Why do passport photo sizes differ between countries?

Most countries follow the ICAO travel-document standard but set their own print size and head measurement. The US uses 2 × 2 in with the head measured to the top of the hair; Schengen states use 35 × 45 mm with the head measured to the crown.

What does 'chin to crown' mean?

The crown is the top of the skull. Some rules, like Schengen, measure the head without hair; others, like the US, measure to the top of the hair. The tool measures the way each rule says.

Will a photo made to these rules be accepted?

We follow the official rules and link each source, but acceptance is always up to the passport office or embassy. A sharp, recent photo with even light and a neutral expression gives you the best chance.

Which countries are coming next?

India passport, China visa, Canada, Australia and baby passport photos are next on our list.

How much does it cost to make a photo?

Checking and previewing is free. The HD photo with print sheets costs 200 credits from a credit pack or subscription.

Passport and Visa Photo Requirements

Sizes, head measurements, backgrounds and file limits for the documents we support, each checked against the official government page. Make your photo to these rules with a free preview; the HD download costs 200 credits.

200 credits
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Pay only to download

1 · Document

Size: 2 × 2 in · 600 × 600 px
Head: 50–69% of the height, chin to top of hair
Background: White
File: JPEG, at least 54 KB

2 · Your photo

Face detection and the preview run in your browser. Your photo is only uploaded when you export.

Preview and photo check are free. The HD download costs 200 credits.

Made to the official rules we checked on 2026-10-08. Final acceptance is up to the issuing authority. Official requirements

Ordinary phone photo with the passport frame marked

4 × 6 in print sheet with cut lines — 4 × 6 and A4 print sheets included

Example · US passport · 2 × 2 in

Real example: an everyday phone photo, framed and exported by this tool. Add yours to see your free preview.

Real results from everyday phone photos

Each one started as an ordinary picture and was framed, cleaned up and exported by this tool. Pick one to see it in the workbench.

How it works

1
Find your document
Look up the size, head measurement, background and file limit in the table below.
2
Add your photo
Choose the document in the tool. It frames your head to that rule and checks your photo for free.
3
Download and print
Get the digital file for online forms and 4×6 in and A4 print sheets with cut lines.

Why people use it

Every rule has a source

Each document links to the government page we checked and the date we checked it.

Conflicts explained

Where official pages disagree, like OCI face size or Japan's photo size, we say so and explain what we chose.

Re-checked every year

Our tests fail when a rule hasn't been checked for a year, so the table can't quietly go out of date.

The tool follows the table

The workbench reads the same data as this page, so the photo you export matches the rules you see here.

Requirements at a glance

Every row below comes from our spec table, the same data the photo tool uses, so the page and the tool can't disagree. Each date links to the official page we checked.

Document	Size	Head	Background	Digital file	Checked
US passport	2 × 2 in	50–69%chin to top of hair	White	600 × 600 px (300 dpi of the print size) · JPEG, at least 54 KB	2026-10-08
US visa (DS-160)	2 × 2 in	50–69%chin to top of hair	White	600 × 600 px (square, 600–1200 px allowed) · JPEG, up to 240 KB	2026-10-08
DV lottery (Green Card)	2 × 2 in	50–69%chin to top of hair	White	600 × 600 px (exact size required) · JPEG, up to 240 KB	2026-10-08
Schengen visa	35 × 45 mm	70–80%chin to top of head, hair not counted	White	413 × 531 px (300 dpi of the print size) · JPEG	2026-10-08
India OCI	2 × 2 in	60–69%chin to top of hair	Light, not white	600 × 600 px (square, 200–900 px allowed) · JPEG, up to 200 KB	2026-10-08
Japan visa	35 × 45 mm	71–80%chin to top of hair	White	413 × 531 px (300 dpi of the print size) · JPEG	2026-10-08

What every passport photo has in common

Almost every country builds on the ICAO standard for machine-readable travel documents, so a few rules are nearly universal:

Recent: taken within the last 6 months (Germany asks for 3 months for Schengen visas).
Front on: facing the camera, head straight, neutral expression, eyes open and visible.
Plain background: no patterns, objects or shadows. White or a light color, depending on the document.
No edits: no filters, beauty modes or AI changes to your face. The US passport rules name AI explicitly. Cropping and a clean background are fine.
Sharp and well lit: even light, no glare on skin or glasses, no red eye.

Where official rules conflict

Official pages don't always agree, and copying the wrong one is how many photo sites end up out of date:

Japan visa: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs form says 45 × 35 mm; the missions in India ask for 45 × 45 mm.
India OCI: the portal FAQ asks for "80% face coverage", while its own specification PDF draws a smaller head; some consulates list larger pixel and file limits than the portal.
US visa photos: one State Department page lists the minimum head size as 22 mm, which is a typo for 25 mm (1 inch).

Each document page explains the choice we made and why.