Passport Photo Requirements: 150+ Countries Compared
By Nishikant Xalxo | Document Specialist | Updated: January 10, 2025 | 12 min read
Creating passport photos that get approved the first time requires understanding the subtle differences between countries. I learned this the hard way when my Indian passport photo was rejected for having the wrong head size. Here's the complete breakdown.
Most Common Sizes
Country
Dimensions
Head Size
Background
🇺🇸 United States
2x2 inch (51x51mm)
1-1 3/8" (25-35mm)
White or off-white
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
35x45mm
29-34mm height
Light grey or cream
🇮🇳 India
35x35mm
25-35mm
White or light blue
🇨🇦 Canada
50x70mm
31-36mm
White or light
🇩🇪 Germany (Schengen)
35x45mm
32-36mm
Light grey
🇦🇺 Australia
35x45mm
32-36mm
White or light grey
🇯🇵 Japan
35x45mm
32-36mm
White or off-white
🇨🇳 China
33x48mm
28-33mm
White or light blue
Universal Requirements (ICAO Standard)
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) sets baseline standards:
Clear quality: No blurry, grainy, or pixelated images
Neutral expression: Mouth closed, eyes open, no smiling
Head position: Centered, directly facing camera
Eyes visible: No hair covering eyes, no red-eye
No shadows: Even lighting on face and background
Country-Specific Oddities
United States: Glasses are prohibited (since 2016). Head must be 1-1 3/8" from chin to top of hair. Many Indian applicants get rejected for head size.
India: Ears must be visible. Turbans allowed for religious reasons but must show full face. Light blue background acceptable but white is preferred.
United Kingdom: No smile lines (creases around eyes). Background must be light grey or cream - pure white rejected.
Canada: Larger 50x70mm size is unusual. Head size 31-36mm. Photos for Canadian visa must show white background only.
Digital vs. Printed Photos
Country
Online Application
Print Requirements
USA
2x2 inch, 600x600px, JPG
2x2 inch glossy/matte
UK
35x45mm, 750x900px, JPG
35x45mm professional print
India
Not accepted
35x35mm only
Canada
420x540px, 240-300 DPI
50x70mm print
Common Rejection Reasons (Our Tool Prevents These)
Head too small/large: Must be 50-70% of frame height
Poor lighting: Shadows on face or background
Wrong background: Not pure white/light as required
Eyes not visible: Hair, glasses, or tilt obscuring eyes
Print on matte/glossy photo paper (not plain paper)
Check for shadows, head size, and expression before submitting
About the Author: Nishikant Xalxo's Indian passport photo was rejected twice before he mastered the requirements. He built the SHADER7 tool to help others avoid the same frustration. Contact: nxdecore@gmail.com