Hong KongHong Kong Passport Photo Requirements: 40 x 50 mm, Chin to Crown 32–36 mm, Online JPEG Up to 5 MB
Hong Kong passport photos are 40 x 50 mm on plain white, chin to crown 32–36 mm; online uploads are JPEG up to 5 MB, at least 1200 x 1600 px.
Key points
5 points- The Immigration Department asks for a full frontal face with clear features on a plain white background.
- The photograph is 40 mm wide by 50 mm high; chin to crown is 32 mm to 36 mm, with sufficient headroom.
- No head dress, no heavy make-up, and no overly dark or overly light-coloured clothing.
- Rejected if the person is not centred, has a frame across the eyes, hair across eyes or eyebrows, flash reflection, shadow, or the picture is too light or too dark.
- Online and app uploads (passport only): JPEG, 5 MB or below; a scanned photo is 40 x 50 mm at 600 dpi, a digital camera image at least 1200 x 1600 pixels.
The Hong Kong Immigration Department has one of the clearer photo pages in Asia, and it spells out what makes a photograph unusable: the picture is laser-engraved onto the passport data page, so the quality of the photo decides the quality of the engraving. This guide follows the page “Photograph Requirements for Travel Document” (updated 04-08-2026).
The numbers
| Requirement | Hong Kong Immigration Department |
|---|---|
| Size | 40 mm (width) x 50 mm (height) |
| Chin to crown | 32 mm to 36 mm |
| Headroom | Sufficient |
| Background | Plain white |
| View | Full frontal face with clear facial features |
What to avoid when you take the photo
- Do not wear a head dress.
- Avoid heavy make-up and overly dark or overly light-coloured clothing.
The photograph is not accepted if the applicant in it is not centred, is wearing a frame across the eyes, has hair across eyes or eyebrows, is seen with flash reflection on the face or glasses, or if the picture has shadow or is too light or too dark.
Handling the print
Do not fold, staple or write on the back of the photograph, or attach it to the application form by paper clip — otherwise it becomes unsuitable for personalisation of the passport. An application submitted by post or drop-in with a substandard photograph will not be processed and will be returned to the applicant.
Online and app uploads (passport application only)
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Image type | JPEG |
| File size | 5 MB or below |
| Captured by scanner | 600 dpi, photograph size 40 mm x 50 mm |
| Captured by digital camera | Image size at least 1200 px (W) x 1600 px (H) |
The department adds that a successfully uploaded photograph is not yet confirmed as meeting the requirements, and it may ask you to submit another one.
Common mistakes
- A 35 x 45 mm photo from another country’s passport: Hong Kong wants 40 x 50 mm.
- Head too big or too small — outside 32–36 mm from chin to crown.
- Glasses frames across the eyes or flash reflection on the lenses.
- Hair across the eyes or eyebrows.
- An upload below 1200 x 1600 pixels.
Our Hong Kong passport photo tool sets the 40 x 50 mm frame and the 32–36 mm head height and exports a JPEG within the limit.
06Questions
5 answers01What size is a Hong Kong passport photo?
40 mm wide by 50 mm high, with the chin-to-crown height between 32 mm and 36 mm.
02What background colour is required?
Plain white.
03What are the digital file rules for an online application?
JPEG, 5 MB or below; a digital camera image must be at least 1200 x 1600 pixels, a scanned photo 40 x 50 mm at 600 dpi.
04Can I wear glasses?
The photograph is not accepted with a frame across the eyes or with flash reflection on the face or glasses.
05Can I staple or write on the back of the photo?
No. Do not fold, staple or write on the back, or attach it with a paper clip.
07Official sources
- Hong Kong Immigration Department — Photograph Requirements for Travel Document
immd.gov.hk - ICAO — Doc 9303, Machine Readable Travel Documents (the international biometric portrait standard, for comparison)
icao.int
Author: Yevhen Kravchenko. Published . Checked against official sources on .
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Make your photo to the current rules
Pick your document and upload a selfie — we crop it to size, replace the background and check it. Free. The sizes come from the same official sources as the news.