Passport photo size chart
A passport photo size is the print size, head height and background an issuing office asks for; a U.S. passport photo is 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm), with the head 1 to 1 3/8 inches from chin to top.
Short answer
- U.S. passport: 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm), taken in the last 6 months.
- U.K. printed photos: 35 × 45 mm, taken in the last month.
- Canada is the outlier at 50 × 70 mm.
- Australia accepts 35 to 40 mm wide by 45 to 50 mm high.
- Online rules are separate: the U.K. wants at least 600 × 750 pixels.
Sending a copy of your passport or ID card? Mark it for one use with ID copy watermark.
| Document | Photo size | Pixels at 300 dpi | Ratio | Chin to top of head | Taken within | Background | Copy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. passport | 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm) | 600 × 600 | 1:1 | 1 to 1 3/8 in (25 to 35 mm) | 6 months | Plain white or off-white | |
| U.K. passport (printed) | 35 × 45 mm | 413 × 531 | 7:9 | 29 to 34 mm | 1 month | Plain cream or light grey | |
| Canadian passport | 50 × 70 mm | 591 × 827 | 5:7 | 31 to 36 mm | 6 months | Plain white or light-coloured | |
| Australian passport | 35 to 40 × 45 to 50 mm | 413 to 472 × 531 to 591 | 7:10 to 8:9 | 32 to 36 mm | 6 months | Plain white or light grey | |
| Taiwan (ROC) passport | 35 × 45 mm | 413 × 531 | 7:9 | 32 to 36 mm | 6 months | White |
Pixels are a print reference converted at 300 dpi, not an upload rule. For online applications, use the next table.
| Application | Format | Pixels (width × height) | File size | Copy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.K. passport (online) | Not stated; colour, unaltered | At least 600 × 750 | 50 KB to 10 MB | |
| Canadian passport (online renewal) | JPEG, 3:2 portrait, saved straight from the camera | 1,200 × 1,800 to 3,000 × 4,500 | 200 KB to 5 MB | |
| Taiwan (ROC) passport (online form) | JPG or JPEG, RGB, 24-bit or more | At least 413 × 531 | Up to 5 MB |
Is every passport photo 2x2
No. 2 × 2 inches is the U.S. size. The U.K. and Taiwan use 35 × 45 mm, Australia accepts 35 to 40 mm by 45 to 50 mm, and Canada uses 50 × 70 mm. Go by the office that will receive the photo, not by a photo booth default.
How recent the photo must be differs too: the U.K. wants a photo taken in the last month, while the U.S., Canada, Australia and Taiwan accept one taken in the last 6 months.
How many pixels is a 2x2 photo
At 300 dpi, a 2 × 2 inch photo is 600 × 600 pixels. The formula is pixels = inches × dpi, or millimetres ÷ 25.4 × dpi, so 35 × 45 mm comes to 413 × 531 pixels, which is exactly the minimum Taiwan sets for online uploads.
Online minimums can be higher than a 300 dpi print: the U.K. asks for at least 600 × 750 pixels, and a Canadian online renewal for at least 1,200 × 1,800. Size a digital photo from the rule for that application, not from the print size.
Can I crop or retouch my own passport photo
Leave the photo as it is. The State Department's passport manual says digital manipulation or retouching of the face is not acceptable. GOV.UK asks for photos unaltered by computer software. Canada rejects photos altered in any way, including with editing apps, filters or AI tools, and wants the file saved straight from the camera. Australia rejects retouching.
When you take a U.K. digital photo on your own device during the online application, the service crops it for you. Pixel Smith's photo editors are for everyday pictures, not for the photo you submit.
If you need to send a copy of your passport or ID card rather than a photo, ID copy watermark adds a line such as "for tenancy paperwork only" before you share it.
Sources and fact check
- U.S. Embassy in Poland (U.S. Department of State): Photo Requirements
- U.S. Department of State: 8 FAM 402.1 Passport Photographs
- GOV.UK: Get a passport photo, printed photos
- GOV.UK: Get a passport photo, digital photos
- Government of Canada: Passport photo requirements
- Australian Passport Office: Passport photo guidelines
- Bureau of Consular Affairs, Taiwan: chip passport photo specifications (in Chinese)
Each figure was checked against these pages on September 29, 2026. Rules change, and the office that receives your application has the final say. This page is our summary, not official guidance.