PassportCrop
Singapore passport photo size & requirements

Singapore Passport Photo Size & Requirements

35×45mm on a plain white background — confirmed against ICA's own e-Services digital upload spec (400×514px, max 8MB).

Who's the photo for?

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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Singapore 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, shadows, or off-white/grey tint
  • ·Face must occupy 70-80% of the photo, chin to crown, in sharp focus
  • ·Plain white background — even a slight off-white or grey tint can cause rejection
  • ·Neutral expression, mouth closed, both eyes open and clearly visible, looking straight at the camera
  • ·No head coverings, except for religious or racial customs habitually worn
  • ·Taken within the last 3 months and a true likeness of your current appearance
  • ·Digital upload (ICA e-Services): JPG, JPEG, HEIC, HEIF, or PNG, 400x514px, maximum 8MB

Source: ica.gov.sg/photo-guidelines, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority's own page — directly fetched this session. It confirms the digital e-Services upload spec (400x514px, JPG/JPEG/HEIC/HEIF/PNG, max 8MB) directly in text, and states its requirements follow ISO/ICAO standards, but the print mm size, head-height mm, and background colour live only in an embedded reference image on that page rather than extractable text — those figures here reflect the consistent ISO/ICAO-standard convention and third-party consensus, not independently confirmed primary text.

Why does the background need to be pure white?

Some countries — the UK and Ireland among them — accept light grey or cream as well as white. Singapore's Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) is consistently described as white-only: even a slight off-white or grey tint is a commonly cited reason for a rejected photo. Stick to a plain white wall or sheet, evenly lit with no shadows falling across it.

Uploading through ICA e-Services?

ICA's own photo-guidelines page confirms the digital upload spec directly: 400×514 pixels, in JPG, JPEG, HEIC, HEIF, or PNG format, no larger than 8MB. Crop with the tool above first — it exports at 630×810px, which keeps the exact 35:45 ratio and comfortably clears ICA's stated minimum once scaled down for upload.

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 Singapore passport photo?

A Singapore (ICA) passport photo is 35x45mm, with your face taking up roughly 70-80% of the frame from chin to crown. The 35x45mm size follows the ISO/ICAO standard ICA says it uses, though the exact figure isn't independently stated as text on ICA's own photo-guidelines page — it's the consistent convention used across aggregator sources.

What are the Singapore ICA passport photo requirements?

A recent (within 3 months) colour photo against a plain white background, neutral expression with your mouth closed, both eyes open and visible, looking straight at the camera. No head coverings unless worn for religious or racial customs. For ICA's e-Services upload, the file itself needs to be JPG, JPEG, HEIC, HEIF, or PNG, 400x514px, and no larger than 8MB.

What background does a Singapore passport photo need?

Plain white, with no patterns or shadows. Unlike the UK or Ireland, which also accept light grey or cream, Singapore's guidance is consistently white-only — even a slight off-white or grey tint is a common reason for rejection.

What are the digital upload requirements for ICA e-Services?

Confirmed directly on ica.gov.sg: 400x514 pixels, in JPG, JPEG, HEIC, HEIF, or PNG format, with a maximum file size of 8MB.

What is the Singapore passport photo size in inches and pixels?

About 1.38x1.77in, or 35x45mm — the same physical size as the UK, Japan, and Schengen visa photo. This tool exports it at 630x810 pixels, well above ICA's stated 400x514px digital minimum once scaled.

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 Singapore passport photo?

No. The requirements call for a neutral expression with your mouth closed, 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 Singapore 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.