Passport photo examples by country
What a correctly cropped, correctly sized photo actually looks like for seven of the most requested passport and visa formats. Each example is rendered at the exact official dimensions at 300 DPI and passes the same compliance checklist the SnapPass AI maker runs on your own photo.
Make my photo nowCorrect examples, side by side
US Passport (2 x 2 in)
51 x 51 mm, head 25–35 mm, white background · 600 x 600 px at 300 DPI
- Face centred and correctly scaled
- Plain compliant background
- Exact document dimensions
- Even lighting, no shadows
UK Passport / Visa (35 x 45 mm)
Head 29–34 mm, light grey or cream background · 413 x 531 px at 300 DPI
- Face centred and correctly scaled
- Plain compliant background
- Exact document dimensions
- Even lighting, no shadows
Schengen / EU (35 x 45 mm)
Head 32–36 mm, light plain background · 413 x 531 px at 300 DPI
- Face centred and correctly scaled
- Plain compliant background
- Exact document dimensions
- Even lighting, no shadows
Canada Passport (50 x 70 mm)
Head 31–36 mm, plain white background · 591 x 827 px at 300 DPI
- Face centred and correctly scaled
- Plain compliant background
- Exact document dimensions
- Even lighting, no shadows
India Passport (35 x 45 mm)
Head centred, plain white background · 413 x 531 px at 300 DPI
- Face centred and correctly scaled
- Plain compliant background
- Exact document dimensions
- Even lighting, no shadows
Australia Passport (35 x 45 mm)
Head 32–36 mm, plain light background · 413 x 531 px at 300 DPI
- Face centred and correctly scaled
- Plain compliant background
- Exact document dimensions
- Even lighting, no shadows
China Visa (33 x 48 mm)
Head 28–33 mm, plain white background · 390 x 567 px at 300 DPI
- Face centred and correctly scaled
- Plain compliant background
- Exact document dimensions
- Even lighting, no shadows
How each example meets the rules
Head size and position. Authorities measure the head from chin to crown, not the whole face. The US wants 25–35 mm inside a 51 mm square; the UK wants 29–34 mm inside a 45 mm frame; Schengen and Australia sit at 32–36 mm. Every example above places the crown just under the top margin so the measurement lands inside the accepted band.
Background. Plain, uniform and shadow-free. White is accepted by every authority listed here; light blue and light grey are common alternatives for visas and ID cards. A textured wall, a door frame or a shadow cast behind the head is one of the most frequent rejection reasons.
Expression and gaze. Neutral mouth, closed, eyes open and looking straight at the lens, head square to the camera with no tilt. Smiling is rejected for most passports.
Resolution and file. Print sizes here are rendered at 300 DPI, which is the minimum most printers and online applications accept. Digital uploads usually also need a minimum pixel size — 600 x 600 px for the US and 600 x 750 px for the UK — which these dimensions exceed.
Frequently asked questions
- What does a compliant passport photo look like?
- A sharp, colour, head-and-shoulders photo taken square to the camera, with a neutral expression, eyes open and visible, even lighting with no shadows on the face or background, and a plain background in the colour the issuing authority requires — usually white or off-white.
- Are these photo examples real sizes?
- Yes. Every example on this page is rendered at the exact document dimensions at 300 DPI — for example 51 x 51 mm (600 x 600 px) for a US passport photo and 35 x 45 mm (413 x 531 px) for UK, Schengen, India and Australia.
- Why do some countries allow a light blue background?
- A few authorities, and many visa and ID card applications, accept a plain light blue or light grey background instead of pure white. Where white is required, always choose white — it is accepted everywhere that specifies a plain light background.
- Can I make a photo like these from a selfie?
- Yes. Upload a photo to the SnapPass AI maker and it removes the background, centres and scales the head, evens out the lighting and exports the exact size for the country you pick — free and without a watermark.