Passport and visa photo sizes by country
November 12, 2026 3 min read
Short answer
A US passport or visa photo is 2×2 inches (51×51 mm) with a head height of 1 to 1 3/8 inches and a white or off-white background. A printed UK passport photo is 45 mm high and 35 mm wide, and Schengen visa photos are usually 35×45 mm. The issuing authority always makes the final decision, so check its current rules before you apply.
A photo cut to the wrong size or taken against the wrong background is one of the most common reasons an application gets sent back. Here are the sizes and main rules published by official sources for the documents people ask about most.
Passport photo makerBiometric or ID size, ready to print.United States: passport and visa
According to the US Department of State, the photo must be 2×2 inches (51×51 mm), in colour and taken within the last 6 months.
- 1Head size: 1 to 1 3/8 inches (25 to 35 mm) from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head.
- 2Background: plain white or off-white, without shadows.
- 3Glasses: since November 2016 glasses are not allowed in US passport and visa photos, except in rare documented medical cases.
- 4Digital visa photos: the State Department asks for a square JPEG of at least 600×600 pixels and no larger than 240 kB.
United Kingdom passport
GOV.UK says printed photos must be 45 mm high and 35 mm wide, and the head, from crown to chin, must be 29 to 34 mm tall. Use a plain cream or light grey background with clear contrast, and print in colour on plain white photo paper without a border. A paper form needs two identical photos.
If you apply online you upload a digital photo instead: at least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall, between 50 KB and 10 MB, unedited. GOV.UK says the photo must have been taken in the last month.
Schengen visa and Turkey
Schengen visa photos are usually 35×45 mm; the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for example, asks for this size. Background colour and other details can differ between consulates and visa centres, so follow the list of the country you apply to.
For a Turkish passport or national ID card the biometric photo is 50×60 mm on a plain white background, no older than 6 months. Turkey's passport instructions say the face should be 32 to 36 mm high and fill 70 to 80 percent of the photo.
Making the photo at home
You can take the photo with your phone, facing a window with daylight, in front of a plain wall. The Passport photo maker crops it to 50×60 mm, 45×60 mm, 35×45 mm or 2×2 inches, with guides that show where your head and eyes should be, and it can turn the background white. Your photo never leaves your device.
- 1Open the Passport photo maker and choose your photo.
- 2Pick the size for your document and line your face up with the guides.
- 3Turn the background white if your document needs it.
- 4Download a single photo or a print sheet on 4×6 inch (10×15 cm) or A4 paper.
- 5Print at actual size or 100 percent, with fit to page turned off.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I print passport photos at home?
- Often yes, but rules vary. Some offices only accept photos from a photographer or take the photo on site, and online applications usually want a digital file. Check with the issuing authority first.
- Is a 2×2 inch photo the same as 51×51 mm?
- Yes. The US State Department gives both: 2×2 inches, or 51×51 mm.
- Can I smile or wear glasses?
- Most authorities want a neutral expression with the mouth closed. The US does not allow glasses at all; other countries may allow clear prescription glasses without glare.
- Will a photo made with this tool be accepted?
- The size and background follow the rules you pick, but the authority decides. Lighting, sharpness and expression are judged too. This article is general information, not legal advice.