Crop a photo to 35 × 45 mm — South Africa ID card

Exact numbers for this document

How to crop it, in three steps

1. 01

   Upload a photo taken face-on, in even light

2. 02

   The tool finds the face and aligns the frame itself — check that the head lands in 64–76%

3. 03

   Save the 35 × 45 mm result — print it or attach it to the application

What we fix for free, and what AI fixes

Glare on the lenses. Take the glasses off or turn away from the light source and shoot again.

Why these photos get rejected — and how to fix each one

South Africa-specific things to know

• South Africa asks for no photograph at a Smart ID office — it is captured digitally — but for two identical ones for a replacement or a temporary ID, and the missions abroad (which do not handle the Smart ID) ask for two or four.
• The DIRCO specification asks for the photo not more than one month old on a light grey or plain cream-coloured background, and accepts black and white for IDs but not for passports.
• Photographs printed at home and photo-booth photographs are not acceptable (DIRCO; Canberra).

Printing on a single sheet

Where these numbers come from

Source: Department of Home Affairs and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) of South Africa — missions in Copenhagen, Canberra and Berne. Last checked against the official page on 1 Oct 2026.

What the source confirms

• Western Cape Government, «Applying for an identity document»: first-time applicants submit, among other documents, «Two identical, colour ID photographs (Note: Not needed at smartcard offices as ID images are captured digitally however colour photographs are still needed for temporary IDs)»; only offices with a live-capture system can issue smart ID cards — «You'll not need to bring photos as the offices equipped to handle applications for the smart ID card will be able to cater for both processes».
• Same page, the prices: the first-time application for an ID or a Smart ID Card for youths and pensioners over 60 is free and no photos are needed; the Smart ID Card for all other citizens costs R140 and no photos are needed; «The cost for a Replacement of an ID or Smart Card is R140 and two identical ID photos are needed. The cost for a temporary ID is R70 and two identical ID photos are needed.»; the cost of the photographs is not included; for a correction of an error «Two colour ID photographs (Note: Not needed at smartcard offices as ID images are captured digitally)».
• Vuk'uzenzele (South African Government), «The smart ID card is here» (FAQ): «How many photos/pictures am I expected to bring for a Smart ID Card and Passport application? There will be no need for applicants to bring photos. The environment for the Smart ID Card will cater for both application processes.»; the information on the body of the card will be the names, gender, citizen's status, date of birth and ID number; the old green ID document was expected to be phased out over 5 to 7 years from 2013.
• Department of International Relations and Cooperation, «Passport & ID Photograph Specifications» (PDF, the mission in the UK): the photographs must be two identical colour photos for passports and two identical colour (or black and white) photos for IDs, not more than one month old, 35 mm wide and 45 mm high, a close-up of the head and top of the shoulders so that the face takes up 70–80 % of the photograph (the template gives a head of at least 29 mm and no more than 34 mm), in sharp focus with a strong definition between the face and the background, on a light grey or plain cream-coloured background, with uniform lighting and no shadows, flash reflections or red eye, a natural colour, a neutral expression with the mouth closed, the eyes open and clear, both edges of the face shown, facing square to the camera; with glasses no flash reflection, no dark-tinted lenses or heavy frames and the frames not covering the eyes; head coverings only for religious reasons with the face from the chin to the forehead clear; printed professionally on high-quality photo paper — photographs printed at home are not likely to be of an acceptable quality; black and white photographs for IDs must also meet these requirements.
• South African Embassy in Copenhagen, «Application for an identity document» (PDF): identity documents are issued to citizens and permanent residents aged 16 or older; the documents include the form BI-9 / DHA-9, «Two (2) identical passport photographs» that must meet the specifications — «to avoid processing delays, we recommend that applicants use a professional passport photo service» — and «must not be affixed to the application forms», and the form BI-529 / DHA-529; applications are sent monthly to the Department of Home Affairs in Pretoria and may take more than six months.
• South African High Commission in Canberra, «South African ID applications»: «Two (2) certified passport photographs, 35mm x 45mm, in colour showing full facial features of the applicant (head and shoulders). (Photographs taken at photo booths are not acceptable).»; first applications are free of charge; the application is mailed to the High Commission; South African Embassy in Berne, «Re-issue of ID document»: «Please Note: Foreign offices do not facilitate applications for Smart ID Card. If you have been issued with or applied for a Smart ID card, you cannot apply for an ID book at our offices.» and «Four passport-sized colored photographs with clear forehead (no fringe) and clear glasses (without frame).»

South African passport photograph specifications ↗

Questions people ask before cropping

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