Passport photo requirements by country: sizes, head height and common rejections

The most common sizes

Most of the world uses one of two families of size. Always confirm with the official government page before submitting, as rules change.

• United States: 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm), head 1 to 1⅜ inches from chin to top of hair.
• United Kingdom: 35 × 45 mm, head 29–34 mm; digital photos at least 600 × 750 px.
• Schengen / most EU countries: 35 × 45 mm, face 32–36 mm (about 70–80% of the height).
• Canada: 50 × 70 mm, face 31–36 mm from chin to crown.
• India: 2 × 2 inches for passports applied for from the US; 35 × 45 mm for many domestic forms.
• China visa: 33 × 48 mm, head width 15–22 mm, height 28–33 mm.

Head height is where photos fail

Officials measure from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head (or the crown, depending on the country). If you crop too loosely the face is too small; crop too tightly and the hair touches the edge. Our tool draws the chin, eye and crown guide lines for the country you select so you can align your face precisely before exporting.

Background and lighting

Nearly every country requires a plain, light, uniform background — white for the US and India, light grey or cream for the UK, and white or light-coloured for Schengen. Shadows behind the head are a frequent rejection reason.

Stand about half a metre in front of a wall, face a window for soft even light, and avoid overhead bulbs that cast shadows under the eyes. If your background isn't clean, the background removal option can replace it with a solid colour.

Expression, glasses and head coverings

Neutral expression with mouth closed and both eyes open is universal. The US banned glasses in passport photos in 2016; the UK and Schengen discourage them and reject any glare. Religious head coverings are typically permitted provided the full face from chin to forehead is visible.

Printing at the correct size

If you need a physical print, export at 300 DPI. A 35 × 45 mm photo at 300 DPI is 413 × 531 pixels; a 2 × 2 inch photo is 600 × 600 pixels. Print at '100% / actual size' — never 'fit to page' — or the photo will be scaled and rejected.