Philippine passport
Philippines
Create compliant 35×45 mm colour photos with correct background and framing.
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Example photo guidance
Philippine passport — key specifications
At-a-glance summary of the official Philippines photo template. Every value below is enforced automatically when you upload your image.
| Physical size | 35 mm × 45 mm (1.38 in × 1.77 in) |
|---|---|
| Digital size | 413 × 531 px (300 DPI) |
| Background | Plain white |
| Max file size | 2048 KB (JPEG) |
| Head coverage | 70–80% of photo height (ICAO-aligned) |
| Print sheet | 4x6 · 8 |
Requirements
Check dimensions and official rules on this page.
- Physical: 35mm × 45mm
- Digital: 413–413px × 531–531px
- Max file size: 2048 KB
Recent photo, neutral expression, eyes open, even lighting; follow the issuing authority.
Department of Foreign Affairs — Philippine passport photo rules
The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) — Aseana, regional, and consular offices — publishes the Philippine passport-photo standard. For new applications, photos are captured in-house; online renewals (OFWs) accept self-captured 35 × 45 mm photos with plain white background.
Why use this Philippine passport tool
- $3.99Final photo + 4×6 print sheet. No subscription. Studios typically charge $15 – $30 for the same output.
- Free previewYou only pay once a watermarked preview confirms the crop, background, and biometric framing meet the spec.
- Refund if non-compliantIf our output fails the issuing-authority checklist, we refund — see our refund policy.
Common reasons Philippine passport photos are rejected
Issuing authorities reject submissions that miss any of the items below. Our tool automatically corrects crop, background, and dimensions, but you still control the original capture — review this list before you upload.
- glasses_or_hair_obscuring_eyes
- expression_not_neutral_or_teeth_showing
- tilted_or_off_centre_pose
- shadows_or_busy_background
- earrings_or_heavy_accessories
Philippine passport photo rejection patterns from DFA-Aseana data
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) operates passport processing centres at Aseana (the main DFA-Aseana complex in Parañaque City) plus regional consular offices and selected SM mall satellite branches. For new applications, DFA captures the photo on-site; the photo specification applies to online OFW renewals, mail-in renewals via embassies, and any case requiring self-submitted photos.
The most-common at-home photo failure mode for Philippine applicants is glasses — many users don't realise DFA banned glasses in 2017. The second is background colour deviation.
- Glasses worn (DFA banned them in 2017 alongside the international ICAO alignment)
- Background colour off-white or cream instead of plain white
- Photo size off — DFA strictly enforces 35 × 45 mm
- Head coverage outside the 70 – 80% band
- Visible shadow from indoor capture (tropical sunlight + indoor backdrop is a common shadow trap)
- Smile or visible teeth
- Hair covering eyebrows
- Photo compressed via Messenger, Viber, or WhatsApp before upload
- Photo older than 6 months
DFA submission pathways — Aseana, regional, and SM satellite
Four channels:
- DFA-Aseana Office (Macapagal Boulevard, Parañaque City) — main passport processing centre. By online appointment via passport.gov.ph; walk-ins limited
- DFA Regional Consular Offices — 31 offices across the Philippines including Baguio, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Tacloban, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, Dumaguete, Zamboanga, Tuguegarao. Same online appointment system
- SM Mall satellite branches — limited services (renewal only) at 19 SM mall locations for convenience. Appointment required, same online portal
- Philippine embassy or consulate abroad — for OFWs and Filipinos overseas. Mail-in renewal accepted with self-submitted 35 × 45 mm photo
OFW renewal — when you self-submit a Philippine passport photo
Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) renewing passports via mail or online from abroad are the primary use case for self-submitted Philippine passport photos. The workflow:
- Capture against a plain white wall (do not use cream or off-white)
- Wait 6+ days after a major haircut or significant appearance change (DFA cross-checks against your current passport scan)
- Use our tool to size to exactly 35 × 45 mm at 413 × 531 px
- Submit the digital file plus 2 printed copies to the Philippine embassy/consulate handling your renewal
- Embassy fee: PHP 950 equivalent (US$17 typical) for 10-year passport renewal; processing 6 – 8 weeks
Where to print 4 × 6 passport photo sheets in the Philippines
Most reliable printing options for the 4 × 6 sheet our tool produces:
- Kodak Express photo shops — most common standalone option. ₱20 – ₱40 per 4 × 6 sheet. Locations in major malls and on commercial streets across Metro Manila, Cebu, Davao
- SM Department Store photo studios — most SM malls have one. ₱25 – ₱45 per 4 × 6 sheet
- Mercury Drug photo counters — limited locations but offer same-day prints. ₱15 – ₱25 per sheet
- 7-Eleven self-service photo printers — available in larger 7-Eleven branches. ₱10 – ₱20 per print
- Home inkjet printer with 4 × 6 glossy paper (Canon Pixma, Epson L-series) — ₱15 per print, cheapest option for repeat use
Philippine passport — common questions
Does the Philippine DFA accept self-captured photos for online passport renewals?
Yes for online renewals (typically OFW or eligible categories). For new applications at DFA-Aseana or regional consular offices, the photo is captured in-house at the appointment. Our tool's $3.99 output works for both — the digital JPEG for online submission and the 4×6 print sheet for mail-in renewals via Philippine embassies abroad.
Where in Manila can I print a 4×6 passport photo sheet?
Most reliable options: Kodak Express photo shops (most common), Mercury Drug photo counters (limited locations), SM Department Store photo studios (in most SM malls). Typical cost: ₱20 – ₱45 per 4×6 sheet. Home inkjet printing with 4×6 glossy paper costs about ₱15 per sheet.
What is the official Philippine passport size?
The official Philippine passport size is 35 mm × 45 mm (1.38 in × 1.77 in). For digital uploads it equals 413 × 531 px at 300 DPI.
What background color is required for a Philippine passport?
Philippine passport photos must be taken on a plain white background, evenly lit and free of shadows or patterns.
How big should the face appear in a Philippine passport photo?
The head should fill approximately 70–80% of the photo height, with eyes positioned in the upper-middle of the frame and a neutral expression looking straight at the camera.
Can I take a Philippine passport photo at home?
Yes. Use a recent phone photo against a plain wall, with even daylight and no glasses. Our tool then crops, recolors the background, and resizes to the official 35 mm × 45 mm template.
Can I print the Philippine passport at CVS, Walgreens, or another pharmacy?
Yes. We generate a 4x6 print sheet with 8 photos that any pharmacy or photo kiosk can print.
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Where we sourced these Philippines specifications
Dimensions, background colour, and biometric framing on this page are compiled from the references below. Always reconfirm the latest guidance directly with the issuing authority before submitting an application.
- dfa.gov.ph (Department of Foreign Affairs — Guidelines on Capturing your Photo: frontal pose, neutral expression, no eyeglasses, ears visible where possible)
- consular.dfa.gov.ph/guidelines-on-photo-capturing (DFA Office of Consular Affairs — same capture rules)
- warsawpe.dfa.gov.ph (DFA Foreign Service Post — passport-size photograph 35 mm × 45 mm for consular visa submissions)
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Other countries' passport & visa photo rules
Photo dimensions and background rules vary by issuing authority. Compare nearby countries you may also be applying to.