Nigeria Passport Photo Size & Requirements
35×45mm, head height 32-36mm, on a plain white background — per the Nigeria Immigration Service's ICAO-compliant photo standard.
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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Nigeria passport photo specification
- Print size
- 35×45mm (1.38×1.77 in)
- Digital output
- 630×810px
- Head height (chin to crown)
- 32–36mm (70–80% of frame)
- Background
- Plain white background, no patterns or shadows
- ·Face must occupy 70-80% of the photo, chin to crown (about 32-36mm), fully visible from ear to ear and forehead to chin
- ·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 headwear except for religious reasons, and even then the full face from chin to forehead must stay visible with no shadows
- ·Glasses: sources disagree — some describe everyday glasses as permitted, others say the Nigeria Immigration Service disallows glasses entirely under ICAO biometric standard. Safest bet is to remove them
The Nigeria Immigration Service's own site (immigration.gov.ng) confirms that two ICAO-compliant passport photographs are required and points applicants to a dedicated image-compliance checker at passport.immigration.gov.ng, but that checker did not return readable spec text this session. The 35x45mm size, 32-36mm head height, and white background below are cross-checked across several independent third-party aggregators that closely agree, but are not yet confirmed against directly-read primary text — treat this as a strong starting point and re-check against the live NIS image-compliance tool before you submit.
A note on source confidence
The Nigeria Immigration Service's own site confirms that two ICAO-compliant passport photographs are required, and points applicants to a dedicated image-compliance checker at passport.immigration.gov.ng, but that tool doesn't publish its underlying spec as readable text. The 35×45mm size, 32-36mm head height, and white background here are cross-checked across several independent sources that closely agree, but it's worth confirming directly against the live NIS image-compliance checker before you submit.
Glasses and photo recency: two open questions
Sources disagree on whether everyday prescription glasses are allowed, or whether Nigeria follows the stricter ICAO standard and disallows them entirely — until that's confirmed, it's safest to take your photo without glasses. Sources also disagree on how recent the photo needs to be (anywhere from 2 weeks to 6 months), so using the most recent photo you can is the safer bet either way.
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 Nigerian passport photo?
A Nigerian passport photo is 35x45mm, with head height (chin to crown) landing around 32-36mm, or roughly 70-80% of the frame.
What background does a Nigerian passport photo need?
Plain white, evenly lit with no shadows or patterns behind you. Every source checked on this agrees on white, unlike some countries that allow grey or cream as alternatives.
Can you wear glasses in a Nigerian passport photo?
Sources disagree here — some describe everyday prescription glasses as fine, others say the Nigeria Immigration Service follows the stricter ICAO biometric standard and disallows glasses entirely. Until this is confirmed directly against the NIS image-compliance tool, the safest choice is to take the photo without glasses.
What are the Nigerian 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, and your full face visible from ear to ear and forehead to chin. No headwear except for religious reasons.
How recent does a Nigerian passport photo need to be?
Sources disagree on the exact window — some say within 2 weeks, others say within 6 months. Since this isn't yet confirmed against a primary NIS source, the safer approach is to use a photo taken as recently as possible, ideally within the last few weeks.
What is the Nigerian passport photo size in inches and pixels?
About 1.38x1.77in, or 35x45mm — the same physical size as the UK, Pakistan, and Schengen visa photo. This tool exports it at 630x810 pixels, keeping that exact ratio.
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 Nigerian 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 Nigerian 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.