·3 min read·Guides
Passport Photo Size by Country in 2026: cm, mm, Inches and Pixels
Passport photo sizes for the US, UK, India, Schengen countries, Canada, Australia, China and Japan in mm, cm, inches and pixels, with head size, the new Indian rules for applying abroad and how to print several on one sheet.
The most common passport photo size is 35 × 45 mm (3.5 × 4.5 cm), used by the UK, Schengen countries, Australia, Japan and many others. The US uses 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm), Canada 50 × 70 mm and China 33 × 48 mm. For an Indian passport applied for abroad, consulates now ask for a 2 × 2 inch print or a 630 × 810 pixel digital photo on plain white; inside India the photo is taken at the Passport Seva Kendra.
Do it now, free and without uploading anything: Passport Photo Maker, Background Remover, Image Resizer, Image Compressor.
There is no single passport photo size. Most countries follow the international (ICAO) standard of 35 × 45 mm, but the US, Canada and China use their own, and a photo made for one country will usually be rejected by another.
Passport photo sizes by country
| Country | Size (mm) | Size (cm / inches) | Pixels at 300 DPI | Head height (chin to crown) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 35 × 45 | 3.5 × 4.5 cm | 413 × 531 | 29–34 mm |
| Schengen and EU countries | 35 × 45 | 3.5 × 4.5 cm | 413 × 531 | About 32–36 mm (varies by country) |
| Australia | 35–40 × 45–50 | 3.5 × 4.5 cm works | 413 × 531 | 32–36 mm |
| Japan | 35 × 45 | 3.5 × 4.5 cm | 413 × 531 | See the official guidance |
| United States | 51 × 51 | 2 × 2 in | 600 × 600 | 25–35 mm |
| Canada | 50 × 70 | 5 × 7 cm | 591 × 827 | 31–36 mm |
| China | 33 × 48 | 3.3 × 4.8 cm | 390 × 567 | 28–33 mm |
| India (applying abroad) | 51 × 51 printed | 2 × 2 in | 630 × 810 digital | Face covering most of the frame |
Rules change, and each passport office can be stricter than this table. Check the official page for your application before printing.
India: three different cases
- Applying in India. Your photo is taken at the Passport Seva Kendra during the appointment. You do not need to bring one.
- Applying abroad through an Indian embassy, consulate or VFS centre. From September 2025, following a Ministry of External Affairs directive, consulates ask for an ICAO-compliant photo: a 2 × 2 inch print or a 630 × 810 pixel digital photo, on a plain white background, with the face clearly visible.
- Other Indian forms and ID cards. Most ask for a "passport-size" photo of 35 × 45 mm. Exam portals set their own pixel and KB limits; see reducing photo size for online forms.
What every country checks
- Plain, light background. White or off-white for most, with no shadows or patterns.
- Face straight on, eyes open, neutral expression, mouth closed.
- Glasses: not allowed in US passport photos; elsewhere they are usually allowed only with no glare and the eyes fully visible, and many offices prefer them off.
- Even light with no shadows across the face or behind the head.
- Recent: usually taken in the last six months.
- Head size within the range. This is the most common reason a correctly sized photo is still rejected.
Make one at home
The passport photo maker creates 35 × 45 mm, 2 × 2 inch, 50 × 70 mm and 33 × 48 mm photos from any photo: it removes the background, makes it white and sizes your head automatically. Download a single 300 DPI photo or a print sheet:
| Photo size | On a 4 × 6 inch print | On A4 |
|---|---|---|
| 35 × 45 mm | 6 photos | Many more |
| 2 × 2 inch | 2 photos | Many more |
Print the sheet at a photo lab or kiosk at 100% size, not "fit to page", and cut along the guides. Everything runs in your browser, so the photo is never uploaded.