Official Passport & Visa Photo Rules (ICAO & Country Requirements)

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) publishes Document 9303, the specification that almost every country's passport photo rule is built on. Understanding it once means you understand 90% of all requirements worldwide.

Core ICAO dimensions: The photo must be between 35×45 mm and 50×50 mm (most countries standardize on one size). The face must occupy 70–80% of the frame height, measured from the crown of the head (or the top of natural hair) to the bottom of the chin.

Eye position: The center of the eyes must fall between 56% and 69% of the total image height from the bottom — roughly the upper-middle third of the frame.

Expression: Neutral, mouth closed. No smiling, no frowning. Eyes must be fully open and clearly visible.

Background: Plain, light-colored, and uniform. White or off-white is universally accepted. Avoid cream, gray, or any patterned surface.

Head position: Straight, facing directly forward. Head tilt beyond 5° in any direction is grounds for rejection.

Lighting: Even, no harsh shadows on the face or background. No red-eye.

Size: 2×2 inches (51×51 mm). The face must be between 1 inch and 1⅜ inches (25–35 mm) from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head.

Background: Plain white or off-white only. No patterns, gradients, or colored backgrounds.

Glasses: Not permitted since 2016. All applicants — including those who wear glasses daily — must remove them.

Head coverings: Not permitted unless worn daily for religious reasons. A signed statement is required.

DPI for print: 300 DPI minimum. Most acceptance counters at post offices scan at this resolution.

Validity: Photos must be taken within the last 6 months to reflect your current appearance.

The Schengen Visa applies to 27 European countries and uses a shared photo standard.

Size: 35×45 mm. Face height 32–36 mm (approximately 70–80% of frame height).

Background: Plain white or very light gray. No blue backgrounds (common mistake when borrowing from other visa types).

Expression: Neutral. Some consulates have rejected photos with even a slight upward curl of the lips — when in doubt, aim for a flat, relaxed expression.

Photo age: Must be taken within 6 months. Some embassies require within 3 months.

Glasses: Not permitted. This changed across the Schengen area in 2015.

Size: 45×35 mm (note: height before width, unlike most other countries).

Face: Between 29 mm and 34 mm from chin to crown.

Background: Plain cream or white. The UK explicitly accepts a cream background, making it slightly more flexible than US requirements.

Expression: Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open and clearly visible.

Quality: Must be printed on high-quality photo paper. Inkjet prints on plain paper are rejected.

Recency: Taken within the past month. This is stricter than most countries.

Size: 50×60 mm (biometric) or 50×50 mm for e-visa.

Background: Plain white only. This is strictly enforced — any off-white or cream tone triggers rejection.

Expression: Neutral expression, mouth closed. Teeth must not be visible.

Head covering: Not permitted for passport photos unless required by religious practice, in which case the face must remain fully visible.

Recency: Within the last 6 months.

Size: 50×70 mm. One of the taller formats globally.

Face height: 31–36 mm from chin to crown of head.

Background: Plain white or light gray. No textures.

Guarantor signature: Canada requires a guarantor to sign the back of one photo confirming your identity — a requirement unique among major passports.

Photo quantity: Two identical photos are required, not one.

Size: 45×35 mm.

Face: 32–36 mm from chin to crown, positioned in the upper two-thirds of the photo.

Background: Plain white or light gray.

Glasses: Permitted only if no tinted lenses and no reflective glare. In practice, removing glasses is strongly recommended to avoid any chance of rejection.

Signing: The back of each photo must be signed.

These are the most frequent causes of passport photo rejection across all countries:

1. Wrong dimensions — Printing at 96 DPI instead of 300 DPI produces a photo that looks the right size on screen but prints too small. Always export at 300 DPI for printed submissions.

2. Face too small or too large — The face-to-frame ratio is the most commonly miscalculated element. Aim for 70–80% of frame height from chin to crown.

3. Colored or patterned background — Even a light blue wall or subtle shadow triggers rejection. Use a plain white or off-white surface.

4. Glasses — Most countries have banned them as of 2015–2016. Remove glasses before photographing.

5. Expression — Any visible smile, smirk, or raised eyebrows can trigger a rejection. Aim for a relaxed, neutral face with eyes fully open.

6. Shadows — Shadows on the face or background, even subtle ones, are grounds for rejection. Use diffused natural light or face two light sources.

7. Head tilt — Even a 5–6° tilt is outside ICAO tolerance. Check horizontal alignment before shooting.