Passport Photo Size Guide: Dimensions and Rules by Country

Passport photo sizes at a glance

Head-height ranges are summarised from published government guidance and are given as a guide only. Some Indian forms ask for 35×45 mm instead of 2×2 in, and online applications often have their own pixel and file-size limits — the form you're filling in always wins.

Why 300 DPI?

A passport photo is printed small, so it needs a high pixel density to look sharp. 300 dots per inch is the standard photo labs and government processors expect. The pixel count is simply the physical size multiplied by 300: 2 inches × 300 = 600 pixels. Our guide to resolution and DPI explains the maths in more detail.

For online applications, the portal usually asks for pixels and a maximum file size rather than DPI. The US State Department's online renewal, for example, accepts square JPEGs between 600×600 and 1,200×1,200 pixels. If a portal rejects your file for size, compress it with the Image Compressor rather than shrinking the dimensions below the minimum.

How to take a passport photo at home

1. Background: stand in front of a plain white or off-white wall (the UK accepts light grey or cream). No patterns, doors, or shadows behind you.
2. Lighting: face a window in daylight, or use two lights at 45° on either side. Avoid overhead lights that cast shadows under the eyes and nose.
3. Camera position: have someone else take it, from about 1–1.5 metres away at eye level. Selfies distort facial proportions and are rejected by many countries.
4. Pose: face the camera squarely, eyes open, mouth closed, neutral expression. Hair away from the eyes; the full face and both edges of the face visible.
5. Glasses: the US no longer accepts glasses in passport photos, and many other countries discourage them. Take them off.
6. Clothing: wear everyday clothes in a color that contrasts with the background. No uniforms, hats or head coverings except for religious or medical reasons.

Crop it to the right size

1. Open the Passport Photo Maker and add your photo.
2. Choose your country from the size dropdown.
3. Position the crop box so your head is centred, with a little space above the hair, and your head fills roughly 70–80% of the frame height.
4. Click Crop & Preview, check it, and download. The file is exactly the right pixel size at 300 DPI.

If your background isn't plain enough, run the photo through the Background Remover first and place it on white, then crop. Note that some countries prohibit digitally altered photos beyond basic cropping — check the rules before replacing a background.

Printing your photo

Most photo labs print on 6×4 inch (10×15 cm) paper. You can fit several passport photos on one sheet: two 2×2 in photos, or up to six 35×45 mm photos. Ask the lab to print at "actual size" with no scaling or borders added, and check the printed size with a ruler before you submit.

The most common reasons photos are rejected

• Shadows on the face or on the background behind the head.
• A background that isn't plain, or isn't the required light color.
• Head too small, too large, tilted or off-centre.
• Smiling, an open mouth, or eyes not clearly visible.
• Glare from glasses, or glasses worn where they aren't allowed.
• Photo older than allowed (usually 6 months), blurry, over-edited or filtered.
• Red-eye, or skin tones altered by beauty filters.

Frequently asked questions