CONSULAR KNOWLEDGE BASE● SOURCES AND APPLICATION GUIDANCE

Passport and Visa Photo Guides

Photo dimensions, background requirements, and application guidance with links to government sources. Check the instructions for your exact document and submission route.

Phone on a tripod facing a person against a plain wallUS phone photography guide

How to Take a Passport Photo with an iPhone

Camera setup, lighting, and the different steps for paper applications and online renewal.

DV Lottery 2027: photo checks and program status

Check a file free, review published photo requirements and confirm official registration updates before preparing your photo.

United States flagUnited States
4 min read

US Visa and DS-160 Photo Requirements

Photo guidance for US visa applications, with a separate note on Diversity Visa entry images. Follow the instructions for your visa category and application location.

Includes preparation steps, troubleshooting and application questions.

Dimensions2×2 inches (51×51 mm)
Head Size %50% to 69% of total frame (1 to 1 3/8 inches from bottom of chin to top of head)
India flagIndia
4 min read

Indian Passport & OCI Card Photo Guidelines: Digital Uploads

Compare Indian overseas passport uploads (630×810 pixels, maximum 250 KB), OCI uploads and e-Visa photos. Check backgrounds, file limits and the instructions for your mission.

Includes preparation steps, troubleshooting and application questions.

DimensionsPassport upload: 630×810 px; OCI upload: square, 200–900 px
Head Size %Passport: 80–85% face coverage; OCI FAQ: 80% face coverage; review framing manually
Schengen / EU flagSchengen / EU
4 min read

Schengen Visa Photo Specifications (35×45mm Rules)

Choose the destination handling your Schengen visa application. Review its photo checklist, including Austria and Belgium, before preparing a 35×45 mm print or a digital upload.

Includes preparation steps, troubleshooting and application questions.

Dimensions35 mm wide by 45 mm high
Head Size %Follow the destination checklist’s head-framing diagram
Canada flagCanada
5 min read

Canadian Passport Photo Requirements

Canadian passport photo guidance for professional photography and printed applications. Digital renewals and other immigration documents have their own instructions.

Includes preparation steps, troubleshooting and application questions.

Dimensions50 mm wide by 70 mm high (2×2 3/4 inches)
Head Size %31 mm to 36 mm (1 1/4 to 1 7/16 inches) from chin to crown
United States flagUnited States
5 min read

Green Card Photos: I-485, I-90 and Visa Routes

Check the photo instructions for your green card application route: Form I-485, I-90 renewal or consular processing. Paper photos and biometrics are different steps.

Includes preparation steps, troubleshooting and application questions.

Dimensions2×2 inches where passport-style prints are requested
Head Size %1 inch to 1 3/8 inches (25 mm to 35 mm) from chin to crown (50-69%)
Germany flagGermany
5 min read

Germany Visa & Passport Photo Requirements: 2026 Official Rules & Size Specifications

German biometric photo rules for Schengen and national visas and German passports, based on the BMI photo template, including the May 2025 switch to digital-only photos for passports and ID cards applied for in Germany.

Includes preparation steps, troubleshooting and application questions.

Dimensions35×45 mm (3.5×4.5 cm)
Head Size %70% to 80% of total frame (32 mm to 36 mm from chin to crown)
Australia flagAustralia
4 min read

Australia Visa and Passport Photo Requirements: Choose Your Route

Separate Australian passport prints from visa application uploads. Review the application checklist, prepare the requested photo and check the actual output before submitting.

Includes preparation steps, troubleshooting and application questions.

DimensionsPassport prints: 35–40 mm wide × 45–50 mm high; visa uploads: follow the application
Head Size %32 to 36 mm from chin to crown (71% to 80% of total frame)
Canada flagCanada
4 min read

Canada Express Entry & Permanent Residence (PR) Photo Requirements

IRCC official specifications for Canadian Permanent Residence online portal uploads, e-APR (electronic Application for Permanent Residence), and PR confirmation cards.

Includes preparation steps, troubleshooting and application questions.

DimensionsDigital: at least 420×540 pixels; print: 50×70 mm
Head Size %Face length between 31 mm and 36 mm (chin to crown)
United Arab Emirates flagUnited Arab Emirates
4 min read

UAE Visa & Emirates ID Photo Specifications (ICP & GDRFA Guide)

Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) and GDRFA Dubai guidelines for Emirates ID cards, tourist visas, and golden visas.

Includes preparation steps, troubleshooting and application questions.

Dimensions35×45 mm or 40×50 mm (600 DPI, minimum 300×369 pixels for digital smart channels)
Head Size %70% to 80% of total image area
China flagChina
5 min read

China Visa Photo Requirements: Print Size and Online Uploads

Review China visa photo dimensions, compare printed photos with the active visa-centre upload instructions, and prepare the correct file for your application.

Includes preparation steps, troubleshooting and application questions.

Dimensions33×48 mm (digital: 354×472 to 420×560 pixels)
Head Size %Head width 15–22 mm, head height 28–33 mm (chin to crown)
South Korea flagSouth Korea
4 min read

South Korea Passport & Visa Photo Guidelines (35×45mm MOFA)

Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and Korea Immigration Service photo regulations for South Korean passport issuance, K-ETA, and visa applications.

Includes preparation steps, troubleshooting and application questions.

Dimensions35×45 mm (digital K-ETA: 700×700 px or standard 35×45 mm portrait ratio)
Head Size %32 to 36 mm from top of head to chin (71% to 80%)
Universal / International flagUniversal / International
6 min read

Baby & Infant Passport Photo Guide: How to Take Compliant Photos at Home

Master guidelines and proven parent hacks for capturing 100% compliant infant, baby, and toddler passport photos at home without tears or pharmacy retakes.

Includes preparation steps, troubleshooting and application questions.

DimensionsUS print: 2×2 inches; Indian overseas passport upload: 630×810 pixels; check the route-specific requirements for other countries
Head Size %US: 50–69% (1 to 1 3/8 in); UK/EU: 70–80% (relaxed tolerance for infants under 1 year)
Canada flagCanada
5 min read

Canada Visa Photo Requirements: Temporary Resident Applications

Prepare the right photo for a Canadian temporary resident visa. Compare printed-photo measurements with your online checklist, and keep passport and PR requirements separate.

Includes preparation steps, troubleshooting and application questions.

DimensionsPrinted TRV photo: at least 35 × 45 mm
Head Size %31–36 mm, chin to crown, for the linked printed TRV specification
United States flagUnited States
3 min read

Can You Smile in a Passport Photo?

How to prepare a neutral expression, avoid an accidental smile and find the expression rules for your application.

Includes preparation steps, troubleshooting and application questions.

DimensionsSelect the application before choosing dimensions
Head Size %Application-specific
Canada flagCanada
3 min read

What to Wear for a Passport Photo

Prepare clothing, glasses and head coverings before taking your photo, with a checklist for checking application-specific exceptions.

Includes preparation steps, troubleshooting and application questions.

DimensionsSelect the application before choosing dimensions
Head Size %Application-specific
United Kingdom flagUnited Kingdom
3 min read

How to Take a Passport Photo at Home

A practical capture checklist, including when home photography is allowed and when a professional photographer is required.

Includes preparation steps, troubleshooting and application questions.

DimensionsSelect the application before choosing dimensions
Head Size %Application-specific
Canada flagCanada
4 min read

PR Card Photo Requirements: Online and Paper Applications (Canada)

The photo for a Canadian permanent resident card: 715×1000 to 2000×2800 pixels and 4 MB online, or two 50×70 mm prints by mail, from a commercial photographer.

Includes preparation steps, troubleshooting and application questions.

DimensionsOnline: 715×1000 to 2000×2800 px, JPEG, 4 MB or less. Paper: 50×70 mm
Head Size %Chin to crown 31–36 mm (paper photos)
Canada flagCanada
4 min read

Canadian Citizenship Photo Requirements: Online and Paper Applications

Photo rules for a Canadian citizenship application: one JPEG of at least 420×540 pixels online, or two identical 50×70 mm prints by mail, taken by a commercial photographer.

Includes preparation steps, troubleshooting and application questions.

DimensionsOnline: at least 420×540 px, JPEG, about 240 kB and no more than 4 MB. Paper: 50×70 mm
Head Size %Chin to crown 31–36 mm