Passport Photo Requirements 2026
Exact size, background, and framing rules for every country on this site, plus the most common reasons a passport photo gets rejected.
Requirements by country
| Country | Print size | Digital output | Background |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 United States | 51×51mm (2×2in) | 600×600px | Plain white or off-white, no patterns or shadows |
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 35×45mm (1.38×1.77in) | 630×810px | Plain, light-coloured background (cream or light grey) with clear contrast against your face |
| 🇮🇳 India | 51×51mm (2×2in) | 600×600px | Plain white or off-white background |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | 50×70mm (1.97×2.76in) | 1181×1654px | Plain white or light-coloured background, even lighting, no shadows |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | 35×45mm (1.38×1.77in) | 630×810px | Plain white or light grey background, evenly lit, no shadows or patterns |
| 🇳🇿 New Zealand | 45×60mm (1.77×2.36in) | 1200×1600px | Plain, light-coloured background (not white), strong contrast, no shadows or objects behind you |
| 🇧🇩 Bangladesh | 45×55mm (1.77×2.17in) | 1063×1299px | Plain white background, with no other objects or people visible in the frame |
| 🇵🇭 Philippines | 35×45mm (1.38×1.77in) | 827×1063px | Plain blue background, no patterns, shadows, or other people or objects in frame |
| 🇲🇾 Malaysia | 35×50mm (1.38×1.97in) | 413×591px | Plain white background, no patterns, shadows, or other objects or people in frame |
| 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | 35×45mm (1.38×1.77in) | 827×1063px | Plain white or light grey background, no patterns, shadows, or other people or objects in frame |
Each figure above is fact-checked against the relevant government source. See the individual country pages for citations, head-height ranges, and the full rule list.
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.
Crop your photo now
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Frequently asked questions
Do passport photo requirements change every year?
Rarely, but not never. Background rules, digital-file specs, and glasses policy have all changed in individual countries within the last decade. Always check the official source (linked from each country page on this site) before submitting, since requirements can shift without much notice.
Can I use the same photo for a passport and a visa application?
Often yes if the physical size and background rules match, but not always. Some visa programs, US DS-160 for one, use the same 2x2in spec as the passport, while others differ. Check the specific program's current requirements before assuming.
Is a photo booth or a phone photo better?
Either works, as long as the result meets the size, background, and framing rules. A photo booth doesn't automatically guarantee compliance, and a phone photo isn't automatically rejected. What matters is the final cropped image, not how it was captured.
Why do some countries ban glasses entirely?
Glasses can cause glare, cast shadows over the eyes, or obscure part of the face, and all of that interferes with the facial-recognition matching passport offices increasingly rely on. Several countries, including the US and Australia, now only make an exception for documented medical necessity.