Passport and visa photo sizes by country
Every document the maker supports, with the printed size, the head height the rules ask for (measured from the chin to the top of the hair) and the background colour. Pick yours to make the photo.
| Document | Photo size | Head height | Background |
|---|---|---|---|
| US passport photo | 51 x 51 mm 2 in x 2 in | 25-35 mm | plain white or off-white |
| US visa photo (DS-160) | 51 x 51 mm 2 in x 2 in | 25-35 mm | plain white or off-white |
| Green card photo | 51 x 51 mm 2 in x 2 in | 25-35 mm | white or off-white |
| UK passport photo | 35 x 45 mm 1.38 in x 1.77 in | 29-34 mm | plain cream or light grey |
| Canadian passport photo | 50 x 70 mm 1.97 in x 2.76 in | 31-36 mm | plain white or light-coloured |
| Schengen visa photo | 35 x 45 mm 1.38 in x 1.77 in | 32-36 mm | light grey or off-white |
| Chinese visa photo | 33 x 48 mm 1.30 in x 1.89 in | 28-33 mm | white |
| Australian passport photo | 35 x 45 mm 1.38 in x 1.77 in | 32-36 mm | plain white or light grey |
| Indian visa and OCI photo | 51 x 51 mm 2 in x 2 in | 25-35 mm | plain white or light-coloured |
Why sizes differ
Most countries follow the ICAO standard for machine-readable travel documents, which sets the face proportions but leaves the paper size to each government. That's why the US uses a 2 x 2 inch square while the UK, the Schengen states and Australia use 35 x 45 mm, Canada asks for a larger 50 x 70 mm print and China's visa photo is 33 x 48 mm. The head-to-photo ratio is what border systems actually measure, so a photo with the right paper size but a head that's too small still gets rejected. The maker sizes the head first and builds the crop around it.
Background colours vary too. The US wants white or off-white, the UK asks for cream or light grey, and several European consulates prefer light grey to white because it separates hair from the background. The maker fills in the colour each document asks for.
If your document isn't listed, the closest match is usually the US 2 x 2 inch or the 35 x 45 mm standard. Check the official page for your application before printing.