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Passport Photo Maker Online — Sizes, Requirements, and How to Make One

Passport photo rejection is more common than most people expect — the wrong dimensions, a shadow, or glasses are enough to send an application back. This guide covers the exact size requirements for 10 countries, the most common rejection reasons, and how to use the Passport Photo Maker to create a compliant photo for free in your browser.

Passport Photo Size Requirements by Country

Passport photo specifications are set by each country's government and enforced strictly. The dimensions below are the official requirements at 300 DPI — the resolution standard for print and government submissions.

CountrySize (mm)Size (inches)Output at 300 DPIBackground
United States51 × 512 × 2 in600 × 600 pxWhite
United Kingdom35 × 451.38 × 1.77 in413 × 531 pxLight grey or white
EU / Schengen35 × 451.38 × 1.77 in413 × 531 pxWhite or off-white
India51 × 512 × 2 in600 × 600 pxWhite
China33 × 481.3 × 1.89 in390 × 567 pxWhite
Canada50 × 701.97 × 2.76 in591 × 827 pxWhite
Australia35 × 451.38 × 1.77 in413 × 531 pxWhite or light grey
UAE / Gulf40 × 601.57 × 2.36 in472 × 709 pxWhite

The 35×45 mm format is effectively the global standard — the UK, EU, Australia, Singapore, and Pakistan all use it. The US and India use a square 51×51 mm format. Always verify requirements on the official government website before submitting, as specifications occasionally change.

How to Make a Passport Photo Online

  1. Open the Passport Photo Maker. Go to the Passport Photo Maker — no signup, no upload.
  2. Upload your photo. Drop or browse to a clear, front-facing photo. The original photo can be any size — the tool handles the resizing. Higher resolution originals produce better output.
  3. Select your country. Choose from the 10 country standards. The canvas instantly updates to the correct aspect ratio and pixel dimensions for that country.
  4. Position your face. Enable the face guide overlay. Drag the image so your face sits within the oval guide — head centred, crown near the top guide line, chin near the bottom.
  5. Set the background. White is required by most countries. If your original photo has a light plain background, "Original" may also work — but white is the safest choice.
  6. Download. Save the single passport photo as a high-quality JPEG, or download a 4×6 print sheet with multiple copies ready for a print lab.

Common Passport Photo Rejection Reasons

Most rejections fall into one of these categories:

ReasonThe ruleHow to avoid it
Wrong dimensionsEach country has exact pixel or mm requirementsUse a tool that applies the correct standard automatically
Face too small or too largeFace height must be 70–80% of photo heightUse the face guide overlay and zoom slider to fill the frame correctly
GlassesProhibited by the US, UK, EU, Australia, and most others since 2015Remove glasses before taking the photo — no exceptions
ShadowsShadow on face or background disqualifies the photoUse diffused natural light; avoid flash; stand away from the background
Non-white backgroundPlain white background required by most countriesUse the "White" background option in the tool; or use AI Background Remover first
Head turned or tiltedFace must be straight-on, centred, looking directly at cameraEnsure the photo was taken head-on — the Maker cannot correct pose
Eyes closed or squintingBoth eyes must be fully open and clearly visibleTake multiple photos and choose the best one

The Print Sheet — How to Get 6 Photos for the Price of One Print

The 4×6 print sheet option in the tool arranges multiple copies of your passport photo on a standard 4×6 inch print (the most common and cheapest photo print size). For US 2×2 photos, you get 6 copies per sheet. For 35×45 mm photos, you get 6 copies. For Canadian 50×70 mm, you get 4 copies.

To use the print sheet:

  1. Click "Download print sheet" after positioning your photo
  2. Take the downloaded JPEG to a print shop (Walgreens, CVS, Costco, etc.) and order a 4×6 print
  3. Specify "actual size" or "100%" — never "fit to page"
  4. Cut the individual photos from the sheet with scissors

A 4×6 print at a US pharmacy costs about $0.30–$0.50. Compare that to $15–$20 for a passport photo at the post office or pharmacy counter — the difference is only a pair of scissors.

Advanced Tips

Remove the background first for the cleanest result

If your photo has a non-white or cluttered background, run it through the AI Background Remover first to get a clean transparent background. Then upload the result to the Passport Photo Maker and select "White" background — the tool will composite the portrait onto a clean white backdrop.

Use a portrait-oriented photo for rectangular standards

For UK/EU/Australia (35×45 mm, portrait orientation), start with a photo taken in portrait mode on your phone. Landscape photos can be used but require more zooming out, which reduces the face size in the final photo and may result in the face being too small relative to the frame.

Match output DPI to submission requirements

All photos are generated at 300 DPI, which is the standard for print and most government digital submissions. Some visa application portals cap digital uploads at specific file sizes — if the file is too large, open it in any image editor and reduce the JPEG quality to 80% before uploading. The pixel dimensions and DPI will remain unchanged.

Make Your Passport Photo Now

10 country standards, 300 DPI output, 4×6 print sheet included. No upload, no signup.

Open Passport Photo Maker