head 64–76 %
Free: cropping, background replacement, check
14-day refund if the authority rejects the photo
SourceDepartment of Home Affairs and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) of South Africa — missions in Copenhagen, Canberra and Berne
Verified
Quick answer: The recommended South Africa ID card photo size is 35 × 45 mm. Plain white, light grey, or cream background. Head occupies 64–76% of photo height (29–34 mm chin to crown). Neutral expression, clear lenses only, no glare. Last verified .
Requirements
| Format | 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Head height | 64–76% of photo heightICAO 9303: 70–80% |
| Head height (mm) | 29–34 mm chin to crownICAO 9303: 32–36 mm |
| Background | Plain white, light grey, or cream background. |
| Pose | Full face, head centred, no tilt or rotation. |
| Expression | Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open. |
| Glasses | Ordinary prescription glasses are allowed: untinted lenses, a thin frame that does not cover the eyes, no reflections; sunglasses are prohibited. See full rules → |
| Lighting | Shadows on the face and background not permitted. |
| Head covering | Religious or medical reasons only; must not cover the facial oval. |
| Attire | Clothing must not blend into the background; face and shoulder line must be clearly defined. |
| File format | JPEG · sRGB / 24-bit |
| Millimetres | 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Centimetres | 3.5 × 4.5 cm |
| Inches | 1.38 × 1.77″ |
| Pixels at 300 dpi | 413 × 531 px |
| Pixels at 600 dpi | 827 × 1063 px |
For a South African Smart ID card applied for at a Home Affairs office with the live-capture system the Vuk'uzenzele FAQ says «there will be no need for applicants to bring photos» and the Western Cape Government that «ID images are captured digitally» — the Smart ID costs R140 and «you'll not need to bring photos»; colour photographs are still needed for a temporary ID, and the Western Cape page lists «two identical ID photos» for a replacement (R140) and a temporary ID (R70). For an identity document applied for abroad — the Smart ID is not handled by the missions («foreign offices do not facilitate applications for Smart ID Card») — the Embassy in Copenhagen asks for «two (2) identical passport photographs» that «meet the specifications», advises a professional passport photo service and says they «must not be affixed to the application forms»; the High Commission in Canberra for «two (2) certified passport photographs, 35mm x 45mm, in colour showing full facial features (head and shoulders)» — «photographs taken at photo booths are not acceptable»; the Embassy in Berne for «four passport-sized colored photographs with clear forehead (no fringe) and clear glasses (without frame)». The DIRCO «Passport & ID Photograph Specifications» say: «two identical colour photos for passports», «two identical colour or black and white photos for IDs», «not more than one (1) month old», «35mm in width and 45mm in height», the head and shoulders so that «your face takes up 70 – 80% of the photograph», «a light grey or plain cream-coloured background», uniform lighting without shadows or flash reflections, a neutral expression with the mouth closed, no dark-tinted lenses or heavy frames, no head covering except for religious reasons, and «printed professionally — photographs printed at home are not likely to be of an acceptable quality».
Examples and mistakes
One compliant example next to the six most common rejection causes for South Africa ID card applications. These are the differences that most often determine whether a document photo is accepted.
Typical reasons a photo is rejected under the rules Department of Home Affairs and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) of South Africa — missions in Copenhagen, Canberra and Berne publishes: what is wrong and what to change.
| Reason | Fix |
|---|---|
| A photograph older than one month (DIRCO specification) | A photograph taken within the last month. |
| A photograph printed at home or taken in a photo booth | A professionally printed photograph. |
| A background that is not light grey or plain cream-coloured, with shadows or a busy pattern | A light grey or plain cream-coloured background with uniform lighting. |
| A print that is not 35 × 45 mm or whose face takes up less or more than 70–80 % | A 35 × 45 mm print with the face taking up 70–80 %. |
| Dark-tinted lenses, heavy frames, a fringe over the forehead (Berne) or a hat or cap | A clear forehead and clear glasses without a heavy frame, or none; no hat or cap. |
How to take it
Background: white, light grey or cream
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.
Head: 64–76 % of the photo height (29–34 mm)
Camera at eye level, about a metre away; head and shoulders in the shot. The tool crops it to 35 × 45 mm.
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
| 10 × 15 cm · 4 × 6″ | 8 (4 × 2) |
|---|---|
| A4 · 21 × 29.7 cm | 36 (6 × 6) |
Print at 100% scale, borderless, and turn off fit-to-page so each photo keeps its exact size.
A South African Smart ID card is applied for at a Home Affairs office with the live-capture system, where the image is captured digitally; an identity document abroad is applied for at a South African mission with two or four passport photographs, since the missions do not take the Smart ID.
The nearest Home Affairs office — confirm that it uses the live-capture system
The image is captured digitally; no photographs for a Smart ID.
Authority pagedirco.gov.za — the page of the mission
Two photographs (35 × 45 mm at Canberra, certified; not photo-booth) or four at Berne; the Smart ID is not handled.
Authority pageQuestions
No — at a Home Affairs office with the live-capture system the image is captured digitally and the government FAQ says there is no need to bring photos.
The DIRCO specification gives 35 mm wide and 45 mm high, taken not more than one month ago, on a light grey or plain cream-coloured background, with the face taking up 70–80 %.
Two identical photographs at the Embassy in Copenhagen and two certified 35 × 45 mm photographs at the High Commission in Canberra; four at the Embassy in Berne.
No — the High Commission in Canberra says photographs taken at photo booths are not acceptable, and DIRCO says photographs printed at home are not likely to be acceptable.
The recommended size for the South Africa ID card photo is 35 × 45 mm. The head occupies 64–76% of the photo height. The photo must reflect your current everyday appearance.
Plain white, light grey, or cream background. Identity cards are used frequently in daily life — for banking, age verification and domestic travel — so the photo is scrutinised many times and minor background issues become more visible at print scale.
Yes. Stand against a flat light-coloured wall, face a window for even natural light, and use a phone with a timer. The tool handles the crop, background normalisation and ICAO alignment check automatically.
Identity card photos generally need to reflect your current appearance. Most authorities accept photos taken within the last six months, but significant changes to hair, beard or facial features since the photo was taken may require a new one.
Ordinary prescription glasses are allowed: untinted lenses, a thin frame that does not cover the eyes, no reflections; sunglasses are prohibited. Removing glasses for the shoot is the safest option, especially given the long validity period of most identity cards. Glare that passes today may fail re-verification at a future biometric checkpoint.
Anfas.Pro provides a 14-day full refund if the South Africa authority rejects the photo and you supply the rejection notice.
35 × 45 mm = 3.5 × 4.5 cm = 1.38 × 1.77 inches. At 300 dpi that is 413 × 531 pixels; at 600 dpi, 827 × 1063 pixels.
Religious or medical 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.
Yes. The same 35 × 45 mm format and head size apply to: passport.