Photo guide
Passport photo requirements: millimetres, pixels, lighting, and backgrounds
Passport-style photos appear on visa applications, travel documents, and many government identity forms. The printed size is often 35 x 45 millimetres, but upload portals usually enforce pixel dimensions, file type, and a maximum size in kilobytes.
This guide explains how millimetres relate to pixels, how to compose a clear headshot, and which lighting and background habits reduce rejections. Always treat the official portal wording as the final authority for your country or agency.
Millimetres, DPI, and pixels
Millimetres describe the physical print. Pixels describe the digital file. A common conversion for a 35 x 45 mm photo at about 300 dots per inch is roughly 413 x 531 pixels. Some portals publish that exact size; others ask for a different pixel count with the same aspect ratio.
If the form lists only millimetres, look for a digital upload section that also lists pixels. When both appear and conflict, follow the upload section. Entering print millimetres into a pixel field is a frequent mistake.
Head position and crop
The face should be front-facing, centered, and large enough to recognize without filling the entire frame. Leave a small margin above the hair and keep the chin fully visible. Eyes usually sit in the upper third of the frame.
Avoid selfies taken from below or above. Hold the camera at eye level. Crop after you choose the correct aspect ratio so the head is not stretched. Do not cut through ears, hair, or shoulders unless the official sample image shows a tighter crop.
Lighting that survives compression
Even front lighting is more important than studio equipment. Stand facing a window or soft lamp so both sides of the face are visible. Hard shadows under the eyes or across one cheek can look worse after JPG compression.
Disable beauty filters and HDR modes that reshape the face. Remove sunglasses unless a medical exception applies. A recent photo that matches your current appearance is safer than an older flattering portrait.
Backgrounds reviewers expect
Most passport-style instructions ask for a plain light or white background without patterns, furniture, or other people. Stand a short distance from a blank wall so your shadow does not create a dark outline.
Busy outdoor scenes, office posters, and curtains are common rejection reasons even when dimensions and file size are correct. If you cannot find a plain wall, a clean sheet hung flat can work in an emergency—smooth wrinkles first.
File size and final checks
After cropping to the required ratio, resize to the stated pixels and compress to the stated KB limit. Open the downloaded file and confirm width, height, format, and clarity at normal viewing size.
If the portal shows a preview, inspect it carefully. Fix one problem at a time: first dimensions, then file size, then composition. Starting again from a high-quality original beats repeatedly compressing a soft export.