The most common passport photo size is 35 × 45 mm, used by the UK, Australia, Japan, South Korea and many European countries. The US uses 2 × 2 inches, Canada 50 × 70 mm and China 33 × 48 mm. The table below lists the size, head height and background for the countries where we could read the official requirement, with a link to each source.
Every row was checked against the issuing authority’s page, or an excerpt of it, in September and October 2026. Where the official page does not state a figure, the cell says so rather than guessing. Rules change and offices differ, so confirm with the authority before you print.
Passport Photo Size Chart
| Country | Photo size | Head (chin to crown) | Background | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm) | 1 to 1⅜ in (25–35 mm) | White or off-white | travel.state.gov |
| United Kingdom | 35 × 45 mm | 29–34 mm | Plain cream or light grey | gov.uk |
| Canada | 50 × 70 mm | 31–36 mm | White or light-coloured | canada.ca |
| Australia | 35 × 45 mm | 32–36 mm | White or light grey | passports.gov.au |
| Poland (EU) | 35 × 45 mm | Face 70–80% of the photo (about 32–36 mm) | White, evenly lit | gov.pl |
| Japan | 35 × 45 mm | 34 ± 2 mm | Plain, white recommended | mofa.go.jp |
| South Korea | 35 × 45 mm | 32–36 mm | Uniform white | passport.go.kr |
| China (visa) | 33 × 48 mm | 28–33 mm | White | visa centre requirements |
| Hong Kong | 40 × 50 mm | 32–36 mm | Not checked | immd.gov.hk |
| Singapore | 35 × 45 mm | Not confirmed | Pure featureless white | ica.gov.sg |
Notes by Country
- United States. The photo must be taken in the last 6 months and in colour. The State Department says not to alter it with software, apps, filters or AI, and glasses must come off unless you have a signed note from a doctor.
- United Kingdom. The photo must be 45 mm high and 35 mm wide, taken within the last month and not edited. For a digital photo GOV.UK asks for at least 600 × 750 pixels and a file between 50KB and 10MB.
- Canada. The printed size is 50 × 70 mm, taken within 6 months. Online renewal uses a different format: 3:2, at least 1,200 × 1,800 pixels, 200 KB to 5 MB, face height 45–50% of the photo height, from a commercial photographer.
- Australia. Prints are 35 mm wide and 45 mm high on high-quality, heavy-weight glossy paper (at least 200 gsm in the camera-operator guidelines).
- Poland and the EU. We only checked Poland’s official page. Other EU states follow the ICAO standard but may differ in details, so check the page of your own country.
- Singapore. ICA’s pages show conflicting head-size figures in the excerpts we read, so we do not give one here. Check the ICA photo guidelines. Its online photo is 400 × 514 pixels, up to 8 MB.
- China. The 33 × 48 mm size comes from Chinese visa-centre and embassy requirements for visa photos, not from a passport-office page.
Countries Not on This Chart
Other countries use sizes such as 40 × 60 mm, 43 × 55 mm or 50 × 60 mm, but we have not read an official source for them, so they are not listed. If you need one of them, check the embassy or passport office of that country, and see our guide on how to take a passport photo at home for the general rules.
How to Get the Right Size
The sizes above are for printed photos. A photo lab, booth or studio will usually crop to the right size if you tell them the country. If you prepare the photo yourself, ID & Passport Photo Maker, our own Android app, has presets for these sizes, exports at 300 dpi and lays out sheets on 10×15 cm paper with cut guides. It edits the photo to cut out the background, so a photo made this way may be refused by countries that ban edited photos, such as the US, UK and Canada. See it on Google Play or read about the app.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the standard passport photo size?
There is no single worldwide size. 35 × 45 mm is the most common and is used by the UK, Australia, Japan, South Korea and many European countries. The US uses 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm), Canada 50 × 70 mm and China 33 × 48 mm.
What size is a US passport photo?
2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm), with the head measuring 1 to 1⅜ inches (25–35 mm) from chin to top of head, on a white or off-white background, taken within the last 6 months.
What size is a UK passport photo?
35 mm wide by 45 mm high, with the head 29–34 mm from chin to crown, on a plain cream or light grey background, taken within the last month.
What size is a Canadian passport photo?
50 × 70 mm (2 × 2¾ inches), with the face 31–36 mm from chin to top of head, taken within 6 months. Online renewal has a different digital format.
How many millimetres is 2 x 2 inches?
2 inches is 50.8 mm, usually rounded to 51 × 51 mm.
Is a 35×45 mm photo the same as a passport photo?
It is the standard passport photo size in many countries, but the head-size and background rules differ, so a 35 × 45 mm photo made for one country may not meet another’s rules.
