Document photo requirements explained
What the rules mean — size, head height, eye line, background, file limits — and every requirement we have verified, in one table.
Almost every passport, visa and ID photo rule in the world descends from one document: ICAO 9303, the standard for machine-readable travel documents. Countries add their own size, file-format and recency rules on top. This page explains the common elements, then lists each record in our database with its official source and the date we last checked it. It is guidance, not legal advice, and acceptance is always decided by the authority that issues your document.
The seven things every rule covers
- Physical size
- The printed size in millimetres or inches — 35 × 45 mm in most of the world, 2 × 2 in in the United States, 50 × 70 mm in Canada. Digital files reproduce it through the DPI: pixels = mm ÷ 25.4 × DPI.
- Digital dimensions and ratio
- Online applications state pixels directly (600 × 600 px minimum for a US visa, 600 × 750 px for the UK) or an aspect ratio with minimum and maximum dimensions. Meeting the minimum matters more than being large.
- Head height
- The distance from chin to the top of the head (crown, not hair) as a range — for example 29–34 mm for the UK, 50–69 % of the image height for a US visa. DocPixEdit estimates the crown from detected face landmarks and shows the value as an estimate.
- Eye line and centring
- Some authorities fix where the eyes sit (the US wants them 56–69 % up from the bottom). Almost all want the face centred and level, looking straight at the camera.
- Background
- Plain, uniform and unshadowed. White or off-white is the most common; light grey and cream are accepted by some (the UK), and a few visas name a colour. Patterned walls and gradients are rejected.
- File type and size
- JPEG is universal for uploads; PNG is accepted by a few portals. Limits run from about 50 KB minimum to 10 MB maximum, and are enforced automatically by the portal.
- Recency and appearance
- Most countries require a photo taken within the last six months (one month for the UK online service) that shows your current appearance: neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open and visible, no sunglasses, head coverings only for religious or medical reasons, and no software retouching.
Every requirement we have verified
27 records for 17 countries and organisations. Open a record for the full detail, the official source and a one-click editor preset.
| Country | Document | Size | Background | File limit | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Citizenship application (online — digital photo) | 35 × 46.7 mm | neutral, light grey | 70 KB – 3.5 MB | |
| Australia | Citizenship application (paper — printed photo) | 35 × 45 mm | neutral, light grey | — | |
| Australia | Passport (printed photo) | 35 × 45 mm | plain white, light grey | — | |
| Bangladesh | e-Passport (printed photo) | 35 × 45 mm | white | — | |
| Canada | Passport (online renewal — digital photo) | 50.8 × 76.2 mm | plain white, light-coloured | 200 KB – 5 MB | |
| Canada | Passport (printed photo) | 50 × 70 mm | plain white, light-coloured | — | |
| China | Visa (COVA online form — digital photo) | 33 × 44 mm | white, close to white | 40 KB – 120 KB | |
| China | Visa (printed photo) | 33 × 48 mm | white, close to white | — | |
| ICAO standard (any country) | ICAO-compliant portrait (35 × 45 mm) | 35 × 45 mm | plain light-coloured | — | |
| India | Passport (Passport Seva upload — digital photo) | 35 × 45 mm | white | — | |
| India | Passport (printed photo) | 51 × 51 mm | white | — | |
| Japan | Passport (printed photo) | 35 × 45 mm | plain / no background (white recommended) | — | |
| New Zealand | Kiwi Access Card (evidence of age — printed photo) | 35 × 45 mm | plain light-coloured, not white | — | |
| New Zealand | Visa (paper application — printed photo) | 35 × 45 mm | plain, neutral | — | |
| New Zealand | Visa / NZeTA (online upload — digital photo) | 900 × 1200 px | plain, neutral | 512 KB – 3.1 MB | |
| Pakistan | Passport (e-Services online application) | 35 × 45 mm | plain white | ≤ 5 MB | |
| Qatar | Residence permit / Qatar ID (QID) — printed photo | 38 × 48 mm | — | — | |
| Saudi Arabia | eVisa (online upload — digital photo) | 16.9 × 16.9 mm | white | 5 KB – 100 KB | |
| Schengen / EU | Schengen visa (ICAO photo) | 35 × 45 mm | plain light-coloured, light white | — | |
| Switzerland | Schengen (type C) and national (type D) visa | 35 × 45 mm | plain light-coloured | — | |
| Türkiye | Identity card (TCKK — biometric photo) | 50 × 60 mm | white | — | |
| Türkiye | Visa (consular application — biometric photo) | 50 × 60 mm | white | — | |
| United Arab Emirates | Residence visa / Emirates ID (ICP personal photo) | 35 × 45 mm | white | — | |
| United Kingdom | Passport (online application — digital photo) | 35 × 43.8 mm | plain light-coloured | 50 KB – 10 MB | |
| United Kingdom | Passport (printed photo) | 35 × 45 mm | plain cream, light grey | — | |
| United States | Passport (printed photo) | 50.8 × 50.8 mm | white, off-white | 54 KB – 10 MB | |
| United States | Visa (DS-160 / DV digital photo) | 50.8 × 50.8 mm | white, off-white | ≤ 240 KB |
The ICAO 9303 guideline record describes the international baseline that most national rules follow.
How we verify and what we do not promise
- Every record links to the official page or document it was taken from, names the authority, and shows the date we last read it. Records marked "excerpt" were read from screenshots or documents rather than the live page.
- Where an authority publishes only a printed size, we derive pixels at 300 DPI and say so. Where it publishes only pixels, we do not invent a physical size.
- We never state a requirement we could not find in an official source, and we never claim that a photo will be accepted. The checks in the editor are advisory measurements.
- Rules change. If you find a page out of date, tell us through the contact page with a link to the official source.
DocPixEdit provides technical guidance and automated checks based on the requirements and sources listed on this page. Requirements can change, and final acceptance is determined by the relevant authority. Always verify current requirements before submission.