Document photo size by country 2026: complete table with verified dimensions
Document photo size varies by country: Schengen/EU — 35×45 mm, USA — 2×2 inches (51×51 mm), Canada — 50×70 mm, China — 33×48 mm. Face geometry is set by the ICAO Doc 9303 standard, while the printed format is set by national authorities.
Key points
5 points- Schengen/EU, Australia, Japan and the Indian passport (from 1 September 2025) use a single size of 35×45 mm.
- USA — a 2×2 inch square (51×51 mm); India's e-Visa is also a square photo, but defined in pixels (350×350–1000×1000 px), with no fixed size in mm.
- Canada has the largest format — 50×70 mm; face height (chin to crown) is almost everywhere 31–36 mm, while in the USA and for the Indian visa it is 25–35 mm.
- One photo does not fit every country: ICAO Doc 9303 defines the geometry, while the printed size is set by the national authority.
- The United Kingdom, the Indian passport and India's e-Visa accept photos digitally — a printed size is needed less often.
Short answer
There is no single "document photo". The global standard ICAO Doc 9303 defines only the face geometry (frontal angle, neutral expression, the proportion of the head in the frame). The final printed size is set by each country separately — which is why a photo for the USA will not work for the Schengen area.
Table of sizes by country (2026)
| Country / document | Photo size | Face height (chin to crown) | Background |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schengen / EU (visa) | 35×45 mm | 32–36 mm (≈70–80%) | light grey |
| USA (passport) | 2×2 inches (51×51 mm) | 25–35 mm | white / off-white |
| United Kingdom (passport) | 45×35 mm | 29–34 mm | plain light (light grey/cream) |
| India — passport | 35×45 mm | face 80–85% of frame | white |
| India — e-Visa | square (equal sides) | 25–35 mm | white / light |
| China (visa) | 33×48 mm | 28–33 mm | white |
| Canada (passport) | 50×70 mm | 31–36 mm | white |
| UAE — passport | 40×60 mm | — | white |
| UAE — Emirates ID | 35×45 mm | — | white |
| Australia (passport) | 35×45 mm | 32–36 mm | plain light |
| Japan (passport) | 35×45 mm | 32–36 mm | white / light |
Why the sizes differ
ICAO standardised the biometrics of the face so that recognition systems work the same way in every country. But the physical print format developed historically:
- The EU uses 35×45 mm, and this is exactly what matches the ICAO standard.
- The USA and Canada introduced their formats before international coordination — which is why they still use 51×51 mm and 50×70 mm.
- From 1 September 2025 India switched to the ICAO format of 35×45 mm for passports, but the e-Visa remained square (equal sides, defined in pixels).
Digital requirements (where you apply online)
- United Kingdom: at least 600×750 px, JPEG, file 50 KB – 10 MB.
- India, passport: 630×810 px, JPEG up to 250 KB, face 80–85% of the frame.
- China: 354×472 px, JPEG 40–120 KB.
- India, e-Visa: 350×350 – 1000×1000 px, JPEG 10 KB – 1 MB (e-Visa portal).
- Emirates ID: file up to 240 KB.
The main rule
Always prepare your photo for the specific country and document. Get the right size, face height, background and file weight from the start — this is the most common reason for rejections at VFS counters and during online uploads.
05Questions
4 answers01Will a US photo (51×51 mm) work for a Schengen visa?
No. Schengen requires a 35×45 mm rectangle with a face height of 32–36 mm, while the USA requires a 51×51 mm square. The formats are incompatible, and the photo will have to be redone for the country you need.
02What is the size of the Indian passport photo in 2026?
From 1 September 2025 the Indian passport uses the ICAO format of 35×45 mm (digital upload 630×810 px, JPEG up to 250 KB), not the old square. For the e-Visa, however, a square photo defined in pixels is still required (350×350–1000×1000 px).
03Why do the USA and Canada have non-standard sizes?
These countries introduced their own print formats (51×51 mm and 50×70 mm) before ICAO standardised face biometrics. The face geometry nonetheless complies with international rules.
04Is the face height the same in all countries?
Almost. Most countries require 31–36 mm from chin to crown. The exception is the USA and the Indian visa, where the range is 25–35 mm.
06Official sources
- U.S. Department of State — Passport Photos
travel.state.gov - GOV.UK — Photos for passports
gov.uk - Canada.ca — Passport photo requirements
canada.ca - Australian Passport Office — Passport photos
passports.gov.au - Indian Visa Online — Photo instructions (e-Visa)
indianvisaonline.gov.in - Passport Seva (India MEA) — Apply for passport
passportindia.gov.in - China Online Visa Application (COVA) — National Immigration Administration
cova.mfa.gov.cn - ICAO Doc 9303 — Machine Readable Travel Documents
icao.int
Author: Yevhen Kravchenko. Published . Checked against official sources on .
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