Snapassport

Guide

Passport & visa photo requirements

Head size, background, lighting, glasses, and exactly when you can smile — explained clearly and verified against official government sources. Every rule below is the same one Snapassport checks your photo against, free, before you pay.

Expression — when can you smile?

This is the most misunderstood rule. The short version: the US passport is the only common document that lets you smile — and even then only a closed-mouth smile. The US Department of State puts it plainly: “You can smile in your photo. Just make sure your eyes are open and your mouth is closed.”

Many authorities require a neutral expression with the mouth closed, but the exact rule and child exceptions vary by document and issuing mission. We show the source-backed requirement for the document you choose. When unsure, a calm, neutral expression is the safest starting point.

Background

Start with your best shot: stand against a plain, light wall with even lighting. Your Premium Photo can replace the background with the color required by your selected document.

Glasses & head coverings

Glasses: the United States rejects all glasses in passport and visa photos unless you provide a signed medical statement. Most other authorities reject any glasses with glare, tint, or frames that cover the eyes — so it’s safest to take them off.

Head coverings: rules vary by issuing authority. Many allow a daily religious or medical covering when the full face is visible and shadow-free; some do not state an exception. Check the selected document’s sourced guidance.

Requirements by document

The 220 documents Snapassport supports, each mapped to its official size, background, and expression rule. Tap a document for its full, sourced requirements — glasses, head coverings, lighting and red-eye included — or the source to read the authority’s own page.

DocumentSizeGlasses allowed
Andorra Visa35×45 mmYes
Afghanistan Passport40×45 mmYes
Afghanistan Visa35×45 mmYes
Antigua and Barbuda Visa Photo · 35×45 mm35×45 mmYes
Albania Visa Photo — 36×47 mm, MEFA-Compliant36×47 mmNo
Angola Passport30×40 mmYes
Angola Visa30×40 mmYes
Argentina Passport40×40 mmYes
Argentina Visa40×40 mmNo
Austria Passport35×45 mmYes
Australia Visa Photo — 35×45 mm, Home Affairs Compliant35×45 mmYes
Australia Passport35×45 mmYes
Azerbaijan Visa30×40 mmYes
Bosnia and Herzegovina Visa35×45 mmYes
Barbados Visa50×50 mmYes
Bangladesh Passport Photo · 45×55 mm DIP Compliant45×55 mmYes
Bangladesh Visa Photo (35×45 mm) — Perfect Passport35×45 mmYes
Belgium Passport35×45 mmYes
Burkina Faso Visa35×45 mmYes
Bulgaria Visa35×45 mmYes
Bahrain Visa40×60 mmYes
Burundi Visa Photo Requirements & Online Tool51×51 mm2.01×2.01 inYes
Benin Visa35×45 mmYes
Brunei Visa Photo — 35×45 mm, MFA-Ready35×45 mmYes
Bolivia Visa30×30 mmYes
Bhutan Visa Photo (35×45 mm) — DOI Spec35×45 mmYes
Botswana Visa30×40 mmYes
Belarus Passport Photo · 40×50 mm MVD Compliant40×50 mmNo
Belarus Visa Photo — 35×45 mm MFA Spec35×45 mmYes
Belize Visa50.8×50.8 mmNo
Canada Passport50×70 mmYes
Canada Visa (Temporary Resident)35×45 mmYes
DRC Passport35×45 mmYes
DRC Visa50.8×50.8 mmNo
Central African Republic Visa Photo — 35×45 mm, Embassy Spec35×45 mmYes
Republic of the Congo Visa Photo — 2×2 in, Embassy Spec50.8×50.8 mmYes
Switzerland Passport35×45 mmYes
China Passport33×48 mmYes
China Visa (COVA)33×48 mmYes
Chile Visa50×50 mmNo
Cameroon Visa50.8×50.8 mmYes
Colombia Visa Photo — 30×40 mm, Cancillería SITAC Ready30×40 mmNo
Costa Rica Visa50.8×50.8 mmYes
Cuba Visa Photo — 45×45 mm MINREX Spec45×45 mmYes
Cabo Verde Visa Photo Requirements (35×45 mm)35×45 mmYes
Schengen Passport Photo (EU) · 35×45 mm Online Tool35×45 mmNo
Cyprus Visa35×45 mmYes
Germany Visa35×45 mmYes
Djibouti Visa Photo Requirements & Sizes50.8×50.8 mmYes
Denmark Passport35×45 mmYes
Dominica Visa38×45 mmYes
Dominican Republic Passport Photo · 2×2 in DGP Spec50.8×50.8 mmYes
Dominican Republic Visa Photo — MIREX 40×50 mm Spec40×50 mmYes
Algeria Visa35×45 mmYes
Ecuador Visa50×50 mmNo
Estonia Passport Photo Requirements (35×45 mm)35×45 mmYes
Egypt Passport40×60 mmNo
Egypt Visa Photo Requirements & Sizing35×45 mmYes
Eritrea Visa Photo Requirements · 35×45 mm35×45 mmYes
Spain Passport30×40 mmYes
Ethiopia Passport30×40 mmNo
Ethiopia Visa Photo · 35×45 mm, ICS e-Visa Ready35×45 mmYes
EU Passport (ICAO generic)35×45 mmYes
Finland Passport Photo — 36×47 mm, Poliisi Compliant36×47 mmYes
Fiji Visa Photo Requirements — 35×45 mm35×45 mmYes
Micronesia (FSM) Visa Photo Requirements & Print Size30.479999999999997×45.72 mmYes
France Passport35×45 mmYes
Gabon Visa Photo · 35×45 mm DGDI e-Visa Spec35×45 mmYes
Grenada Visa Photo Requirements & Sizing50.8×50.8 mmNo
Georgia Visa Photo · MFA & VFS Spec · Perfect Passport35×45 mmYes
Ghana Visa35×45 mmNo
Gambia Visa Photo Requirements — 2×2 in, GID Spec50.8×50.8 mmNo
Guinea Visa Photo Requirements (35×45 mm)35×45 mmYes
Greece Passport Photo · 40×60 mm, Hellenic Police Spec40×60 mmYes
Guatemala Visa Photo Requirements — 2×2 in, MINEX Spec50.8×50.8 mmNo
Guinea-Bissau Visa Photo Requirements & Sizes35×45 mmYes
Guyana Visa50.8×50.8 mmYes
Hong Kong Passport Photo · 40×50 mm ImmD Compliant40×50 mmYes
Hong Kong Visa40×50 mmYes
Honduras Visa Photo · INM Spec · 2×2 in50.8×50.8 mmNo
Croatia Passport35×45 mmYes
Croatia Visa Photo — 35×45 mm MVEP Spec35×45 mmYes
Haiti Visa Photo Requirements — 2×2 in, Consulate Ready50.8×50.8 mmNo
Indonesia Visa40×60 mmNo
Ireland Passport35×45 mmYes
Ireland Visa Photo · 35×45 mm ISD Spec · Perfect Passport35×45 mmYes
Israel Passport Photo · 5×5 cm PIBA Spec50.8×50.8 mmYes
Israel Visa Photo · 50×50 mm PIBA Spec50×50 mmYes
India OCI Registration51×51 mm2.01×2.01 inYes
India Passport (ICAO)35×45 mmYes
India Visa (e-Visa)51×51 mm2.01×2.01 inYes
Iraq Visa Photo Requirements & Online Maker50.8×50.8 mmYes
Iran Visa30×40 mmYes
Italy Passport Photo (Passaporto) · 35×45 mm Online35×45 mmYes
Italy Visa35×45 mmNo
Japan Passport35×45 mmYes
Jamaica Passport Photo (35×45 mm)35×45 mmYes
Jamaica Visa Photo — 35×45 mm PICA Spec35×45 mmYes
Jordan Visa Photo Requirements (35×45 mm)35×45 mmNo
Japan Visa35×45 mmNo
Kenya Passport55×55 mmYes
Kenya Visa Photo — 55×55 mm eTA & eFNS55×55 mmYes
Kyrgyzstan Visa35×45 mmNo
Kiribati Visa50.8×50.8 mmYes
Comoros Visa35×45 mmYes
Saint Kitts and Nevis Visa Photo · 35×45 mm35×45 mmYes
North Korea Visa Photo Requirements (35×45 mm)35×45 mmNo
South Korea Visa35×45 mmYes
Kuwait Visa50.8×50.8 mmYes
Kazakhstan Visa35×45 mmYes
Laos Visa40×60 mmYes
Lebanon Visa Photo Requirements (35×45 mm)35×45 mmYes
Saint Lucia Visa Photo — 40×50 mm, Spec-Compliant40×50 mmYes
Sri Lanka Visa Photo — 35×45 mm DI&E Spec35×45 mmYes
Liberia Visa Photo Requirements & Online Maker35×45 mmYes
Lesotho Visa Photo Requirements & Sizes50.8×50.8 mmYes
Lithuania Visa35×45 mmYes
Luxembourg Visa35×45 mmYes
Libya Visa Photo Requirements — Size, Rules & Print50.8×50.8 mmYes
Morocco Passport Photo · 35×45 mm DGSN Compliant35×45 mmYes
Morocco Visa35×45 mmNo
Monaco Visa Photo · 35×45 mm France-Visas Spec35×45 mmYes
Moldova Visa Photo (35×45 mm) — MFAEI Compliant35×45 mmNo
Montenegro Visa Photo Requirements (35×45 mm)35×45 mmYes
Madagascar Visa35×45 mmYes
Marshall Islands Visa Photo Requirements (2×2 in)50.8×50.8 mmYes
North Macedonia Visa Photo · 35×45 mm MFA Spec35×45 mmYes
Mali Visa Photo Requirements — 35×45 mm MDC Spec35×45 mmYes
Myanmar Passport Photo · 38×46 mm MOIP Spec35×45 mmYes
Myanmar Visa Photo · 38×46 mm MOIP E-Visa Spec38×46 mmYes
Mongolia Visa Photo — 35×45 mm, Immigration Agency Spec35×45 mmYes
Macao Visa33×48 mmYes
Mauritania Visa Photo — ANRPTS 480×640 px Spec35×45 mmYes
Mauritius Visa35×45 mmYes
Maldives Visa Photo · 35×45 mm IMUGA & Xpat Ready35×45 mmYes
Malawi Visa35×45 mmYes
Mexico Visa31×39 mmNo
Malaysia Passport35×50 mmYes
Malaysia Visa Photo — 35x50 mm, JIM eVisa Ready35×50 mmYes
Mozambique Passport Photo · 35×45 mm SENAMI Compliant35×45 mmNo
Mozambique Visa Photo Requirements — SENAMI & eVisa35×45 mmYes
Namibia Visa35×45 mmNo
Niger Visa50.8×50.8 mmYes
Nigeria Passport Photo (35×45 mm) · NIS Compliant35×45 mmYes
Nigeria Visa Photo Requirements (35×45 mm)35×45 mmYes
Nicaragua Visa Photo — DGME Spec, 2×2 in, White Background50.8×50.8 mmYes
Netherlands Passport Photo · 35×45 mm RvIG Compliant35×45 mmYes
Netherlands Visa35×45 mmYes
Norway Passport35×45 mmYes
Nepal Visa Photo Requirements & Online Maker35×45 mmYes
Nauru Visa Photo Requirements & Print Size35×45 mmYes
New Zealand Passport35×45 mmYes
New Zealand Visa Photo — 35×45 mm INZ Spec35×45 mmYes
Panama Visa Photo — 2×2 in, SNM Compliant50.8×50.8 mmYes
Peru Visa Photo — Consulate Spec, Money-Back Guarantee35×45 mmNo
Papua New Guinea Visa Photo — 35×45 mm ICA Spec35×45 mmYes
Philippines Visa Photo Requirements & Maker35×45 mmYes
Pakistan Passport35×45 mmNo
Pakistan Visa Photo — 35×45 mm for NADRA POVS35×45 mmYes
Poland Passport Photo · 35×45 mm · MSWiA Compliant35×45 mmYes
Poland Visa Photo — 35×45 mm, Polish MFA Compliant35×45 mmYes
Palau Visa50.8×50.8 mmYes
Qatar Visa38×48 mmNo
Serbia Visa35×45 mmYes
Russia Passport Photo (35×45 mm) — MVD Compliant35×45 mmYes
Russia Unified E-Visa35×45 mmYes
Rwanda Visa Photo — DGIE & Irembo Spec50.8×50.8 mmYes
Saudi Arabia Visa Photo — MOFA Compliant in Seconds50.8×50.8 mmYes
Solomon Islands Visa35×45 mmYes
Seychelles Visa35×45 mmYes
Sudan Visa Photo Requirements & Online Maker35×45 mmYes
Sweden Passport35×45 mmYes
Singapore Passport35×45 mmYes
Singapore Visa Photo · 35×45 mm ICA Spec35×45 mmYes
Slovenia Visa35×45 mmNo
Sierra Leone Visa Photo Requirements & Online Tool35×45 mmYes
San Marino Visa Photo · 35×45 mm ICAO · Perfect Passport35×45 mmYes
Senegal Visa35×45 mmYes
Somalia Visa35×45 mmYes
South Korea Passport35×45 mmYes
Suriname Visa35×45 mmYes
South Sudan Visa50.8×50.8 mmYes
São Tomé and Príncipe Visa Photo · 2×2 in, Embassy-Ready50.8×50.8 mmYes
El Salvador Visa50.8×50.8 mmNo
Syria Visa40×40 mmYes
Eswatini Visa Photo Requirements & Sizes50.8×50.8 mmYes
Chad Visa50.8×50.8 mmYes
Togo Visa Photo — Togo Voyage 35×45 mm35×45 mmYes
Thailand Visa40×60 mmYes
Tajikistan Visa35×45 mmYes
Timor-Leste Visa Photo Requirements & Online Maker35×45 mmNo
Turkmenistan Visa Photo — 30×40 mm, MFA Spec50×60 mmYes
Tunisia Visa Photo Requirements (35×45 mm)35×45 mmYes
Tonga Visa Photo Requirements & Print Sizes51×51 mm2.01×2.01 inYes
Turkey Passport50×60 mmYes
Türkiye Visa Photo Requirements · 50×60 mm50×60 mmYes
Trinidad and Tobago Visa Photo — 2×2 in, MNS Compliant51×51 mm2.01×2.01 inYes
Tuvalu Visa Photo — 2×2 in, Immigration Spec50.8×50.8 mmYes
Taiwan Passport35×45 mmYes
Taiwan Visa Photo — 35x45 mm, BOCA Compliant35×45 mmYes
Tanzania Visa Photo — 35×45 mm, eVisa Ready35×45 mmYes
Ukraine Visa35×45 mmYes
United Arab Emirates Visa43×55 mmYes
United Kingdom Passport35×45 mmYes
United Kingdom Visa35×45 mmYes
United States Passport51×51 mm2.01×2.01 inNo
United States Visa (DS-160)51×51 mm2.01×2.01 inNo
Uruguay Visa Photo — MRREE Consular Spec51×51 mm2.01×2.01 inYes
Uzbekistan Visa35×45 mmYes
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Visa Photo (2×2 in)50.8×50.8 mmYes
Venezuela Visa30×40 mmNo
Vietnam Passport40×60 mmNo
Vietnam Visa40×60 mmNo
Vanuatu Visa35×45 mmNo
Samoa Visa35×45 mmYes
Kosovo Visa35×45 mmYes
Yemen Visa40×60 mmNo
South Africa Visa Photo · 35×45 mm DHA Spec35×45 mmYes
Zambia Visa Photo Requirements & Online Maker50.8×50.8 mmYes
Zimbabwe Visa Photo Requirements & Online Tool35×45 mmYes

We validate against all of these. Every uploaded photo is automatically checked against our full validation suite — 33 checks including lighting, red-eye, sharpness, background, and head position.

Rules change. Final acceptance is always determined by the issuing authority — Snapassport validates against the published requirements, it doesn’t adjudicate.

Frequently asked questions

Can you smile in a passport photo?
The US passport explicitly permits a closed-mouth smile. Other authorities often require a neutral, closed-mouth expression, but the exact adult and child rules vary by document and issuing mission. Check the source shown for your selected document.
Can you show teeth in a US passport photo?
No. The US allows a smile, but the mouth must stay closed — visible teeth or an open-mouth grin will be rejected. A relaxed, closed-mouth smile is fine.
Can you wear glasses in a passport photo?
The United States rejects all glasses in passport and visa photos unless you provide a signed medical statement. Most other countries strongly discourage glasses and reject any with glare, tint, or frames that obscure the eyes.
What background colour does a passport photo need?
A plain, light, uniform background with no shadows or patterns. The exact colour varies by document (white, off-white, light grey, or cream). Snapassport standardizes the background to the exact compliant colour for your document automatically.
What size is a passport photo?
It depends on the country. The US uses 2×2 inches (51×51 mm); the UK, Schengen and Australia use 35×45 mm; Canada uses 50×70 mm. The head must also fill a specific fraction of the frame, which matters as much as the overall size.

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