How to crop a passport photo for head size and eye position
A compliant crop must satisfy the canvas ratio, head-height range, eye-line band and centring rule together. Matching only the outside dimensions is not enough.
Quick answer
Leave space around the head in the source photo
Use a loose original that includes the full hair and shoulders. Set the document aspect ratio, centre the face, then scale until crown-to-chin height and eye position both fit the authority range.
Reference table
| Check | Measure | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Head height | Anatomical crown to chin | Measuring only visible hair |
| Eye line | Eye centre relative to canvas height | Fixing head size but ignoring eyes |
| Top margin | Canvas edge to full hair | Cutting tall or loose hair |
| Centring | Face centre relative to canvas | Centring shoulders instead of face |
Hair and anatomical crown are different landmarks
Official head-height measurements normally use the anatomical top of the skull to the chin, but the finished photo must still preserve the visible hair. A crop can meet the numeric head band and still fail because hair touches the top edge.
Why a selfie is difficult to crop
A close front-camera selfie often leaves no space around the head and introduces wide-angle distortion. Cropping cannot restore missing shoulders, ears or hair, so use a rear-camera photo taken from farther away.
Do not use one universal crop for every country
Square US photos, 35 x 45 mm European photos and high-head digital formats place the face differently. Reuse the source portrait, but solve a fresh crop for each selected document.
Frequently asked questions
Can the hair touch the top of a passport photo?
It is safer to keep all visible hair inside the frame with a small margin. The exact allowance varies by authority.
Should shoulders be centred in a passport photo?
The face and head are the primary centring reference. Natural shoulder asymmetry should not pull the face away from the centre.
Can I crop the same photo for several documents?
Yes when the original is loose and sharp enough, but each document needs its own aspect ratio, head-height and eye-line solve.
Why is my head too large after cropping?
The source may be too tight, or the crop was scaled to fill the canvas without checking the document head-height range.
Official sources
Related knowledge
Apply this requirement to your photo
Use the matching browser tool, then verify the finished file against the selected country and document.