Passport Photo Requirements: a complete 2026 guide

Sizes vary by country. The U.S. passport photo is 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm) with the head measuring 1 to 1 3⁄8 inches from chin to crown. Most European countries use 35 × 45 mm with a slightly different head-height range.

• United States, Canada, India: 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm)
• Schengen, UK, Australia: 35 × 45 mm
• China visa, Japan: 33 × 48 mm or 35 × 45 mm

Always confirm the head-height ratio (typically 70–80% of the photo) — a correct outer size with the wrong head size is still a rejection.

Almost every authority requires a plain, light background — usually pure white or off-white — with no patterns, furniture or shadows behind the head. If you can see the wall texture, a doorframe or a second tone in the corner, it will likely fail.

Stand at least 50 cm (20 in) away from the wall to avoid casting a shadow onto the background.

Use soft, even, front-facing light. Window light during the day works very well. Avoid overhead bulbs (they create raccoon shadows under the eyes) and direct sunlight (which produces hard shadows on one side of the face).

Face the camera straight on. Your head must be centered, level, and not tilted up, down or sideways. Both ears (or the area where they would be) should be roughly visible.

Keep a neutral expression with the mouth closed. A natural, relaxed look is fine — a wide smile or raised eyebrows is not.

• Glasses: not allowed in the U.S., UK, Schengen and most other countries.
• Hats and head coverings: only for verified religious reasons; the full face must remain visible.
• Hair: pull stray strands away from the eyes and the outline of the face.
• Makeup: light and natural — no heavy contouring that changes face shape.

The image must be sharp, in color, taken within the last 6 months, and free of filters, beauty smoothing or red-eye correction. Resolution should be at least 600 DPI when printed.

If you print at home, use photographic paper. Most authorities will not accept a photo printed on standard office paper, even if the image itself is compliant.

• Wrong size, head too large or too small inside the frame
• Visible shadow on the background or on the face
• Tilted head, eyes closed or partially closed
• Smiling, mouth open, or strong facial expression
• Glasses, hat, or hair covering the eyes or eyebrows
• Low resolution, blur, or printed on the wrong paper