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Passport Photos

Format photos to exact passport specifications worldwide

Passport Photo Requirements by Country — Get It Right the First Time

Passport photo specifications vary significantly by country, and getting them wrong results in delays of weeks to months — particularly damaging if you have booked travel. The most critical differences are in physical size (Indian passport: 51×51mm square; US passport: 51×51mm; UK passport: 35×45mm; EU/Schengen: 35×45mm), background colour (most require pure white, but UK accepts cream), and head coverage requirements (which range from 50% to 80% of frame height depending on the issuing authority).

The photo requirements for passports worldwide were significantly updated in 2021–2024 to align with ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) Document 9303 biometric standards. The most notable change: glasses are now prohibited in virtually all biometric passports globally. This affects Indian passports (MEA updated rules in 2021), US passports (updated 2023), Schengen passports (ICAO 2024 update), and UK passports (ICAO 2024 update). Even prescription glasses must be removed.

A key difference between submitting a digital photo (for online portals) vs. a physical printed photo (for in-person appointments at Passport Seva Kendras or consulates) is the validation process. Digital uploads are validated by automated software that checks file size and dimensions. Physical photos are checked by a human officer who can reject for composition issues, shadow, background colour, or photo age — even if the digital specifications are correct. Always bring photos that are compositionally perfect, not just technically correct.

Who Needs This?

🇮🇳 Indian Passport

51×51mm square, plain white background, JPEG, 10–500KB for Passport Seva portal. MEA mandates no glasses since 2021.

🇺🇸 US Passport

51×51mm square (2×2 inches), pure white background, JPEG, head 50–69% of frame height.

🇬🇧 UK Passport

35×45mm portrait, cream or off-white background, JPEG. Part of the UK Standard Visitor and settlement visa process.

🇪🇺 Schengen Countries

35×45mm portrait (ICAO standard), pure white background, head 70–80% of frame height. Applies to Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, and others.

🇨🇦 Canadian Passport

50×70mm portrait (unique dimensions), plain white or light-coloured background, head 31–36mm from chin to crown.

🇦🇺 Australian Passport

35×45mm portrait, plain white or off-white background, head 32–36mm from chin to crown. Photo must be taken by a photographer (self-taken photos discouraged).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take my own passport photo at home?+
Yes, for most countries. The key requirements are: plain white background, good even lighting with no shadows on the face, taken at eye level (not a selfie angle), and the correct framing and proportions. Use our country-specific passport photo formatter to crop and format your home photo to exact specifications. Physical photos for in-person submission should be printed on glossy photo paper at a pharmacy or photo lab.
How recent does a passport photo need to be?+
Most countries require the photo to be taken within the last 6 months. India's Passport Seva requires photos within 6 months. The US requires within 6 months. The UK requires within 1 month for some applications. The concern is that an old photo may no longer represent your current appearance, which can cause verification failures at border control. Always take a fresh photo during your application period.
Why are glasses no longer allowed in passport photos?+
Biometric passports use facial recognition algorithms to match your photo with border scanners. Glasses interfere with this matching in two ways: lens reflections create glare that obscures facial features, and the frames partially occlude the eyes. ICAO updated their biometric standards to prohibit glasses, and most countries have adopted this change between 2021 and 2024. Contact lenses are permitted as they do not obstruct or alter facial features.