The quick reference table

These are the most-quoted official requirements as of September 2026. Rules change and consulates interpret edge cases differently — treat this table as a solid starting point, then confirm against the issuing authority’s own page before submitting. The maker tool’s presets encode the same numbers.

Requirement	US passport & visa	India passport	UK passport	Schengen / EU visa	China visa	Canada passport	Australia passport
Print size	2×2 in (51×51 mm)	35×45 mm	35×45 mm	35×45 mm	33×48 mm	50×70 mm	35×45 mm
Head size (crown→chin)	25–35 mm (50–69%)	face fills 80–85% of photo	29–34 mm (64–76%)	32–36 mm (71–80%)	28–33 mm (58–69%)	31–36 mm (44–51%)	32–36 mm (71–80%)
Digital pixels	600–1200 px square	630×810 px (missions abroad)	≥600×750 px	≈413×531 px (300 dpi equiv.)	354–420 × 472–560 px (COVA)	print-first; portals vary	print-first; portals vary
File limits	≤240 KB JPEG (DS-160)	≤250 KB (missions abroad)	50 KB–10 MB	varies by consulate	~40–120 KB JPEG (COVA)	varies	varies
Background	plain white / off-white	white	plain light grey or cream	plain light	white	white or light-coloured	plain white or light grey
Photo age	≤6 months	recent	≤1 month (online)	≤6 months	≤6 months	≤6 months	≤6 months
Glasses	not allowed	not allowed (ICAO); paper forms: no tinted glasses (booklet)	allowed when needed, no glare	follow consulate guidance	centre-specific; no glasses safest	non-tinted glasses, no glare	not allowed (medical exception)
Expression	neutral, mouth closed	natural, mouth closed	neutral, mouth closed	neutral, mouth closed	neutral	neutral	neutral, mouth closed

India: the ICAO upload applies through missions abroad. In India, a Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or Post Office PSK takes the photo on site for applicants aged 4 and over, children under 4 bring a recent 4.5 × 3.5 cm colour photo on white (Passport Seva FAQ and Apply guide), passport camps ask for two, and paper applications at a District Passport Cell, Speed Post centre or Citizen Service Centre need one recent colour photo of 4.5 × 3.5 cm on a plain white background, printed on good-quality photo paper (the Passport Seva booklet says computer prints are not accepted). Indian missions abroad have moved from 2×2 in prints to ICAO-compliant photos — the Embassy of India in Vienna accepts only those for passport applications from 1 September 2025, and the one in Bern asks for an upload of 630×810 px and no more than 250 KB from 1 December 2025. The ICAO guideline wants the face to take up 80–85% of the photo on a white background. Dates vary by mission and a few mission pages still list 51×51 mm, so follow your mission’s notice. The cited guidance gives no minimum byte size, so the maker does not enforce one. The India e-visa upload is separate and stays square: JPEG, 10 KB–1 MB, with equal width and height; the official sample form also gives a minimum of 350×350 px. The passport size photo maker for India starts on the India passport preset.

China’s paper and digital specs differ, and upload limits vary by centre. The paper photo is 33×48 mm. The Macau China visa application centre’s photo guide gives a digital range of 354–420 × 472–560 px — a ≈3:4 shape, wider than the paper ratio. However, current CVASC online-form FAQs dated 26 August 2026 say uploaded dimensions cannot exceed 354×472 px. Our China preset therefore exports that conservative size; follow the limits shown in your own application centre’s form.

Three table cells worth a footnote. The UK size appears above as 35×45 mm like every other row — GOV.UK itself phrases it as “45 mm high by 35 mm wide”, same shape either way. Australia accepts 35–40 mm wide × 45–50 mm high; the standard 35×45 mm sits inside that window. Australia’s Passport Office also says not to wear glasses, except for documented medical reasons. For Schengen visas, the EU Visa Code gives a head height of 70–80% of the image; the commonly used 35×45 mm print format yields about 32–36 mm. Check the consulate or application centre for local upload details.

Official sources

Check the issuing authority’s current instructions before submitting. The print or portrait rules and the upload rules may come from different pages:

• US passport and visa: U.S. passport photo rules · U.S. visa photo rules.
• India passport: Passport Seva instruction booklet (4.5 × 3.5 cm for paper applications) · Passport Seva FAQ and Apply guide (photo taken at the PSK from age 4; under 4, bring one) · guideline for minors below 4 · camp FAQ (two photos) · Passport Seva ICAO photo guidelines · Embassy of India notices for Vienna (ICAO-compliant photos from 1 September 2025) and Bern (from 1 December 2025, with the 250 KB ceiling).
• India e-visa: Current e-Visa photo instructions · official sample application form with the 350×350 px minimum.
• United Kingdom: GOV.UK digital photo rules · photographer guidance.
• Schengen visa: EU Visa Code, Annex VI · European Commission visa policy. Confirm local application rules with the consulate or visa centre.
• China visa: Macau China visa application centre photo guide · current CVASC online-form FAQ.
• Canada passport: IRCC passport photo requirements.
• Australia passport: Australian Passport Office photo guidelines.

How to read the head-size column

“Head size” means the vertical distance from the crown (top of the head, hair included) to the bottom of the chin — not the whole photo and not just the face. On a US 2×2 in photo the head must measure 25–35 mm, roughly half to two-thirds of the frame. Schengen’s 32–36 mm on a 45 mm frame means the head fills noticeably more — about 71–80%. Canada’s 50×70 mm photo asks for a smaller head fraction (31–36 mm of 70 mm ≈ 44–51%) — the same framing that passes a Schengen check fails a Canadian one. This is why the maker tool draws a head-size guide band sized to each preset rather than one generic oval.

The digital rules people miss

Print rules describe the paper photo; online applications add a second layer of pixel and byte limits. The ones that produce real rejections:

• US visa (DS-160 / CEAC): square JPEG, minimum 600×600 px, maximum 1200×1200 px, ≤240 KB. A 4000-px phone photo fails the maximum — bigger isn’t automatically better.
• UK online renewal: at least 600×750 px, 50 KB–10 MB, JPEG. The minimum file size trips up heavily compressed photos.
• India passport, through a mission abroad: 630×810 px and ≤250 KB (Bern’s notice); start dates vary by mission. The cited government guidance does not state a minimum byte size. Applying in India at a PSK, you don’t upload a photo; for a child under 4 you bring a printed one.
• India e-visa: JPEG, 10 KB–1 MB, square; the official sample form specifies at least 350×350 px — a different spec from the passport one.
• China COVA upload: JPEG, 40–120 KB. The Macau centre’s photo guide gives 354–420 × 472–560 px, while some current centre forms cap dimensions at 354×472 px.

Other countries, same families

Many requirements reuse these sizes: New Zealand, Japan, France, Germany, Spain and most of Latin America sit in the 35×45 mm / ~32–36 mm head family (small national variations apply — Japan, for instance, publishes 35×45 mm with a 34±2 mm head). Brazil uses 5×7 cm, and several Gulf states publish their own square formats. Glasses rules also vary: Australia bans them except for a documented medical reason, while Canada accepts non-tinted glasses when the eyes are visible and glare-free. When in doubt, check the issuing authority’s page.

From table to tool

The maker on the homepage encodes eight presets from this table — crop shape, output pixels, head-size band and file window — and the printing guide covers turning the download into a correctly-sized paper photo. For the other half of compliance (lighting, expression, recency), see taking the photo at home.

Frequently asked questions

Are passport photo rules the same in every country?

No — they converge, but they don't match. Most of Europe and much of Asia use 35×45 mm with the head filling roughly 70–80% of the frame, while the US uses a 2×2 in square. Canada is the outlier at 50×70 mm, China uses 33×48 mm, and Indian missions abroad moved passport photos from 2×2 in to ICAO-compliant photos (630×810 px when uploaded) in late 2025 (in India itself, paper applications have long used 4.5 × 3.5 cm). Even when sizes match, head-size bands and file rules differ — always check the specific document.

What does 'head size' actually measure?

Crown-to-chin: the vertical distance from the top of the head (including hair) to the bottom of the chin, expressed in millimetres on the printed photo or as a percentage of photo height. US rules want 25–35 mm of a 51 mm photo (~50–69%); Schengen wants 32–36 mm of 45 mm (~71–80%); India wants the face filling 80–85% of the photo.

Do digital upload rules differ from print rules?

Yes — this catches people out. A printed photo has no file size, but the online application that precedes it often does: US visa (DS-160) wants a 600–1200 px JPEG under 240 KB, the UK portal wants ≥600×750 px between 50 KB and 10 MB, an Indian passport upload through a mission abroad is 630×810 px and ≤250 KB, and the Macau China visa centre's photo guide gives a digital window of 354–420×472–560 px at ~40–120 KB. Some current China visa-centre forms cap uploads at 354×472 px.

Is a white background always required?

Nearly always. The US, China and India specify plain white or off-white; the UK allows light grey or cream; Schengen guidance calls for a plain light background. What's universally banned is patterns, textures, scenery and shadows — a busy background is among the top rejection triggers everywhere.

How recent must the photo be?

Typically six months or less — the rule for US passports/visas, Schengen visas and China; India's Passport Seva asks for a recent photo showing your latest appearance. The UK requires less than one month for online applications. If your appearance has changed materially (new glasses you must wear, major weight change, facial surgery), take a new photo regardless of the calendar.

Which preset should I pick for a country not in the list?

Match the print size, not the country name. Most of Europe and much of Asia sit in the 35×45 mm / 32–36 mm head family — pick Schengen or Australia. Gulf states and many others reuse the same ICAO-derived spec. Then confirm the head-size band and file rules against your issuing authority's page, since national variations exist.