HeadshotForge / Passport photo requirements
Passport photo requirements
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Passport and visa photo rules differ by country, and they change. This page collects the sizes and head heights used by four common standards, the rules most authorities share, and a practical checklist. Always read your own issuing authority's current guidance before you submit a photograph.
Requirements change, and the issuing authority always wins
Photo rules are set country by country and are revised from time to time. The figures on this page are general guidance for the standards named, not a substitute for the current published rules.
Before you submit anything, read the requirements published by the authority handling your application. If our guidance and theirs disagree, theirs is correct.
Sizes and head heights by standard
Head height means the distance from the chin to the crown of the head. Where a standard gives a range, both ends are acceptable.
| Country / standard | Photo size | Head height (chin to crown) | Background |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2 x 2 in (51 x 51 mm) | 1 in to 1 3/8 in (25–35 mm) | Plain white or off-white |
| United Kingdom | 35 x 45 mm | 29–34 mm | Plain light grey or cream |
| Schengen / EU | 35 x 45 mm | 32–36 mm | Plain light colour |
| Canada | 50 x 70 mm | 31–36 mm | Plain white or light |
Who sets these rules
Knowing which body publishes the rule tells you where to check it, and these are the ones behind the four standards in the table above.
- United States — the U.S. Department of State, for passport photographs
- United Kingdom — HM Passport Office, whose photo rules are published on GOV.UK
- Schengen / EU — the member state handling your application; the shared technical baseline is ICAO Doc 9303, which most countries build their rules on
- Canada — the passport programme within the Government of Canada, for Canadian passport photographs
Rules that apply almost everywhere
Most authorities converge on the same short list. Treat it as a starting point, then check the exceptions your own country publishes.
- Neutral expression, with the mouth closed
- Both eyes open and clearly visible
- No glasses
- No head covering, except for religious reasons
- Taken within the last 6 months
- No shadows on the face or behind the head
- No uniform, and nothing that could be mistaken for one
A practical checklist
- Check the exact size in millimetres as well as inches, and do not round it
- Measure the head height and confirm it falls inside the stated range
- Use a plain background in the colour the standard allows
- Check print size and digital file size separately, because many applications want both
- Look for red-eye, reflections on the skin, and stray hair across the face
- Make sure a printed photo is uncreased and undamaged
- Re-read the authority's photo page on the day you submit
What HeadshotForge can and cannot do
HeadshotForge prepares the photograph. It can crop to a chosen frame, resize to the dimensions you need, place you on a plain background, and even out the lighting.
What it does not do is certify the result. HeadshotForge does not issue passport or ID photos. It is not affiliated with any government or issuing authority, and it cannot promise that a photo will be accepted. That decision belongs to the authority reviewing your application.
You are responsible for confirming the current requirements for your country and for the document you are applying for. Where an authority publishes its own example images, compare your photo against those before you submit it.
If a photo is rejected
Rejections usually come down to size, head height, shadows or the background. Compare your photo against the checklist above and against the authority's own examples, then prepare a new one and submit that.
A rejection is not a reason to resubmit the same file. Fix the specific point that was raised, and check whether any other rule has changed since the photo was taken.
Frequently asked questions
- Can HeadshotForge guarantee my passport photo will be accepted?
- No. We prepare the photograph, and the issuing authority decides whether it meets its rules. Always verify the current requirements for your own country before you submit.
- What size is a US passport photo?
- 2 x 2 inches, or 51 x 51 mm, on a plain white or off-white background. The head measures between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches (25–35 mm) from chin to crown.
- Can I wear glasses in a passport photo?
- Most standards now ask you to remove them, because frames and reflections interfere with facial recognition. The general rule is no glasses.
- How old can a passport photo be?
- Most authorities ask for a photo taken within the last 6 months that still looks like you today. Some countries allow longer, so check your own authority's rule.
- Am I allowed to take my own passport photo?
- Many countries allow it if the photo meets every requirement on size, head height, background and lighting. Check your authority's rules before you take the photo, not after.
- Do I need a print, a digital file, or both?
- It depends on the application. Some take a print, some take an upload, and some ask for both at specific sizes. Confirm both figures before you prepare the image.