Nowadays international travel is becoming more and more popular whether for sightseeing, business, working or studying. In most cases, a passport, as one of the most widely accepted forms of identification, is necessary no matter where you come from. To obtain a passport, applicants must take a thorough identity check, including biometrics, personal information, etc. And passport photos are one of the most important aspects. This colored bust shot must present your current appearance and is used for facial recognition. Although most countries share similar requirements for lighting, posture and facial expressions, they might differ in passport photo size, and we are going to talk about common size requirements for most countries.
Importance of Qualified Passport-size Photo
It is reported that hundreds of thousands of passport applications were rejected in the United States. Each application cost hundreds of dollars. According to the passport office, the application fees are nonrefundable even if it is rejected. That is to say, more than 100 million dollars are wasted due to the rejection, which is a great loss. If we explore it on a global scale, the number would be higher. Among all the common reasons that contribute, unacceptable passport photographs rank first. And complying with standard passport photo size is a useful tip to avoid similar situations.
Common Passport Photo Size
Passport size is mandatory to follow whether for traditional booklets or biometrics passports. We found that some countries use metric units or imperial units. In order to print out a clear photo, it also has to meet the requirements for passport photo size in pixels. If you apply online, there are extra requirements for resolutions of the digital photos.
What is the Passport Photo Size for Different Countries?
| Passport Photos In Inches | 5.08 (width) x 5.08 (height) | 3.5 (width) x 4.5 (height) | 4 (width) x 5 (height) | 4 (width) x 6 (height) |
| Passport Photos In pixels | 2 (width) ×2 (height) | 1 3/8 (width) x 1 3/4 (height) | 1 9/16 (width) x 1 15/16 (height) | 1 9/16 (width) x 2 3/8 (height) |
| Passport Photos In pixels | 600 (width) ×600 (height) | 413 (width)×531 (height) | 472 (width) ×591 (height) | Other dimensions & requirements |
| Photo example |  |  |  |  |
| Country | US India Indonesia | UK Australia Austria Philippines South Africa Ireland NetherlanDs New Zealand Singapore Korea Brazil Thailand France Denmark Germany Hungary | Bangladesh Belarus Cyprus Estonia Kuwait Sudan | Colombia Bahrain Cambodia Greece Kyrgyzstan Laos Oman Saudi Arabia United Arab Emirates |
| Other dimension & requirements | Example: US passport photo Head height: 1.29 in Eye Line to the Bottom edge: 1.18 in | Example: UK passport photo Head height: 29mm-34mm | Example: Bangladesh passport photo Head height: 34 mm. Top of photo to top of hair: 10mm | Example: Colombia passport photo Head height: 36mm Top of photo to top of hair: 6mm |
When it comes to converting picture size from cm to pixels, there is a formula.
- Convert from cm to pixels
Pixels = Printing DPI / 2.54 x Dimensions in cm
- Convert from mm to pixels
Pixels = (Printing DPI / 2.54) x (length value / 10)
- Convert from inches to pixels
Pixels = Printing DPI x Length value
Figure 2.54 means 1in. equals 2.54cm.
For example, if the 5.08 x 5.08 cm photo is required to be printed with a resolution of 300 dpi, the pixels should be:
Width: (300 / 2.54) x 5.08 = 600
Height: (300 / 2.54) x 5.08 = 600
Please note that some countries might have special pixel requirements for digital photos to ensure clarity.
Other Major Requirements Besides Size
Although passport photo size is a decisive standard, we still have to pay attention to other requirements listed as follows and they might differ from country to country.
- Background color, such as white/blue/red/light gray)
- Posture, such as no tilting head, looking straight ahead, etc
- Lighting
- Neutral facial expression
- Dress code, including colors of attire, glasses, hats, religious veils, etc.
There might be minor differences in each guideline, so it is recommended to check the exact passport photo requirements on the official website before taking a shot. Some of them have examples of qualified photos.
How to Create a Passport Photo of All Sizes?
If you are looking for a tool that helps you take a passport photo without leaving your home, you can try AiPassportPhotos. This online application is compatible with all devices and operating systems as long as it is a web-based platform, which means you can use it whenever and wherever you want as long as you have access to the internet.
The preset algorithm acts as an AI passport officer that scans and verifies the picture so as to ensure compliance with all the necessary guidelines, including cropping it to fit standard passport photo size. More importantly, it is equipped with ID photo templates from different countries. Imagine that you are applying for two passports. It is possible to upload the same photo on AiPassportPhotos and get the qualified one for more than one document, thus saving time and money in retaking another photo with different size requirements.
There are two methods to get a photo: either uploading an existing photo (log in on any device) or taking a new picture (log in on tablets or phones). Then the AI will scan and check the compliance. If qualified, it will automatically move on to crop the picture and adjust the background. Finally, a single digital version or printable version with 2-4 photos would be generated.
Summary
This passage introduces the importance of qualified passport photos and popular dimensions for most countries and regions, either in inches, centimeters or pixels. There are certainly other passport photo size requirements and it seems difficult to learn about all of them. In this case, AiPassportPhhoto can help you make a qualified photo for different countries and document types. The tool will keep updated, so it works whether you are applying for your first passport or renewal and replacement. We hope to make sure your photo is accepted, so your application and even your trip can move on smoothly.
Dolores Xiao