Kenya Passport Photo Size & Requirements
2×2 inches (51×51mm), head height about 25-35mm, on a plain white background.
Same size and background rules — infant mode swaps the crop guide for a lay-flat framing box. See our infant photo guide.
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Center your face in the oval, with your eyes on the yellow line
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Blue band = acceptable head-height range · yellow dashed = eye line · fit your head between the solid lines
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Kenya passport photo specification
- Print size
- 51×51mm (2×2 in)
- Digital output
- 600×600px
- Head height (chin to crown)
- 25–35mm (49–69% of frame)
- Background
- Plain white background, no shadows or objects
- ·Face must be clearly visible from chin to crown, head height about 25-35mm within the 2x2in (51x51mm) frame
- ·Plain white background, evenly lit with no shadows
- ·Neutral expression, mouth closed, both eyes open and looking directly at the camera
- ·Head level and centered, no tilting
- ·No sunglasses or hats
- ·Photo must be recent, in colour, with clear brightness and contrast
The Directorate of Immigration Services (immigration.go.ke) doesn't publish a dedicated photo-specification page — passport applications route through ecitizen.go.ke, which requires an authenticated session to reach. The 2x2in (51x51mm) size and 25-35mm head height below are cross-checked across several independent third-party aggregators that closely agree, but treat this as a strong starting point and re-check against your ecitizen.go.ke application or a Huduma Centre before you submit.
A note on source confidence
The Directorate of Immigration Services (immigration.go.ke) doesn't publish a dedicated photo-specification page — passport applications route through ecitizen.go.ke, which requires an authenticated session to reach. The 2×2in (51×51mm) size and 25-35mm head height here are cross-checked across several independent third-party aggregators that closely agree, and match this site's already-verified US passport spec almost exactly. Still, it's worth confirming directly against your ecitizen.go.ke application or a Huduma Centre before you submit.
Don't confuse this with the visa spec
Some sources conflate the Kenyan passport photo (2×2in / 51×51mm, square) with a separate 35×45mm visa-photo spec. Make sure you're using the square 2×2in size below for a passport application.
Related photo requirements
Common rejection reasons
Background isn’t plain or uniform
Shadows, patterns, furniture, or other people in frame are among the most common reasons photos get bounced back. Use a plain wall and even, shadow-free lighting.
Head size or position is off
Too zoomed in, too zoomed out, or off-center. Each country specifies an exact head-height range and crown position, and that's exactly what the crop guide in this tool aligns to.
Glasses, glare, or head coverings
Most countries now disallow glasses entirely (or require them glare-free with no frame over the eyes), and disallow non-religious head coverings that hide the hairline or face.
Photo is filtered, retouched, or AI-enhanced
Beauty filters, background blur, skin smoothing, and AI-generated backgrounds are explicitly rejected by several passport authorities, including the UK’s HM Passport Office.
Photo is outdated
Most countries require a photo taken within the last 6 months (the UK requires within the last month). An old photo, even a good one, can be rejected on this basis alone.
Expression or eye contact issues
Closed eyes, mouth open, smiling with teeth showing, or not looking straight at the camera are all common rejection triggers. A neutral, closed-mouth expression is the safe default.
Want the full picture across every country? See all passport photo requirements for 2026, read how to take a passport photo at home, or check what to wear and expression rules.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a Kenyan passport photo?
A Kenyan passport photo is 2x2 inches, or 51x51mm — an exact square, the same physical size as the US passport photo. Head height (chin to crown) should land around 25-35mm.
What background does a Kenyan passport photo need?
Plain white, evenly lit with no shadows or objects behind you.
What are the Kenyan passport photo requirements?
A recent colour photo against a plain white background, neutral expression with mouth closed, both eyes open and looking straight at the camera, head level and centered. No sunglasses or hats.
What is the Kenyan passport photo size in pixels?
This tool exports the 2x2in (51x51mm) square at 600x600 pixels. A separate 207x207px photo is used for registering an ecitizen.go.ke account, but that's a different step from the passport photo itself.
Does this tool upload my photo anywhere?
No. All the cropping and resizing happens locally in your browser using the canvas element, so your photo is read from your device, processed there, and never transmitted anywhere.
Can you smile in a Kenyan passport photo?
No. A neutral expression with a closed mouth is required, same as most biometric photo standards. See our guide to smiling in a passport photo for what counts as neutral.
Are the requirements different for a baby or infant Kenyan passport photo?
The size and background rules stay the same, but a baby obviously can't hold a neutral, forward-facing pose unassisted. See our newborn and infant passport photo guide for how that's usually handled.