Passport photo size by country
passport photo dimensions are not standardised globally. 55 countries in this table use 13 different size formats — from the compact 33 × 48 mm Chinese standard to the larger 2 × 2 inch (51 × 51 mm) US format.
Quick answer
Most common sizes: 35 × 45 mm, 2 × 2 inches, 35 × 35 mm
35 × 45 mm is used across the Schengen Area, the UK and most former British Commonwealth countries. 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm) is the US standard, also used by some Caribbean and Latin American states. 35 × 35 mm is the Indian standard. China uses 33 × 48 mm. Last reviewed .
Why passport photo sizes differ by country
Most countries fall into one of three groups: the 35 × 45 mm European/Commonwealth standard, the 2 × 2 inch (51 × 51 mm) US standard, and the 35 × 35 mm Indian standard. Each grew from a different administrative tradition rather than a single global rule. ICAO 9303 — the standard used inside the chip in modern biometric passports — does not mandate a printed photo size at all; the size is set by each issuing authority.
The size affects three things: how the photo is printed and trimmed, how it fits into the application form template, and how the digital file is scanned at biometric capture. A photo that prints at the wrong size is rejected at the appointment even if the head proportions and background are perfect. Always print to the exact size of the target country before submission.
Passport photo size by country — full table
Click any country to see the full specification, source link and shooting guide.
| Country | Size | Background | Head height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afrique du Sud | 35 × 45 mm | Fond blanc, gris clair ou crème uni. | 64–76% |
| Allemagne | 35 × 45 mm | Fond clair uni. | 71–80% |
| Argentine | 40 × 40 mm | Fond blanc uni. | — |
| Arménie | 35 × 45 mm | Si la source officielle ne publie pas de règle distincte concernant le fond, utilisez un fond clair uni, sans textures, ombres ni objets parasites. | — |
| Australie | 35 × 45 mm | Fond blanc ou clair uniforme. | 71–80% |
| Autriche | 35 × 45 mm | Fond uni sans ombres conformément aux Passbildkriterien officiels autrichiens. | 71–80% |
| Azerbaïdjan | 35 × 45 mm | Si la source officielle ne publie pas de règle distincte concernant le fond, utilisez un fond clair uni, sans textures, ombres ni objets parasites. | — |
| Belgique | 35 × 45 mm | Fond blanc ou très clair uni, sans ombres ni dégradés. | 56–78% |
| Brésil | 50 × 70 mm | Fond strictement blanc. | 70–80% |
| Bulgarie | 35 × 45 mm | Fond clair uni, sans ombres ni objets parasites. | 70–80% |
| Canada | 50 × 70 mm | Fond blanc ou clair uniforme. | 44–51% |
| Chine | 33 × 48 mm | Fond blanc uni. | 50–66% |
| Corée du Sud | 35 × 45 mm | Fond strictement blanc. | 71–80% |
| Croatie | 35 × 45 mm | Fond blanc uni. | 75–80% |
| Danemark | 35 × 45 mm | Fond clair uni, par exemple bleu clair ou gris clair. | 67–80% |
| Égypte | 51 × 51 mm | Fond blanc uni. | — |
| Émirats arabes unis | 35 × 45 mm | Fond strictement blanc. | 70–80% |
| Espagne | 26 × 32 mm | Fond blanc uniforme. | 60–75% |
| États-Unis | 51 × 51 mm | Fond blanc ou blanc cassé. | 49–69% |
| Europe Schengen | 35 × 45 mm | Fond clair uni. | 70–80% |
| Finlande | 36 × 47 mm | Fond clair neutre uni, sans ombres. | 68–77% |
| France | 35 × 45 mm | Fond clair uni. | 71–80% |
| Géorgie | 35 × 45 mm | Fond clair uni, sans ombres ni objets parasites. | 70–80% |
| Grèce | 40 × 60 mm | Fond gris clair uni, sans ombres ni motifs. | 70–80% |
| Hongrie | 35 × 45 mm | Fond blanc uni pour les cas où une photo de passeport distincte est requise. | 70–80% |
| Inde | 35 × 45 mm | Fond strictement blanc. | 80–85% |
| Irlande | 35 × 45 mm | Fond blanc, gris clair ou crème uni. | 70–80% |
| Israël | 50 × 50 mm | Fond blanc uni. | — |
| Japon | 35 × 45 mm | Fond blanc ou clair uniforme. | 71–80% |
| Kazakhstan | 35 × 45 mm | Fond blanc ou gris clair uni. | 71–80% |
| Kirghizistan | 35 × 45 mm | Si la source officielle ne publie pas de règle distincte concernant le fond, utilisez un fond clair uni, sans textures, ombres ni objets parasites. | 70–80% |
| Lettonie | 35 × 45 mm | Fond uni sans objets parasites ; visage centré. | 70–80% |
| Lituanie | 35 × 45 mm | Fond clair uni, sans ombres ni objets parasites. | 70–80% |
| Luxembourg | 35 × 45 mm | Si la source officielle ne publie pas de règle distincte concernant le fond, utilisez un fond clair uni, sans textures, ombres ni objets parasites. | 70–80% |
| Malaisie | 35 × 50 mm | Fond strictement blanc. | 50–60% |
| Malte | 30 × 40 mm | Fond blanc uni. | 70–80% |
| Moldavie | 35 × 45 mm | Si la source officielle ne publie pas de règle distincte concernant le fond, utilisez un fond clair uni, sans textures, ombres ni objets parasites. | 70–80% |
| Nigeria | 35 × 45 mm | Fond blanc uni. | — |
| Norvège | 35 × 45 mm | Fond éclairé de manière uniforme. | 70–80% |
| Nouvelle-Zélande | — | Fond clair uni, sans ombres ni objets parasites. | — |
| Ouzbékistan | 35 × 45 mm | Si la source officielle ne publie pas de règle distincte concernant le fond, utilisez un fond clair uni, sans textures, ombres ni objets parasites. | — |
| Pays-Bas | 35 × 45 mm | Fond clair homogène, sans motifs. | 58–67% |
| Philippines | — | La photo est généralement prise sur place par l’autorité ; si un fichier préparatoire est nécessaire, utilisez un fond clair neutre uni, sans ombres. | — |
| Pologne | 35 × 45 mm | Fond clair uniforme avec un éclairage homogène. | 70–80% |
| Royaume-Uni | 35 × 45 mm | Fond clair uni de tonalité crème ou grise, sans motifs. | 64–76% |
| Russie | 35 × 45 mm | Fond blanc homogène, sans rayures, taches, objets parasites ni ombres. | — |
| Serbie | 50 × 50 mm | Fond gris uni. | 70–80% |
| Singapour | — | Fond blanc ou gris clair uni. | — |
| Slovénie | 35 × 45 mm | Fond uni approprié, éclairage correct et qualité biométrique. | 70–70% |
| Suède | 35 × 45 mm | La photo est généralement prise sur place par l’autorité ; si un fichier préparatoire est nécessaire, utilisez un fond clair neutre uni, sans ombres. | 70–80% |
| Suisse | 35 × 45 mm | Fond neutre uniforme, sans ombres ni objets parasites. | 64–76% |
| Tadjikistan | 35 × 45 mm | Fond clair uni, sans textures ni dégradés visibles. | 70–80% |
| Thaïlande | 40 × 60 mm | Si la source officielle ne publie pas de règle distincte concernant le fond, utilisez un fond clair uni, sans textures, ombres ni objets parasites. | — |
| Turquie | 50 × 60 mm | Fond blanc uni. | — |
| Viêt Nam | 51 × 51 mm | Si la source officielle ne publie pas de règle distincte concernant le fond, utilisez un fond clair uni, sans textures, ombres ni objets parasites. | — |
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common passport photo size in the world?
35 × 45 mm is used by 27 Schengen states, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and most former British Commonwealth countries. The runner-up is 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm), used by the United States, Canada (50 × 70 mm differs) and several Caribbean and Latin American countries.
Is the passport photo size the same as a visa photo size?
Usually but not always. The Schengen visa uses the same 35 × 45 mm as Schengen national passports. The US uses the same 2 × 2 inch format for both DS-160 visa and passport. But Indian visas often use 50 × 50 mm even though the Indian passport is 35 × 35 mm. Always check the visa application route, not the passport rule.
Why does the US use inches instead of millimetres?
Historical reason. The US Department of State adopted the 2 × 2 inch (51 × 51 mm) format in the 1980s before ICAO published its modern biometric guidance. The US has kept the imperial format for paper-form compatibility even though the digital DS-160 process uses pixel dimensions.
Can I print one passport photo and use it in multiple countries?
Only if the target countries use the same size. A 35 × 45 mm photo works across all 27 Schengen states, the UK, Australia and most Commonwealth nations. It will not work for the US (2 × 2 inches) or India (35 × 35 mm) — those need a different print.
My country is not in the table — what now?
Send us the country and document type at hello@anfas.pro. Our editorial team adds new country profiles in priority order based on real demand. The country is added with a verified source link, not just a copied number.
Related guides
Generate the right size automatically
Pick the country and document — Anfas.Pro applies the exact dimensions, head ratio and background colour for you.