Passport Photo

What Are the Requirements for a Passport Photo?

To successfully take a passport photo, you must meet certain requirements. The passport photo must be taken within the last six months and must meet requirements in regard to:

Size
Quality
Pose
Facial expression
Clothing

Size

The size of a passport photo differs depending on your home country and the country you are applying for. However, some of the most common passport sizes are:

5×5 cm
5 × 3.5 cm
36 × 45 mm
51 × 51 mm, etc.

The distance between the bottom of the chin and the crown of the head must be between 29 and 34 millimeters. The head should take about 70% of the photo.

Quality

The passport photo must be clear and in color.
The background must be white and plain.
You should face the camera directly.
The face must be clearly and fully visible.
Light reflection is not allowed on the image.
Shadows are not allowed on the image.
Red eyes are not allowed in the image.

Pose

Your head and posture must be straight.
Tilted head and slouching are not allowed.

Facial Expression

The face must not be covered by your hair, a headcover, or glasses.
You must keep a neutral facial expression.
Your eyes must be open.
Colored lenses are not allowed.

Clothing

Uniforms are not allowed.
Hats are not allowed except for religious ones.
The shoulders and chest should not be exposed.

Passport Photo Requirements for Children

Toddlers and babies may be difficult to photograph as they move. However, you must meet certain requirements even for passport photos of children:

They must be alone in the photo.
The background must be white.
Their face must be clear.
Their head must be straight and not tilted.
They must be looking at the camera directly.
They must have their eyes open.
They must have their mouth closed.
They must not have a pacifier in their mouth.

If you want to take your child’s photograph at home, you must make sure that you meet the passport photo requirements, so the application does not get rejected. To photograph your toddler or baby at home:

You can put the baby on a white sheet and take the photo from above.
You can sit the toddler on a chair and put a white sheet behind it as a white background.
You must take the photo with a device of high quality.
You should use the right lighting; shadows and reflections are not allowed.
The toddler/baby must not be crying or laughing.
The toddler/baby must be alone in the photo.

Where Can I Take a Passport Photo?

You can take a passport photo at home or via a professional photo service. Someone can take the photo as well, or you can use apps that are for taking passport photos, but it is better to take it with a professional to minimize the chances of the application getting rejected.

Can I Wear Makeup for My Passport Photo?

You can wear make-up for your passport photo. However, make sure that you don’t overdo it so that it changes your appearance drastically. If you wear foundation, you have to match it to your natural skin color. You can either go without make-up or with a very light one for taking the passport photo.

Can I Wear My Glasses for My Passport Photo?

Usually, you cannot wear glasses when taking a passport photo. If you must keep the glasses for medical reasons, you must prove it by providing a doctor’s statement when applying for your passport photo.

Can I Wear Religious Attire for a Passport Photo?

You are allowed to wear religious attire such as a hijab, a kippah, or a turban when you take the passport photo. When you apply for the passport, you must submit a signed statement that the covering is a religious attire that is required to be worn all the time. You have to properly adjust the head cover so that it does not cover your face.

Should I Re-Take My Passport Photo If My Appearance Has Changed?

If you have changed profoundly, you should retake your passport photo. You don’t have to retake your photo if you have grown your beard, dyed your hair, changed your hairstyle, or gotten one piercing because you can still be recognized from your current passport photo.

You have to retake your passport if you:

Have gained or lost a great amount of weight that has changed your appearance.
Have undergone a major facial surgery
Have started to wear religious attire.
Have changed your gender.
Have gotten a tattoo or many piercings.

Should I Re-Take My Passport Photo If I Started Wearing Religious Headwear (Hijab)?

If you have started wearing religious headwear like a hijab, you must re-take your passport photo. Such a change in your appearance requires a new passport photo.

Can I Wear Accessories for My Passport Photo?

You can wear accessories as long as they do not cover your face. You can wear earrings or any other jewelry, like piercings, if they don’t hide your face. However, you cannot wear headphones when taking a passport photo.

Can I Wear a Hat for My Passport Photo?

You cannot wear a hat or any headcover in your passport photo unless you must wear it for medical reasons or religious ones. You must submit a document that confirms that you have to wear the headcover for medical purposes.

Can I Take My Own Passport Photo?

You can take your own passport photo via phone. You can use different apps to take the photo or you can take it with your phone camera if it is of high quality. However, make sure you follow all the guidelines for a passport photo so that your application does not get rejected.

Why Do Passport Photos Get Rejected?

Many passport photos get rejected because of different reasons. The most common reasons why a passport gets rejected are listed below:

Wrong photo dimensions
Colored background
Bad pose
Poor quality
Wearing head coverings that are not allowed

Note: If your passport photo has been rejected, you have 90 days to make a new one. You have to follow the guidelines for a passport photo if you take your passport photo on your own or take it at a photo service to ensure quality.