Passport & Visa Photo Size Guide: US, Schengen, China & More

Every country measures its passport and visa photos differently, and a few millimeters off can mean a rejected application or a wasted trip to the post office. This quick-reference guide lists the exact dimensions for the most-requested countries, explains the head-size and background rules that trip people up, and shows how to produce a compliant photo at home in minutes. By the end you'll know the precise size you need and how to hit it without paying a studio.

The quick-reference size chart

Here are the most commonly requested passport and visa photo dimensions. Note that countries specify size in different units (inches, millimeters, or pixels), so always match the unit your application uses.

United States: 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm), square. Schengen area (most of Europe): 35 x 45 mm. Canada: 50 x 70 mm. China: 33 x 48 mm. India: 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm), same as the US. United Kingdom: 35 x 45 mm. Australia: 35 x 45 mm. Japan: 35 x 45 mm. Brazil: 50 x 70 mm.

A useful pattern: the 35 x 45 mm format covers a huge share of the world, including the entire Schengen zone, the UK, Australia, and Japan. The 2 x 2 inch square is the standout exception used by the US and India.

Why head size matters as much as photo size

Getting the rectangle dimensions right is only half the job. Most authorities also dictate how much of the frame your head must fill, measured from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head.

For US photos, the head should be roughly 1 to 1 3/8 inches (25 to 35 mm) tall, and your eyes should sit between 1 1/8 and 1 3/8 inches (28 to 35 mm) from the bottom of the image. Schengen and UK rules call for the face (chin to crown) to occupy about 32 to 36 mm of the 45 mm height. China asks for a head height of about 28 to 33 mm within the 48 mm frame.

If the head is too small or too large, the photo gets rejected even when the outer dimensions are perfect. This is the single most common reason home-made photos fail, so center your face and leave appropriate margins above the head and below the chin.

Background, expression, and resolution rules

Nearly every country now requires a plain white or off-white background with no shadows. A handful accept light gray (the UK, for example, allows a light grey or cream background), but white is the safest universal choice. Avoid patterns, furniture, and colored walls.

Keep a neutral expression with your mouth closed, both eyes open, and look straight at the camera. Glasses are increasingly discouraged and are banned outright for US passports. Remove hats and headphones; head coverings are only permitted for religious or medical reasons.

For digital submissions, resolution counts. US online uploads typically require 600 x 600 pixels minimum (up to 1200 x 1200), and many countries want 300 DPI or higher for printed photos. A blurry or low-resolution image will be rejected at upload.

How to make a compliant photo at home for free

You don't need a photo booth or studio. Take a well-lit photo against a plain wall using your phone's front or rear camera, with even, diffuse light to avoid shadows on your face and the background. Natural daylight from a window works well.

Then crop it to the exact size and replace the background with clean white. You can crop and white-background it for free without uploading anything using a browser-based tool that runs entirely on your device. Because the photo is processed in-browser and never sent to a server, your image stays private on your computer or phone.

A good tool will auto-detect your face, position the head to meet the country's head-size rules, generate a true white background, and export the precise dimensions, whether that's a 51 x 51 mm US square or a 35 x 45 mm Schengen rectangle, ready to print or upload.

Printing and submitting without surprises

For printed photos, a 4 x 6 inch (10 x 15 cm) glossy print is the standard sheet most photo kiosks and home printers use. A single 4 x 6 sheet fits multiple copies: typically two US 2 x 2 inch photos or six 35 x 45 mm photos, which saves money.

Double-check the spec on the official government or consulate page before you print, because requirements change and some visa categories have their own quirks (for instance, certain Chinese visa applications now want a specific pixel range and file size for online forms).

When in doubt, produce the photo at the exact millimeter or pixel dimensions the application asks for, confirm the head height falls within range, and keep the background pure white. Get those three things right and your photo will sail through almost any system.

FAQ

What is the most common passport photo size worldwide?

The 35 x 45 mm format is the most widely used, covering the entire Schengen area, the UK, Australia, Japan, and many others. The main exception is the US and India, which both use a 2 x 2 inch (51 x 51 mm) square.

Can I use a US 2x2 inch photo for a Schengen visa?

No. Schengen visas require a 35 x 45 mm photo, which is rectangular, not square. A US 2 x 2 inch photo will be rejected. Always crop to the exact size your specific application requires.

Is it safe to make passport photos online?

It depends on the tool. Many online editors upload your photo to their servers. A privacy-first, in-browser tool processes everything locally on your device and never uploads the image, so your photo and personal data stay on your computer or phone.

How big should my head be in a passport photo?

For US photos, the head should be 25 to 35 mm tall (chin to crown) with eyes 28 to 35 mm from the bottom. Schengen and UK photos want the face to fill about 32 to 36 mm of the 45 mm height. Incorrect head size is the top reason photos get rejected.