Passport Photo Size Requirements by Country
Photo sizes differ more than most people expect: 35 × 45 mm in one country, 2 × 2 inches in another, 50 × 70 mm in a third. Here is a side-by-side comparison with official sources, reviewed in October 2026.
Updated 2026-10-23
At a glance
| Country | Printed size | Head (chin to crown) | Background | Digital upload | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm) | 1–1⅜ in (25–35 mm) | White or off-white | Square, 600–1200 px, JPEG | travel.state.gov · our guide |
| United Kingdom | 45 × 35 mm (high × wide) | 29–34 mm | Plain cream or light grey (print); plain light colour (digital) | At least 600 × 750 px, 50 KB–10 MB | gov.uk · our guide |
| Canada | 50 × 70 mm | 31–36 mm | Plain white or light-coloured | Not for passports: photos come from a commercial photographer | canada.ca · our guide |
| India (e-Visa) | Digital only; square | Full head, centred | Plain light or white | JPEG, 10 KB–1 MB; PDF 10–300 KB for the passport page | indianvisaonline.gov.in · our guide |
| Schengen area (typical) | 35 × 45 mm | About 32–36 mm | Plain light | Set by each consulate or visa centre | Your consulate · our guide |
| China (commonly quoted) | 33 × 48 mm | About 28–33 mm | Plain white | Set by the embassy or online system | Your embassy · our guide |
Figures for the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and the India e-Visa come from the official pages linked in the table; Schengen and China figures are the ones consulates usually quote, and the exact numbers depend on the office you apply to. Rules change, so confirm on the official page before you apply.
What is the same almost everywhere
- Recent. The photo must show how you look now. The UK asks for a photo from the last month; the US and Canada for the last six months.
- Plain background without shadows, patterns or objects, and a clear contrast between you and the wall.
- Neutral face. Looking straight at the camera, mouth closed, both eyes open and visible, nothing covering the face.
- No shadows or glare on the face, glasses or background, and no red eyes.
- Unaltered. No filters, beauty effects or retouching.
Where countries differ
| Question | What varies |
|---|---|
| Size | 35 × 45 mm in the UK and most of Europe, 2 × 2 in in the US, 50 × 70 mm in Canada, 33 × 48 mm commonly in China |
| Background colour | White or off-white in the US; cream or light grey for UK prints; any plain light colour for some digital systems |
| Glasses | Not allowed in the US; the UK allows them only if you must wear them, without glare or tint; Canada accepts them with no glare |
| Home printing | Canada refuses home-printed photos; the US wants photo-quality paper and refuses photocopies or scans; the UK wants plain white photographic paper without a border |
| Editing | The US, UK and Canada all say the photo must not be altered by software, and Canada counts cropping and background changes as alteration |
| Digital rules | The US sets pixel limits, the UK sets pixels and a file size range, India sets a file size range and a square shape |
Converting millimetres to pixels
Digital forms often ask for pixels instead of millimetres. The conversion is pixels = millimetres ÷ 25.4 × dpi. At the usual 300 dpi, these are the sizes:
| Photo | At 300 dpi | At 600 dpi |
|---|---|---|
| 35 × 45 mm | 413 × 531 px | 827 × 1063 px |
| 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm) | 600 × 600 px | 1200 × 1200 px |
| 50 × 70 mm | 591 × 827 px | 1181 × 1654 px |
| 33 × 48 mm | 390 × 567 px | 780 × 1134 px |
Note that the UK’s digital minimum of 600 × 750 pixels is larger than a 35 × 45 mm photo at 300 dpi, so pixel counts and print sizes do not always line up. When a form states pixels, follow the pixels. See DPI and print size explained if the maths is new to you.
Making your photo
The Passport Photo Maker has a preset for each country in the table, with a locked frame, a head guide, a pixel size and file limits. Use the print sheet to lay out copies for printing, and our step-by-step guide for taking the picture. Where a country refuses edited or home-printed photos, as Canada does, a studio is the right choice, and the tool is best used to check the result.
Always check the official page
Authorities update their photo rules, sometimes with little notice, and online systems add technical limits that differ from the printed rules. Before you pay for prints or submit an application, open the official page for your country, compare each line with your photo and read any note about children, glasses and religious or medical exceptions.
Frequently asked questions
Which countries use 35 × 45 mm passport photos?
The UK, most European countries and many others follow this international standard. The US uses 2 × 2 inches, Canada 50 × 70 mm and China commonly 33 × 48 mm.
Can I use the same photo for several countries?
Sometimes, if it meets every rule, but sizes and editing rules differ. It is safer to make a photo for each application.
Where can I check the current rules?
On the official pages linked in the table: the US State Department, GOV.UK, the Government of Canada and the Indian e-Visa portal. For Schengen and China, check the consulate or visa centre you apply to.