Crop a photo to 35 × 45 mm — South Africa passport
Upload a photo — the frame is already set for a South Africa passport. Ready to print or upload.
Document
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Want studio precision?AI correction fixes the light, shadows, clothing and pose — to the document's rules.€5.99
01Requirements
Exact numbers for this document
| Parameter | What it must be |
|---|---|
| Print size | 35 × 45 mm |
| Pixels at 300 dpi | 413 × 531 px |
| Pixels at 600 dpi | 827 × 1063 px |
| Aspect ratio | 7:9 |
| Head, share of height | 64–76% of photo height |
| Head, chin to crown | 29–34 mm chin to crown |
| Background | Plain white, light grey, or cream background. #ffffff |
| Glasses | Ordinary prescription glasses are allowed: untinted lenses, a thin frame that does not cover the eyes, no reflections; sunglasses are prohibited. |
| Head covering | Religious or medical reasons only; must not cover the facial oval. |
What these millimetres work out to
- In a 35 × 45 mm frame a head band of 64–76% is 29–34 mm from the chin to the crown.
- Of the 45 mm of height that leaves 11–16 mm for the gap above the crown and the space below the chin together.
- At 300 dpi that is a head 343–402 pixels tall — below 343 px the file is too small to print, however good the crop is.
Format35 × 45 mm
Head64–76 %
02Three steps
How to crop it, in three steps
- 01
Upload a photo taken face-on, in even light
- 02
The tool finds the face and aligns the frame itself — check that the head lands in 64–76%
- 03
Save the 35 × 45 mm result — print it or attach it to the application
03What we fix
What we fix for free, and what AI fixes
Fixed for free
- Background. Replaced with the one this document asks for: plain white, light grey, or cream background.
- Head tilt. Straightened if the head leans slightly to one side.
- Frame. Exactly 35 × 45 mm, by the document’s rules.
- A light shadow on one side of the face. Gently brightened.
- File and print sheet. A file to the document’s rules and a 10 × 15 or A4 sheet to print.
What can't be fixed for free, AI correction fixes
- Hard shadows and uneven light on the face.
- A smile, raised brows or a half-open mouth. Cropping keeps the face it was given.
- Too few pixels. If the original is smaller than 413 × 531 px, enlarging it only blurs the face.
- Clothing and pose. Shoulders out of frame, body turned away from the camera.
Glare on the lenses. Take the glasses off or turn away from the light source and shoot again.
04Rejections
Why these photos get rejected — and how to fix each one
ReasonFix
A photo older than one month, or one printed at home→Take a new photo and have it printed on high-quality photo paper.
A background that is not light grey or plain cream (white at Ottawa), or one with shadows→Use the background your mission lists, plain and evenly lit.
A face outside 70–80 % of the photograph, or a photo not 35 × 45 mm→Print 35 × 45 mm with the head 29–34 mm and the face filling 70–80 %.
Dark-tinted lenses, heavy frames over the eyes, flash reflections, hair across the eyes→Take the glasses off or use light frames and clear lenses without reflections.
An open mouth, a grin, a frown, raised eyebrows, a hat, or another person in the picture→Neutral expression, mouth closed, head uncovered, alone in the picture.
05Good to know
South Africa-specific things to know
- The mission decides the background and the number: light grey or plain cream and two photos (DHA poster, UK) against white and four photos (Ottawa). Do not print white if your list says grey or cream.
- The age limit is one month — shorter than most passport lists — and photographs printed at home are warned against; the print must be on high-quality photo paper.
- The head is 29–34 mm on the 45 mm template, which fits the 70–80 % face rule written on the same poster.
06Printing
Printing on a single sheet
4 × 2 frames fit on one 10×15 cm sheet — 8 copies from a single print.
Print at 100% scale, borderless, and turn off fit-to-page so each photo keeps its exact size.
10 × 15 cm · 4 × 6″Photos: 8 (4 × 2)
A4 · 21 × 29.7 cmPhotos: 36 (6 × 6)
07Source
Where these numbers come from
Source: South African Department of Home Affairs (DHA) and the South African missions (High Commissions in the UK and Canada). Last checked against the official page on 1 Oct 2026.
What the source confirms
- DHA poster (copy of the High Commission in the UK), photograph specifications: the photographs must be two identical colour photos for passports (two identical colour or black-and-white photos for IDs), not more than one (1) month old, 35 mm in width and 45 mm in height, a close-up of your head and top of your shoulders so that your face takes up 70–80 % of the photograph, of high quality with no ink marks or creases and not damaged, printed on high-quality photo paper; the template shows the head at least 29 mm and no more than 34 mm.
- Same poster, style and lighting: natural colour; eyes open and clearly visible with no hair across the face; facing square onto the camera, not looking over one shoulder or tilted; both edges of the face shown clearly; a light grey or plain cream-coloured background; uniform lighting with no shadows or flash reflections on the face and no red eye; alone in the picture (no chair backs, toys or other people); appropriate brightness and contrast; a neutral expression with the mouth closed — no obvious grinning, frowning or raised eyebrows; photographs printed at home are not likely to be of an acceptable quality.
- Same poster, glasses and head coverings: if you wear glasses the photograph must show your eyes clearly with no flash reflection off the lenses, no dark-tinted lenses or heavy frames, and the frames must not cover any part of the eyes; head coverings are not permitted except for religious reasons, and then the facial features from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead and both edges of the face must be clearly shown.
- South African High Commission in Ottawa, regular passport: «Four identical colour photos for passports; be taken with a WHITE background; 35mm in width and 45mm in height, also called immigration size in Canada; a close-up of your head and top of your shoulders so that your face takes up 70 – 80% of the photograph»; the application also asks for a certified copy of the current passport bio data page and a money order for the fee.
08Questions
Questions people ask before cropping
What size must a passport photo be in South Africa?
35 × 45 mm. 64–76% of photo height.
How many pixels is 35 × 45 mm when printed?
413 × 531 px (300 dpi) · 827 × 1063 px (600 dpi).
How much of the frame should the head take?
64–76% of photo height. 29–34 mm chin to crown.
What background does this document need?
Plain white, light grey, or cream background.
What can’t be fixed here for free?
Hard shadows and uneven light on the face. A smile, raised brows or a half-open mouth. Cropping keeps the face it was given. Clothing and pose. Shoulders out of frame, body turned away from the camera. AI fixes this from the same photo — you see the result before paying.
How many photos fit on one 10×15 cm sheet?
4 × 2 frames fit on one 10×15 cm sheet — 8 copies from a single print.