Guides · 170 pages
Document photo guides
Requirements for 67 countries, rejection causes, sizes and step-by-step how-tos — 170 pages. Every figure is checked against an official source.
PopularWhy photos get rejected Photos with glasses 
Schengen visa guide Passport photo size by country Passport photo at home
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3 sections01Country requirements
9 articlesCountry-by-country visa photo guides with the photo specification and the application route.
Schengen visa photo (all 27 countries)Pillar guide covering all 27 Schengen states with the shared 35 × 45 mm biometric photo standard.27 countries
US visa photo (8 categories)DS-160 photo upload for B1/B2, F-1, H-1B, K-1, spouse, J-1, L-1 and EB-5 categories.8 categories
UK visa photo (6 categories)UKVI 45 × 35 mm photo for Standard Visitor, Skilled Worker, Student, Spouse, Ancestry, Youth Mobility.6 categories
Canada visa photo (6 categories)IRCC photo of at least 35 × 45 mm for TRV, Study, Work, Express Entry, Family Sponsorship and Super Visa.6 categories
Australia visa photo (6 categories)Home Affairs 35 × 45 mm photo for Visitor 600, Student 500, TSS 482, Skilled 189/190, WHV, Partner.6 categories
New Zealand visa and NZeTA photo guideImmigration NZ rules + one standard for visa and NZeTA
02Photo rules
12 articlesCross-country aggregator guides covering one photo rule (background, expression, glasses, hair) across all major visa-issuing countries.
Background colour rulesPlain white, light grey or off-white — which countries require which shade.
Expression rules: smile, mouth, eyesWhy nearly every modern route requires a neutral expression, mouth closed.
Can I wear glasses?Which countries allow glasses, what is "glasses glare", and how to retake.
Religious head coveringsHow hijab, kippah, turban and similar coverings are handled across major countries.
Beard and facial hairWhether beards and moustaches are accepted across passport and visa routes.
Hair: hairstyle, fringe, colourLong hair, dyed hair, fringes and bald applicants across major routes.
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Dress code and clothingWhy uniforms are banned and white tops are risky against white backgrounds.
Makeup, piercings, jewelleryHow much makeup is acceptable and what counts as "natural look".
Child photo rulesHow adult rules are relaxed for children aged 1–6.
Baby and infant photosSleeping infants, no-parent rule, white-sheet method for 0–12 months.
Photo validity: how recent?The six-month rule explained, plus country-by-country recency requirements.
Digital upload vs printed photoWhich consulates require printed photos and which are fully digital.
03Sizes and formats
18 articlesHigh-volume comparison tables across many countries.
Passport photo size by countrySide-by-side table comparing passport photo dimensions across every verified country.
Visa photo size by countryVisa photo dimensions worldwide.
Passport photo pixelsPixel dimensions and conversion formulas
Passport photo DPI300 vs 600 DPI explained
Passport photo file sizeKB limits and safe compression
Passport photo: JPEG or PNG?Image formats and upload compatibility
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Passport photo aspect ratioSquare and portrait formats
Passport photo resolutionPixels, sharpness and print quality
2x2 photo sizePixels, inches, centimetres and crop rules
35x45 photo sizePixels, ratio and head framing
Passport photo paperType, size and print quality
Passport photo matte or glossyWhich paper finish is accepted
How many passport photos do I need?Copies for passports, visas and renewals
Passport photo examplesAccepted versus rejected patterns
Contact lenses in passport photosClear and coloured lens guidance
Can I reuse an old passport photo?Recency, likeness and application rules
USCIS photo requirementsGreen Card, EAD and N-400 overview
IRCC digital photo requirementsPR, study and work applications
Common formats — at one scaleby official rules
35 × 45 mmSchengen, UK
51 × 51 mmUSA
35 × 35 mmIndia
33 × 48 mmChina
What to do
3 sections04If your photo was rejected
33 articlesCountry-specific rejection guides with the top causes and how to fix each.
Why was my photo rejected? (general)The most common rejection reasons across countries.32 countries
Schengen visa rejectionTop seven Schengen rejection causes and fixes.
US passport rejectionState Department rejection causes including DS-11 portal errors.
US visa (DS-160) rejectionDS-160 portal errors and how to fix each.
UK passport rejectionHMPO rejects roughly 1 in 5 photos — the top causes.
Germany passport rejectionBundesdruckerei Passbildschablone template and strict smile detection.
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Canada visa rejectionIRCC rejection causes, plus the size trap: the visa needs at least 35 × 45 mm, not the 50 × 70 mm passport format.
Australia visa rejectionHome Affairs rejection causes and 900 × 1200 pixel minimum.
China visa rejectionNIA rejection causes and how to fix each.
India passport rejectionPSK rejection causes and 35 × 35 mm white background rule.
Mexico passport rejectionSRE size, recency and background checks
Brazil passport rejectionWhy most adults never submit their own photo, and the rules for the cases that do need one.
Japan passport rejectionExact 32-36 mm head-height range and glasses glare.
Turkey passport rejectionThe unusual 50 × 60 mm size, no fixed head-height ratio, and sunglasses.
South Korea passport rejectionThe pure-white background rule and hair over the eyebrows.
UAE visa rejectionNo single official print size, plus the ban on hats and sunglasses.
Saudi Arabia visa rejectionThe exact 200 x 200 px digital-only eVisa spec, checked before payment.
Vietnam passport rejectionThe 2 x 2 inch, 3-photo embassy rule — easy to confuse with the Vietnamese visa size.
Philippines passport rejectionWhy the DFA captures most photos on-site, and the rules for the cases that still need a printed one.
Indonesia visa rejectionThe 50-60% head-height rule and the mix-up with the red-background passport photo.
Ireland passport rejectionA 35 × 45mm-38 × 50mm size range instead of one fixed size, and an outright ban on scanned photos.
Malaysia passport rejectionImmigration usually captures the photo live at the counter — the larger 35 × 50mm size only matters for the cases that still need one.
Singapore passport rejectionICA rules require a photo no older than 3 months, an 8 MB upload cap, and a matte print finish.
Nigeria passport rejectionNIS captures most photos live on-site — a supplied photo still matters for the guarantor form and a few other routes.
South Africa passport rejectionDHA's own leaflet and overseas missions ask for different background colours, plus an unusually strict 1-month recency rule.
Pakistan visa rejectionNADRA's 350 KB upload cap, and an outright ban on glasses rather than just glare.
Green Card Lottery (DV) rejectionState Dept auto-scan and a 240 KB JPEG cap — a separate system from the USCIS biometrics change.
US Green Card rejectionUSCIS biometrics capture and supplied-photo checks
US EAD rejectionI-765 biometrics and supplied-photo checks
US naturalization rejectionN-400 and N-600 biometrics photo checks
India Aadhaar rejectionUIDAI captures the photo live at enrolment — no print or upload needed for the standard route.
India PAN card rejectionPhoto size, background and signature placement
India OCI card rejectionA light-coloured background is required, not white, plus a 51 x 51 mm square and 200 KB cap.
05How-to guides
20 articlesTask-specific step-by-step guides for taking, printing and resizing photos yourself.
How to crop a passport photoHead size, eye position and margins
Passport photo upload errorsTechnical errors and practical fixes
Passport photo 4x6 templatePrint layout without changing photo size
Can a passport photo be a selfie?Phone setup, distance and distortion
Passport photo shadowsFace and background lighting fixes
Blurry passport photoCauses and safe fixes
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US online passport renewal photoDigital requirements and upload checks
DS-160 photo requirementsSize, upload and common mistakes
DS-160 photo upload errorFile and portal troubleshooting
DV lottery photo upload errorSize, JPEG and duplicate-photo checks
UK digital passport photo codeHow codes work in online applications
How to take a document photo at homeLighting, distance, background, pose — eight practical steps.
Passport photo with iPhoneCamera settings, lighting and export tips for the iPhone rear camera.
Passport photo with AndroidHow to disable Samsung / Xiaomi / Oppo beauty mode.
How to print at homePaper choice, printer settings, sizing templates for home-printed photos.
How to resize a photoConvert any photo to the exact passport size — mm, pixels and DPI explained.
How to remove backgroundReplace background with plain white or light grey without edge artefacts.
Passport renewal photoHow it differs from a first application
Newborn passport photo at homeStep-by-step for infants
Source photo requirementsWhat the selfie you upload needs for a good result
06Choose and estimate
13 articlesHelp choosing between similar visa types, application routes and providers.
Which US visa do I need?Decision tree by purpose of travel — ESTA, B1/B2, F-1, H-1B, K-1, etc.
Which Schengen country to apply through?The 90/180 rule and how consulates decide.
ESTA vs B1/B2 visaCost, eligibility, processing time — which one to apply for.
Schengen vs UK visaDifferences, costs and what to know if you need both.
Single vs multiple-entry SchengenSame fee, different validity — when to request which.
UK passport vs UK visa photoSame rules or different?
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CVS passport photosAvailability, copies and digital files
Walgreens passport photosPrints, digital copies and store checks
USPS passport photosLocations, price and copies
UPS Store passport photosService, copies and digital options
Where to take a passport photoPharmacies, post offices, supermarkets, photo studios, online and DIY.
How much does a passport photo cost?Walgreens, CVS, Boots, post office, online tools — comparison.
How long does a passport photo take?Time per option from same-day pharmacy to DIY at home.
Glossary12 terms
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