Free: cropping, background replacement, check
14-day refund if the authority rejects the photo
SourceImmigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), Singapore
Verified
Quick answer: A Singapore passport photo must be 400 × 514 px. Plain white or light grey background. Neutral expression, clear lenses only, no glare. Last verified .
Requirements
| Background | Plain white or light grey background. |
|---|---|
| Pose | Full face, head centred, no tilt or rotation. |
| Expression | Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open. |
| Glasses | Eyes must be fully visible; no tinted lenses or strong reflections. See full rules → |
| Lighting | Photo must be clear, well-lit, and without digital alterations. |
| Head covering | Religious reasons only; must not cover the facial oval. |
| Attire | Clothing must not blend into the background; face and shoulder line must be clearly defined. |
| Digital resolution | 400 × 514 px |
| File format | JPG / JPEG / HEIC / HEIF / PNG |
| File size | max 8 MB Compress photo to 2 MB — Singapore passport → |
The Singapore passport photograph is set by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), and its two documents describe two forms of the same photo. The printed one — the passport application form IMM(E)11 — is a colour photograph of 35 mm × 45 mm without border, sharp and clear, taken within the last three months, on a plain white background (light grey if your hair is white), full face, head straight, eyes open and no hair across them, both edges of the face and the top of the shoulders visible, a neutral expression with the mouth closed, and the face measuring 25 to 35 mm from chin to crown.
The digital one — the ICA Photo Guidelines — is a 400 × 514 pixel file in JPG, JPEG, HEIC, HEIF or PNG of up to 8 MB uploaded through the e-Services. Both follow ISO and ICAO specifications; the photo must not be altered or enhanced in any way, and ICA does not recommend a selfie.
A printed photograph must be on a matte or semi-matte finish.
Examples and mistakes
One compliant example next to the six most common rejection causes for Singapore passport applications. These are the differences that most often determine whether a document photo is accepted.
Typical reasons a photo is rejected under the rules Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), Singapore publishes: what is wrong and what to change.
| Reason | Fix |
|---|---|
| Print not 35 × 45 mm without border, or upload not 400 × 514 px | Print 35 × 45 mm without a border; prepare the e-Services file at 400 × 514 px. |
| Background not plain white (or light grey with white hair) | Use a plain white wall or screen, lit evenly with no shadow on the face or the background. |
| Photo older than three months | Take a new photo within three months of applying. |
| Tinted glasses or sunglasses, frames over the eyes, or flash reflected off the lenses | Wear no tinted lenses, keep the frames clear of the eyes and avoid flash on the glasses. |
| Hair across the eyes, head tilted, mouth open, or the shoulders and both edges of the face not shown | Hold the head straight, mouth closed, eyes open and clear; show both edges of the face and the top of the shoulders. |
| A retouched or enhanced picture, a selfie, or a glossy print | Use an unedited photo taken by someone else and print it matte or semi-matte. |
How to take it
Background: white or light grey
The tool puts in the required background. Stand half a metre from a plain light wall, face a window and shoot without flash — then there are no shadows on your face or on the wall.
Camera at eye level, about a metre away; head and shoulders in the shot. The tool crops it to the required size.
Clear lenses only, no glare
If you wear glasses, check the shot: no glare on the lenses, eyes clearly visible.
Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open
Look straight into the lens with your head level; keep hair away from your eyes and eyebrows.
An ordinary selfie will do: we fix the background, light and framing ourselves — to this document's rules. The preview is free.
Head straightHold the phone at eye level and your head straightens by itself.
Face uncoveredMove your hair away so your eyes and eyebrows show.
No glare on glassesStand so that no light reflects in the lenses.Printing and submission
In Singapore the passport is applied for online with SingPass; others, such as family members, can submit on your behalf. Overseas it is submitted on the paper form IMM(E)11 at a Singapore mission, with the photograph pasted in the box on the form.
go.gov.sg/passport — log in with SingPass; the photo is uploaded as a 400 × 514 px file
Digital photo: 400 × 514 px, JPG, JPEG, HEIC, HEIF or PNG, up to 8 MB.
Authority pageThe form is headed «Application for Singapore Biometric Passport submitted overseas»; paste the photograph in the box
Print: colour, 35 × 45 mm without border, within 3 months, plain white background, face 25–35 mm from chin to crown.
Authority page| Authority | Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), Singapore |
|---|---|
| Source | ICA Singapore photo guidelines |
| Verified |
Questions
A colour photo of 35 mm × 45 mm without border, sharp and clear, taken within the last three months, on a plain white background (light grey if your hair is white). Full face, head straight, eyes open with no hair across them, both edges of the face and the top of the shoulders visible, a neutral expression with the mouth closed, and the face 25–35 mm from chin to crown. It must not be altered or enhanced.
For the paper form, 35 mm wide by 45 mm high without border. For the online submission, 400 × 514 pixels, in jpg, jpeg, heic, heif or png, up to 8 MB. Both come from the same photo: take it once, upload it at 400 × 514 and print it at 35 × 45 mm.
Taken within the last three months, according to the passport application form, and a new coloured photograph is needed for each new application. Three months is shorter than the six months many countries accept, so do not reuse an older photo.
ICA does not recommend a selfie: the result is usually not ideal and delays the application. It suggests asking someone to take the photo, or using an app made for passport photos, and says the photo must not be altered or enhanced in any way, including the modification of facial features.
Glasses are allowed only if the frames do not cover any part of the eyes and there is no flash or light reflected off them; tinted glasses and sunglasses are not allowed. Only headgear habitually worn in accordance with your religious or racial custom is allowed, and it should not be white; the face must remain fully shown.
The Singapore passport photo must meet the authority requirements shown in the table above. For digital upload, use 400 × 514 px.
Plain white or light grey background. No gradients, textures, shadows or objects behind the subject are permitted. The tool removes background shadows automatically, but starting with a flat, evenly lit wall gives the best result.
Yes. Stand in front of a flat, plain wall in good natural light, face the light source and use the rear camera of your phone with a 3-second timer. The tool handles the crop, background normalisation and compliance check against the Singapore biometric standard.
Most passport authorities require the photo to be taken within the last six months. Do not reuse an older portrait even if your appearance has not changed.
Anfas.Pro provides a 14-day full refund if the photo is rejected by the Singapore authority and you supply the official rejection notice. See the refund policy page for the exact process.
Eyes must be fully visible; no tinted lenses or strong reflections. In practice, the biometric scanner at submission points flags even minor lens glare that looks fine to the naked eye. Removing glasses before shooting is the only option that eliminates the risk entirely.
Religious reasons only; must not cover the facial oval. The face must stay fully visible from chin to forehead and on both sides, with no shadow across it.