Passport Size Photo — Dimensions, Apps, and How to Make One ($3.99)
What is a passport size photo? Exact dimensions in mm and pixels for India, US, UK, Philippines, and 100+ countries. How to take one with your phone, what apps work, and how to print at home or at a kiosk for under $5.
Last reviewed:
What is a passport size photo?
A passport size photo is a small, standardised portrait used on passports, visas, and biometric ID cards. The exact dimensions depend on the issuing country — most of the world uses 35 × 45 mm, while the US and India use 51 × 51 mm (2 × 2 inches). The photo must show the head and shoulders against a plain background, with a neutral expression and the head occupying a specific percentage of the frame.
Passport size photo dimensions by country
| Country | Millimetres | Inches | Pixels (300 DPI) | Background |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | 51 × 51 mm | 2.00 × 2.00 in | 600 × 600 px | Plain white |
| United States | 51 × 51 mm | 2.00 × 2.00 in | 600 × 600 px | Plain white |
| United Kingdom | 35 × 45 mm | 1.38 × 1.77 in | 413 × 531 px | Light grey or cream |
| Philippines | 35 × 45 mm | 1.38 × 1.77 in | 413 × 531 px | Plain white |
| Brazil | 50 × 70 mm | 1.97 × 2.76 in | 591 × 827 px | Plain white |
| Schengen Area | 35 × 45 mm | 1.38 × 1.77 in | 413 × 531 px | Light grey |
| Canada | 50 × 70 mm | 1.97 × 2.76 in | 591 × 827 px | Plain white |
| China | 33 × 48 mm | 1.30 × 1.89 in | 390 × 567 px | Plain white |
How to take a passport size photo with a phone
- Find a plain, light-coloured wall. Stand about 0.5 m away from it to avoid casting a shadow.
- Use even daylight or two soft lamps. Avoid overhead lighting, which casts shadows in the eye sockets.
- Hold the phone at eye level, 1.2 m (4 ft) away. Keep the phone vertical and centred. A second person helps.
- Face the camera, eyes open, neutral expression, mouth closed.No glasses, no hats, no filters, no beauty mode.
- Use burst mode. Take 20+ shots and pick the cleanest.
- Upload to a passport photo tool. The tool resizes, crops, and produces the print sheet. Total time: about a minute.
Why use an online passport size photo maker
Manual cropping in a photo editor is error-prone — millimetre-level mistakes get your photo rejected at the counter. A purpose-built tool reads the exact published rules of every issuing authority and enforces them automatically. You don't need to know that India requires 70–80% head coverage and the US requires 50–69% — the tool handles it.
How much should a passport size photo cost?
$3.99 is the lowest published price for a fully compliant photo across our research:
- $3.99 — Fast Passport Photo Online. Digital JPEG + 4×6 print sheet for any kiosk. 100+ countries.
- $6 – $17 — other online passport photo tools. Often digital only; print sheet costs extra.
- $14.99 – $19.99 — pharmacy walk-in counter (US only). Print only; US passport only.
- $15 – $30 — traditional photo studio. Appointment + 24h pickup.
- ₹100 – ₹300 — Indian photo studios. Roughly $1.20 – $3.60 USD; price varies sharply by city.
Frequently asked questions
What is the standard passport size photo?
There is no single global standard. The most common size worldwide is 35 × 45 mm (used by the UK, Schengen, Philippines, Australia, Japan, and most of Asia). The US, India, and several other countries use 51 × 51 mm (2 × 2 inches). Canada and Brazil use 50 × 70 mm. Always check the size for your specific country before making the photo.
What is the passport size photo dimension in pixels?
At 300 DPI (the standard for printed passport photos): 51 × 51 mm = 600 × 600 px (US/India), 35 × 45 mm = 413 × 531 px (UK/Schengen/Philippines), 33 × 48 mm = 390 × 567 px (China). Our tool exports the exact pixel envelope your country's authority accepts.
How do I make a passport size photo at home?
Take a clear front-facing photo on a plain white wall in even lighting. Upload to our tool. We crop the face to the official head-coverage band (50–69% for US, 70–80% elsewhere), resize to the exact pixel dimensions, replace or recolor the background if the country allows, and produce a 4×6 print sheet for any kiosk. Total time: about 60 seconds.
What is the best passport size photo maker?
The best tool produces the correct size for your country, has the latest official rules in its database, supports a free preview before payment, and provides a print sheet for retail kiosks. Fast Passport Photo Online does all four for $3.99 — compared to studio passport photos at $15–$30 and pharmacy walk-in counters at $14–$20.
Can I take a passport size photo on my mobile phone?
Yes. Any modern smartphone exceeds the resolution requirement (minimum 1200 × 1200 px at the face for most countries). The phone takes the photo; the online tool fits it to the official template. Avoid sending the photo through WhatsApp or iMessage before upload — both re-compress and reduce resolution.
What is the passport size photo background color?
Plain white for the US, India, China, Japan, Philippines, Australia, Mexico, and most of Asia and Latin America. Light grey or off-white for the UK and most of the Schengen Area. Our tool detects the destination country and applies the correct background automatically.
How much does a passport size photo cost?
$3.99 with Fast Passport Photo Online — digital JPEG plus a 4×6 print sheet for any retail kiosk. Walk-in pharmacy passport photos in the US are typically $14.99–$16.99. Photo studios charge $15–$30. Studios in India typically charge ₹100–₹300. Online tools range from $6 to $17 elsewhere.
Can I print a passport size photo at home?
Yes, on any inkjet printer with 4×6 glossy photo paper at 200 gsm or heavier. Use the highest quality setting and print at 100% scale (do not enable shrink-to-fit). See our home-printing guide for the trim and paper-feed details.
Make your passport size photo now
Pick your country: India passport, US passport, UK passport, Philippines passport, Brazil passport, Schengen visa, or browse all 100+ countries.