South Africa Passport Photo Size 35x45mm

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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South Africa passport photo specification

Print size: 35×45mm (1.38×1.77 in)
Digital output: 630×810px
Head height (chin to crown): 29–34mm (70–80% of frame)
Background: Plain white background, no patterns or shadows

·Face must occupy 70-80% of the photo, chin to crown (about 29-34mm), fully visible from ear to ear and forehead to chin
·Plain white background — one source describes light grey or cream as acceptable alternatives, but white is the safest default
·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
·Photo should be no more than one month old

The South African Department of Home Affairs (dha.gov.za) did not have a directly reachable passport-photo specification page this session — every URL tried returned a 404 or 502, and no primary-source spec PDF surfaced through search either. The 35x45mm size and 29-34mm head height below are cross-checked across several independent third-party aggregators that closely agree, but the background colour is a genuine disputed point (most say pure white, at least one says light grey or cream is also acceptable) — treat this as a strong starting point and re-check against a live DHA page or office before you submit.

A note on source confidence

The Department of Home Affairs' own site (dha.gov.za) didn't have a directly reachable passport-photo specification page this session — every URL tried returned a 404 or 502. The 35×45mm size and 29-34mm head height here are cross-checked across several independent third-party aggregators that closely agree, but it's worth confirming directly with your local DHA office before you submit.

Background colour: one open question

Most sources agree the background should be plain white, but at least one source describes light grey or plain cream as acceptable alternatives. White is the safer default here — it matches the majority of sources and the ICAO baseline used across most passport photo standards.

Related photo requirements

Nigeria passport photo size→Kenya passport photo size→UAE passport photo size→UK passport photo size→All passport photo requirements 2026→Newborn & infant passport photo→

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 South African passport photo?

A South African passport photo is 35x45mm, with head height (chin to crown) landing around 29-34mm, or roughly 70-80% of the frame.

What background does a South African passport photo need?

Plain white is the safest default and what most sources agree on, though at least one source describes light grey or cream as acceptable alternatives. Until this is confirmed against a primary DHA source, stick with white.

What are the South African passport photo requirements?

A recent (within one month) 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.

What is the South African 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 South African 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 South African 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.

South Africa Passport Photo Size & Requirements