your perfectly cropped photos. You simply print this sheet on glossy photographic paper at any local pharmacy (like CVS or Walgreens) or print shop, and use scissors to cut them out.

What kind of paper should I print my passport photos on?

Passport photos must be printed on high-quality photographic paper. Most countries allow either matte or glossy paper, but standard copy-machine paper is strictly forbidden and will be immediately rejected.

What resolution do digital passport photos need to be?

For a crisp physical print, your digital file must be at minimum 300 DPI (dots per inch). Our generator specifically builds high-resolution, 300+ DPI images to ensure they pass consular checks.

Can I just submit a digital photo for my visa?

It depends heavily on the country. The US allows uploading digital 600x600 px digital photos to the DS-160 portal. Make sure your upload is in JPEG format, usually under 240 KB in file size.

How do I take a passport photo of my baby?

Lay your baby down on a plain white sheet or blanket and take the photo from directly above. Ensure no hands (yours) are supporting the baby in the frame and no pacifiers are visible.

Can my child's eyes be closed in their photo?

Rules are slightly relaxed for newborns under 1 year old (their eyes can be closed). However, for toddlers and older children, eyes generally must be wide open looking at the camera.

What if my baby is crying in the passport picture?

Authorities are lenient with infants, but it is highly recommended to wait until the baby's expression is somewhat neutral. Extreme crying that distorts facial features might risk rejection.

Are toys or pacifiers allowed in a child's photo?

No. Absolutely no toys, bottles, pacifiers, or parents' hands can be visible within the frame of the resulting photo.

What is an ICAO biometric photo?

ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) sets global standards for machine-readable biometric passports. It dictates strict, evenly-lit, neutral-expression face shots so algorithms can mathematically measure your facial nodes precisely.

How does your AI passport photo crop work?

Our tool uses advanced browser-side machine learning to detect your eyes, nose, and chin. It then mathematically scales your entire head to fit within the percentage margins required by individual sovereign governments before cropping.

Is it safe to use an online passport tool?

Normally it varies by site, but OUR service performs all face detection and photo manipulation exclusively within your browser. There is no cloud-uploading or server-side storing, ensuring absolute data security.

Why was my passport photo rejected?

Common rejection reasons include: glasses, shadows on the face or background, incorrect dimensions, wrong background color, smiling, blurry/low-resolution images, or photo older than 6 months.

Can I use a selfie for my passport?

No, selfies inherently distort proportions (making your nose look larger). Stand 4 to 6 feet away from the camera and have a friend take it, or use a tripod and a timer.

My hair has a lot of volume. How does head-size measurement work?

Head measurement goes from the bottom of your chin to the 'crown' of your head (where your skull ends, beneath the volume of your hair). Ensure there is white space above your hair to account for this.

My camera flashed and my face looks shiny. Is this okay?

No, 'red-eye' effect and glossy/shiny skin reflections from harsh camera flashes may obscure facial features and result in rejection. Use indirect natural or room lighting instead.

What is the exact photo size for a Pakistani Passport?

The Government of Pakistan requires passport photos to be exactly 35x45 mm. The length from the chin to the top of your head should be between 29mm and 34mm.

Can I use a blue background for my Pakistani Passport photo?

No. A Machine Readable Passport (MRP) strictly requires a crisp, plain white background. Using a blue background will cause your passport application to be rejected.

Frequently Asked Questions

The ultimate resource. Find answers to rules covering sizes, digital uploads, babies, tricky backgrounds, and strict government policies globally.

Trusted by 2M+ travelers190+ Countries

Showing 10 of 73 results

What size is a standard passport photo?

General

The most common passport photo size globally is 35×45 mm, used by the UK, EU, Australia, and many Asian countries. The US, India, and Philippines use 2×2 inches (51×51 mm). Canada uniquely requires 50×70 mm.

Can I take my own passport photo at home?

General

Yes! Using a plain background (usually white or light grey), good natural lighting, and our Passport Size Photo Maker tool, you can capture, crop, and perfectly format your own passport photos at home for free.

How recent does my passport photo need to be?

General

Most countries, including the US, UK, and the EU, require your passport photo to have been taken within the last 6 months to ensure it reflects your current appearance.

How many passport photos do I need to print?

General

Typically, passport applications require 2 identical printed photos. However, when applying for visas or international driving permits, you may need 4 to 6 photos. Our tool generates a 4x6 print sheet that gives you 4 to 8 photos instantly.

Is this tool completely free to use without signing up?

General

Yes, our Passport Size Photo Maker is 100% free. We never charge for downloads, no sign-up or credit card is required, and your photos are processed with absolute privacy in your own browser.

What background color is required for passport photos?

Background & Lighting

The standard requirement is a plain white or off-white background (US, Canada, India). Some countries like the UK, Australia, and EU recommend light grey or cream. Indonesia uniquely requires red, and Sri Lanka uses light blue.

Can I use an AI tool to change the background of my passport photo?

Background & Lighting

Yes, our tool automatically and seamlessly removes your messy background and replaces it with the exact solid color (white, grey, blue, or red) required by your chosen country.

Can there be shadows in the background?

Background & Lighting

No. Consular authorities will reject photos with harsh shadows on your face or the background. Sit facing a window for even, natural lighting to avoid shadows.

Does the background need to be perfectly smooth?

Background & Lighting

Yes. Textures, patterns, doors, or furniture in the background are unacceptable. A smooth, untextured solid color is strictly enforced. Our background removal tool solves this instantly.

Can I wear glasses in my passport photo?

Attire & Dress Code

No. Since 2016, the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, India, Pakistan, and almost all major nations have banned glasses in passport photos due to glare and facial recognition interference.

Got Your Answer?

Make your free, compliant passport photo now using our AI‑driven sizing and background removal tool.

Start Creating — It's Free

What size is a standard passport photo?

Can I take my own passport photo at home?

How recent does my passport photo need to be?

How many passport photos do I need to print?

Is this tool completely free to use without signing up?

What background color is required for passport photos?

Can I use an AI tool to change the background of my passport photo?

Can there be shadows in the background?

Does the background need to be perfectly smooth?

Can I wear glasses in my passport photo?

Got Your Answer?

Passport Photo FAQ Index