Passport Photo Sizes by Country: Complete Reference Guide (2026)

Passport Photo Sizes by Country

Exact passport photo dimensions for every country. One wrong millimeter can mean rejection -- get it right the first time.

Jake · Community & Writing, One Dollar Passport Photo · Updated February 4, 2026

Most Common Sizes

US / India	2x2 inches (51x51mm)
UK / EU / Japan	35x45mm
Canada	50x70mm
China	33x48mm

Most Common Passport Photo Sizes

While there are dozens of country-specific sizes, 90% of the world uses one of these four standard sizes:

2x2 inches (51x51mm) — US Standard

Pixels: 600x600px at 300 DPI

Used by: United States, Mexico, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Philippines

Square format originally based on the older ICAO recommendation. The US still uses this size for passport and visa photos.

35x45mm — ICAO Doc 9303 / EU Standard

Pixels: 420x540px at 300 DPI (Indian Passport Seva uses 630×810px)

Used by: United Kingdom, India (since September 2025), Germany, France, Spain, Italy, all Schengen countries, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan

Most common size worldwide. India switched to this format in September 2025 under the ICAO Doc 9303 standard, replacing its previous 51×51mm square.

50x70mm — Canada

Pixels: 600x840px at 300 DPI

Used by: Canada

Larger portrait format unique to Canada.

33x48mm — China

Pixels: 390x567px at 300 DPI

Used by: China

Slightly smaller than EU standard.

Full Country List

Country	Size (mm)	Size (inches)
United States	51x51mm	2x2 in
Canada	50x70mm	2x2.75 in
United Kingdom	35x45mm	1.4x1.8 in
India	35x45mm	1.4x1.8 in
Australia	35x45mm	1.4x1.8 in
Germany	35x45mm	1.4x1.8 in
France	35x45mm	1.4x1.8 in
Japan	35x45mm	1.4x1.8 in
South Korea	35x45mm	1.4x1.8 in
China	33x48mm	1.3x1.9 in
Brazil	50x70mm	2x2.75 in
Mexico	51x51mm	2x2 in
Spain	35x45mm	1.4x1.8 in
Italy	35x45mm	1.4x1.8 in
Netherlands	35x45mm	1.4x1.8 in
Switzerland	35x45mm	1.4x1.8 in
Sweden	35x45mm	1.4x1.8 in
Norway	35x45mm	1.4x1.8 in
Denmark	35x45mm	1.4x1.8 in
Finland	35x45mm	1.4x1.8 in
Poland	35x45mm	1.4x1.8 in
Austria	35x45mm	1.4x1.8 in
Greece	35x45mm	1.4x1.8 in
Portugal	35x45mm	1.4x1.8 in
Ireland	35x45mm	1.4x1.8 in
New Zealand	35x45mm	1.4x1.8 in
Singapore	35x45mm	1.4x1.8 in
Hong Kong	40x50mm	1.6x2 in
Taiwan	35x45mm	1.4x1.8 in
Thailand	35x45mm	1.4x1.8 in
Vietnam	40x60mm	1.6x2.4 in
Indonesia	40x60mm	1.6x2.4 in
Malaysia	35x50mm	1.4x2 in
Philippines	51x51mm	2x2 in
South Africa	35x45mm	1.4x1.8 in
Turkey	50x60mm	2x2.4 in
Saudi Arabia	40x60mm	1.6x2.4 in
UAE	40x55mm	1.6x2.2 in
Argentina	40x40mm	1.6x1.6 in
Colombia	50x50mm	2x2 in

This list covers the most common countries. Our tool supports 150+ countries and document types.

Understanding Passport Photo Dimensions

Physical Print Size — The overall photo dimensions (width x height). This is what you need when printing. US: 2x2 inches = 51x51mm. EU: 35x45mm = 1.4x1.8 inches.

Head Size Requirements — The height of your head within the frame (chin to crown). Often more strictly enforced than overall size. US: 25-35mm (50-69% of frame). EU: 32-36mm (70-80% of frame). Canada: 31-36mm (44-51% of frame).

Our Tool Handles This Automatically

You don’t need to measure anything. Select your country and document type, and our tool validates both the photo size and head size requirements automatically.

How to Take a Passport Photo — DIY guide
Why Passport Photos Get Rejected — Common mistakes
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Frequently Asked Questions

Why are passport photo sizes different by country?

Passport photo standards were set before international coordination. The ICAO Doc 9303 standard is 35x45mm (the format India adopted in September 2025), but many countries established their own standards decades ago — the US still uses 51x51mm (2x2 inches), and Canada uses 50x70mm. The EU standardized on 35x45mm in the 1990s.

Can I use the same photo for multiple countries?

Only if they use the exact same size. The new ICAO Indian passport (35x45mm) matches UK, Schengen, and Australia in size, but each country may differ on background colour and other rules. US passports (51x51mm) are not compatible with the new Indian passport size.

What's the pixel size for digital passport photos?

At 300 DPI: 2x2 inches = 600x600 pixels, 35x45mm = 420x540 pixels, 50x70mm = 600x840 pixels. For online submissions, requirements vary by country.

What happens if my passport photo is 1mm too small or too big?

It will likely be rejected. Most passport agencies use templates with precise cut-outs. The US has a tolerance of about +/-2mm, but it's safer to be exact.

Do visa photos use the same size as passport photos?

Usually, but not always. US visa photos use the same 51x51mm size as US passports. Schengen visas use 35x45mm like EU passports. Some countries use different sizes for visas vs passports.