Passport and visa photos are rejected more often than people expect: the head is too small, the background is not plain, there is a shadow, or the print is the wrong size. This guide covers the two sizes most countries use, how the face should sit in the frame, and how to print correct copies at home or at a photo shop.
The two common sizes
| Size | Used for (examples) |
|---|---|
| 35 × 45 mm (3.5 × 4.5 cm) | Indian passports, UK passports, Schengen visas and many other countries |
| 2 × 2 inch (51 × 51 mm) | US passports and visas, and some visa applications that ask for a square photo |
Other sizes such as 25 × 35 mm or 30 × 40 mm appear on some application forms. The Passport Size Photo Maker has these presets and any custom size.
How the face should fit
- Head size: in a 35 × 45 mm photo, the face from chin to the top of the head usually fills about 70–80% of the photo height (roughly 32–36 mm). For a US 2 × 2 inch photo, the head should be 1 to 1⅜ inches (25–35 mm).
- Centred and straight: face the camera directly, with your head upright and centred.
- Expression: neutral, mouth closed, both eyes open and clearly visible.
- Glasses and headwear: many countries now ask you to remove glasses. Head coverings are usually allowed only for religious or medical reasons, with the face fully visible.
The Passport Size Photo Maker shows guide lines for the head and eye level while you crop, so you can match these proportions.
Crop a photo to passport size and print a sheet of copies.Open Passport Photo Maker →Background and lighting
Most countries ask for a plain white or light background, with no patterns, objects or shadows behind you. Stand about half a metre in front of a plain wall, face a window or soft light, and avoid flash, which causes glare and red eyes. If your background is not plain, the Background Remover can replace it with white on your device.
Printing at the right size
To print at the correct physical size, the image needs to be prepared for the print size, not just cropped to the right shape. The Passport Size Photo Maker makes a printable sheet at 300 DPI, so a 35 × 45 mm photo prints at exactly 35 × 45 mm:
- Choose the photo size and crop your photo.
- Choose the paper: 4 × 6 inch photo paper (holds six or more 35 × 45 mm photos) or A4.
- Download the sheet and print it at 100% / actual size, not “fit to page”, then cut along the guides.
Digital photos for online applications
Online forms usually set their own rules: a pixel size (for example a square photo of at least 600 × 600 pixels), a file type (JPG) and a size range in KB. Prepare the photo with the right framing first, then use the Image Resizer to meet the exact pixels and KB. Our guide to resizing photos for online forms covers this step by step.
Frequently asked questions
Is 35 × 45 mm the same as passport size in India?
Yes, the standard Indian passport photo is 35 × 45 mm (3.5 × 4.5 cm) with a white background. Check the Passport Seva website for the current specification when you apply.
Can I take a passport photo with my phone?
Yes, if the lighting is even and the background plain. Ask someone else to take it from about a metre away at eye level; selfies distort the face and are often rejected.
How recent must the photo be?
Most countries ask for a photo taken within the last six months that looks like you now.