Passport photo size in 2026: exact dimensions for every format, every market
The US standard is 2×2 inches (51×51mm), which makes it the only major square passport photo format among English-speaking countries. The UK, Australia, and New Zealand use 35×45mm portrait rectangles. Canada uses 50×70mm — a format unique to Canada that no other major country uses. Hong Kong SAR uses 40×50mm — also unique. Getting the size wrong is one of the most common and most unambiguous rejection causes: a photo that's even two millimetres off in either dimension will fail automated dimensional checks. This page covers the exact sizes for every PassSnap-supported market, the pixel dimensions for digital submissions, and the specific relationship between print size and pixel dimensions that often confuses people.
US passport photo size
The required size for a US passport photo is exactly 2×2 inches (51×51mm). The photo must be square — not portrait, not landscape. This is a hard requirement; even a photo that is 50×51mm is technically non-compliant. For digital submissions through the online renewal portal at opr.travel.state.gov, the file must be at minimum 600×600 pixels in a 1:1 square aspect ratio. The current portal accepts JPG, PNG, HEIC, and HEIF formats, with file size between 54KB and 10MB. For DS-160 visa applications, DV Lottery, and DS-260 immigrant visa, the format is JPEG only, maximum 240KB. Within the 2×2 inch frame, the face from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head must measure between 1 inch and 1⅜ inches (25 to 35mm). This corresponds to the face occupying 50 to 69 percent of the image height. This head-size requirement is checked separately from the overall photo dimensions — both need to be correct. The DPI (dots per inch) specification for printed US passport photos is typically cited as 300 DPI minimum, which at 2×2 inches corresponds to 600×600 pixels as the minimum print resolution. Higher resolutions (1200×1200 pixels, for example) are also acceptable and produce a sharper printed result.
UK passport photo size
For printed applications, **UK** passport photos must be 35mm wide by 45mm high. The face from chin to crown must measure 29 to 34mm within the 45mm frame height — corresponding to approximately 64 to 76 percent of the image height. For digital applications through the GOV.UK passport portal, the file must be a JPEG, minimum 600 pixels wide by 750 pixels tall, with file size between 50KB and 6.5MB. The aspect ratio is portrait (3:4 or approximately 4:5 in pixel terms). UK passport photos differ from US photos in two important ways beyond size: the background should be plain and light-coloured (white, light grey, or cream are all accepted), not white-only; and the photo must have been taken within the last month, not the last six months.
Canada passport photo size
Canadian passport photos use a 50×70mm format — a rectangular portrait format unique to **Canada** that cannot be substituted with the US 2×2 inch square or the UK/international 35×45mm. The total photo area is more than double that of a UK photo. The face from chin to crown must measure 31 to 36mm within the 70mm frame height. For digital submissions through IRCC's online portals, the required pixel dimensions are 420×540 pixels minimum (equivalent to the 50×70mm proportions at 300 DPI), JPEG format, under 5MB for passport applications. For PR card digital submissions, the requirement is 715×1000 to 2000×2800 pixels. Most US retail chains — Walgreens, CVS, FedEx — cannot produce compliant Canadian passport photos because they don't offer the 50×70mm format and don't provide the back-of-photo photographer stamping that Canadian applications require.
Australia passport photo size
**Australian** passport photos must measure 35 to 40mm wide by 45 to 50mm high. This is a tolerance range rather than a fixed single dimension — any combination within that range is acceptable. The face from chin to crown must measure 32 to 36mm. For digital submissions (primarily for visa and citizenship applications rather than passport applications — Australian passport applications require physical prints), the preferred resolution is 1200×1600 pixels as a JPEG file between 70KB and 3.5MB. Australian passport photos require dye-sublimation printing on heavyweight glossy paper. Standard home inkjet printing is not accepted. This is the strictest print quality requirement among the six PassSnap-supported markets.
New Zealand passport photo size
**New Zealand** passport photos for paper applications must be 35mm wide by 45mm high. For digital submissions through the govt.nz online portal, the file must be a JPEG between roughly 900×1200 and 2250×3000 pixels, with file size between 500KB and 3MB. NZeTA applications accept up to 10MB. New Zealand has a distinctive background requirement: explicitly non-white. Light grey or off-white is required rather than the pure white used by the US and Canada. This is the reverse of the US requirement and is the most commonly misunderstood size-adjacent rule for NZ photos. The face must occupy 70 to 80 percent of the image height — higher than the US standard of 50 to 69 percent. This means the face should fill the frame more fully than most people's instinct for camera distance would produce.
Hong Kong SAR passport photo size
**HKSAR** passport photos must be 40mm wide by 50mm high — a format unique to Hong Kong. The face from chin to crown must measure 32 to 36mm within the 50mm frame height. For digital submissions through IMMD's online portal or mobile app, the file must be a JPEG of 1200×1600 pixels at minimum, with file size under 5MB. The HKSAR format is not available at standard photo services outside of Hong Kong. Applicants living abroad need to prepare a correctly-sized file and find a local lab willing to print at exactly 40×50mm.
The size-pixel conversion
The relationship between print size in millimetres and digital pixel dimensions depends on the DPI (dots per inch) or PPI (pixels per inch) at which the image is printed. At 300 DPI (the standard for professional photo printing): **US** 2×2 inches (51×51mm) = 600×600 pixels minimum **UK** 35×45mm = 413×531 pixels (or 600×750 for digital portal submission) **Canada** 50×70mm = 591×827 pixels **Australia** 35×45mm = 413×531 pixels (or 1200×1600 for digital) **NZ** 35×45mm = 413×531 pixels (or 900×1200 minimum for digital portal) **HK SAR** 40×50mm = 472×591 pixels (or 1200×1600 for digital portal) The digital submission specifications often call for higher pixel counts than the simple 300 DPI print calculation would suggest, because digital portals can zoom in on specific areas of the face for biometric checks and benefit from higher resolution even when the face itself is small in the overall frame.
The most common size-related mistakes
Using the wrong country's format is the most frequent size-related rejection cause. A US-format 51×51mm square submitted to an IRCC portal for a Canadian application will fail immediately because the proportions are wrong. A UK-format 35×45mm photo submitted for a Hong Kong application will fail because the dimensions are different. The size requirements are not interchangeable across countries even when the content looks the same. For digital submissions, using the wrong pixel dimensions causes failures that are separate from content review. A file that's exactly the right composition but at the wrong pixel dimensions — too small, too large, or the wrong aspect ratio — fails the portal's technical check before the image content is even evaluated. The floating-head problem is a size-adjacent issue: when white clothing is worn against a white background, the clothing area visually merges with the background, and the photo appears to show only a head without a body in the frame. This reads as incorrect framing and composition to automated checks. It's not a size error but it produces a result that looks like one.
How PassSnap handles size
PassSnap applies the correct crop dimensions and export specifications for each country and document type when you select the appropriate photo type before your session. The guided capture shows whether the face is filling the correct proportion of the frame in real time — which is the head-size check that's separate from but related to the overall photo size. The export produces a file in the correct aspect ratio and at the correct pixel dimensions for the selected document type, without requiring the applicant to know the specific pixel math.
Quick reference: size table
| Country / Document | Print Size | Face Size | Digital Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Passport | 2×2 inches (51×51mm) | 1–1⅜ in (25–35mm, 50–69% height) | 600×600px min JPEG |
| UK Passport | 35×45mm | 29–34mm (64–76% height) | 600×750px min JPEG, 50KB–6.5MB |
| Canada Passport | 50×70mm | 31–36mm | 420×540px min, JPEG, under 5MB |
| Australia Passport | 35–40×45–50mm | 32–36mm | 1200×1600px JPEG, 70KB–3.5MB |
| New Zealand Passport | 35×45mm | 70–80% height | 900×1200px min, 500KB–3MB JPEG |
| Hong Kong SAR Passport | 40×50mm | 32–36mm | 1200×1600px JPEG, under 5MB |
| US DS-160/DS-260/DV Lottery | — | — | 600×600px min JPEG, max 240KB |
| US Online Renewal | — | — | 600×600px min, JPG/PNG/HEIC/HEIF, 54KB–10MB |
Before you print or upload
Confirm the exact format required for your specific application before printing or uploading. The country, the document type (passport vs visa vs citizenship), and the submission channel (paper vs digital portal) can all affect the size and format requirements. For Canada specifically, the digital portal for passports and the digital portal for PR cards have different pixel dimension requirements.
For printed photos, confirm the print lab can produce at the exact required dimensions. US-format 2×2 inch prints are widely available. Canadian 50×70mm prints are much harder to find outside Canada. UK 35×45mm is standard in the UK but unavailable at most US pharmacies. Confirm in advance rather than discovering the format isn't available when you arrive.
For digital submissions, verify the file size after export — not just the pixel dimensions. A correctly-sized image that's been shared through a messaging app may have been recompressed to below the portal's minimum file size threshold, or may have exceeded the maximum through an export error. File size and pixel dimensions are both checked at upload.
FAQ
What size is a US passport photo?
A US passport photo must be exactly 2×2 inches (51×51mm) — a square format. The face from chin to crown must measure 1 to 1⅜ inches (25 to 35mm), which corresponds to 50 to 69 percent of the photo height. For digital submissions through the online renewal portal, the minimum pixel dimensions are 600×600 pixels in a JPEG, PNG, HEIC, or HEIF file between 54KB and 10MB.
Are passport photos the same size in every country?
No. The US uses a 2×2 inch (51×51mm) square. The UK, Australia, and New Zealand use 35×45mm portrait rectangles. Canada uses 50×70mm — unique to Canada. Hong Kong SAR uses 40×50mm — also unique. These formats are not interchangeable: submitting one country's format for another country's application will fail automatically.
What pixel dimensions do I need for a passport photo?
It depends on which application you're submitting. For US passport online renewal: minimum 600×600 pixels. For US DS-160 visa, DV Lottery, and DS-260: minimum 600×600 pixels, maximum 240KB, JPEG only. For UK passport digital: minimum 600×750 pixels. For NZ digital: 900×1200 minimum. For HK SAR and Australia digital: 1200×1600 pixels. Always check the specific portal's current requirements, as these can update.
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