Passport Photo Requirements by Country: Complete 2025 Guide
Getting your passport photo wrong is one of the most common reasons passport applications are rejected or returned for correction. A slight shadow on the background, glasses you weren't supposed to wear, a smile that wasn't allowed — and your application gets delayed by weeks.
Professional passport photo services can cost $15–$25 per set at pharmacies and photo studios. With the right tool and specifications, you can produce a compliant photo at home in under five minutes for free.
Universal Requirements (Apply in Most Countries)
Before diving into country-specific rules, these requirements appear in nearly every passport photo standard worldwide:
- Plain background: White, off-white, or light grey. No patterns, gradients, or objects in the background.
- Neutral facial expression: Mouth closed, no smiling in most countries (some allow a "natural" expression with a slight closed-mouth smile).
- Eyes open and clearly visible: Both eyes must be visible, fully open, and looking directly at the camera.
- No glasses: As of 2022–2024, virtually every major passport issuing authority now requires glasses to be removed. This was widely adopted globally following ICAO recommendations.
- No hats or head coverings: Except for documented religious reasons (hijab, turban, kippah). Even then, the face from chin to forehead must be fully visible.
- Recent photo: Most countries require photos taken within the last 6 months.
- Head straight: No tilting, turning, or angling. Head centered and facing directly forward.
- No other people or objects: Only the applicant in the frame.
Requirements by Country
🇺🇸 United States
- Size: 2×2 inches (51×51 mm)
- Head position: The head must be between 1 inch and 1⅜ inches (25–35 mm) from the chin to the top of the hair in the photo
- Background: White or off-white
- Expression: Neutral, mouth closed
- Glasses: Not permitted
- Digital minimum: 600×600 pixels, maximum 1200×1200 pixels
- File format (digital): JPEG
- Valid from: Within the last 6 months
- Additional: No digital alterations that change the applicant's appearance
Source: US Department of State (travel.state.gov)
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Size: 35×45 mm
- Head height: 29–34 mm from chin to top of head (including hair)
- Background: Light grey or cream (not pure white, though white is accepted)
- Expression: Neutral, mouth closed
- Glasses: Not permitted since 2015
- Valid from: Within the last 6 months
- Additional: Printed on plain white photo paper with a matt or semi-matt finish; no creases or tears
Source: HM Passport Office (gov.uk)
🇮🇳 India
- Size: 2×2 inches (51×51 mm) — same as US standard
- Background: White only (strict — cream or grey are sometimes rejected)
- Head position: Face must cover 70–80% of the photo area
- Expression: Neutral, mouth closed, no smiling
- Glasses: Not permitted
- Valid from: Within the last 6 months
- Additional: Printed photos must be on good quality paper; matte finish preferred; no stickers or markings on the photo
Source: Ministry of External Affairs, India (passportindia.gov.in)
🇨🇦 Canada
- Size: 50×70 mm (the height is taller than the US standard)
- Head height: 31–36 mm from chin to top of hair
- Background: White or light-coloured, plain
- Expression: Neutral, natural, mouth closed
- Glasses: Not permitted since June 2022
- Valid from: Within the last 6 months
- Additional: Must be printed by a professional photographer; two identical photos required; one photo must be signed on the back by a guarantor
Source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (ircc.canada.ca)
🇦🇺 Australia
- Size: 35×45 mm (same as UK)
- Head height: 32–36 mm from chin to crown of head
- Background: Plain white or light grey
- Expression: Neutral, mouth closed, no smiling
- Glasses: Not permitted
- Valid from: Within the last 6 months
- Additional: Matte or semi-matte finish; no glasses, hats, headbands, or anything covering the hair (except religious head coverings)
Source: Australian Passport Office (passports.gov.au)
🇪🇺 European Union / Schengen Area
The EU follows ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) standards, applied consistently across Schengen member states:
- Size: 35×45 mm
- Head height: 32–36 mm from chin to crown
- Background: Light grey or light blue preferred; white acceptable in most member states
- Expression: Neutral, mouth closed
- Glasses: Not permitted (ICAO Recommendation 9303, adopted by virtually all EU states by 2022)
- Valid from: Within the last 6 months
- Additional: Requirements may vary slightly between member states — always check the specific country's passport authority for the country where you're applying
Common Rejection Reasons
Understanding why photos get rejected helps you avoid the most frequent pitfalls:
- Background shadows: Standing too close to the background surface causes shadow. Stand at least 1 meter from the background when taking the photo.
- Shadows on the face: Side lighting creates facial shadows. Use diffused, even front lighting.
- Head tilt or turn: The face must be perfectly centered, facing directly forward.
- Smiling: Even a slight smile is rejected in countries requiring neutral expressions.
- Glasses on: Even lightly tinted glasses are now rejected in virtually every country.
- Photo too old: Authorities often reject photos more than 6 months old even if the applicant looks the same.
- Wrong size: Printing at the wrong dimensions is an automatic rejection. Check the specific country's size requirements.
- Too dark or too bright: Overexposed or underexposed photos obscure facial details.
How to Create Passport Photos Online
Our passport photo tool takes care of cropping, sizing, and background corrections automatically:
- Upload your photo — A plain, front-facing photo taken against a light wall works best. Smartphone photos are fine.
- Select your country — The tool automatically loads the correct size, head-height, and background requirements for your country.
- Preview and adjust — The tool crops and positions your face according to official guidelines. Review the result.
- Download — Download your compliant passport photo ready for printing or digital submission.
Printing at Home
If your country accepts home-printed photos:
- Use glossy or semi-matte photo paper (not regular printer paper — it will appear too light and non-professional)
- Print at 300 DPI for crisp, sharp results at standard photo sizes
- Most home inkjet photo printers handle standard 4×6 inch photo paper — print a 4-up layout (four 2×2 inch photos on one 4×6 sheet) to maximize paper usage
- Check that colors are accurate — some printers add a yellow or magenta tint that can make skin tones look off
For critical applications (visa applications, government ID), consider printing at a pharmacy photo lab for guaranteed accuracy and acceptance.