Passport & ID Photo Requirements by Country — Complete Comparison

Q: Can I wear glasses in a passport photo?

No, for most countries. The US, Canada, UK, Australia ban glasses entirely since 2016. Japan allows prescription glasses with conditions. EU Schengen visa allows glasses if eyes fully visible with no glare.

Q: How recent does a passport photo need to be?

Six months for most countries. The UK is strictest — photos must be within 1 month for passport, BRP, driving licence, and citizenship.

Q: What is the difference between passport and visa photo requirements?

For many countries they are the same. UK passport requires light grey; UK visa accepts white or light grey. Japan visa size varies by consulate. US passport and visa use the same 51×51 mm format.

Q: What resolution is required for passport photos?

300 DPI minimum for most. Canada requires 600 DPI. UK requires 600 DPI. UAE Emirates ID requires 600 DPI. Digital uploads often specify minimum pixel dimensions.

Q: Can the same photo be used for different documents?

Only if specs are identical. UK driving licence and passport use same size but passport requires light grey and 1-month recency. Always verify per document.

The short version: what most countries require

Before the full table, the pattern that covers ~80% of all documents worldwide:

Size: 35×45 mm (width × height)
Background: plain white or very light grey
Expression: neutral, mouth closed
Eyes: both open, looking directly at the camera
Glasses: not permitted (most countries)
Recency: taken within 6 months

The notable exceptions — countries that deliberately differ from this standard — are highlighted in the tables below.

Full requirements table

Country	Document	Size	Background	Recency	Notes
🇪🇺 EU	Passport	35×45 mm	White or light grey	6 months	Unified across all 27 Schengen states
🇪🇺 EU	ID Card	35×45 mm	White or light grey	6 months
🇪🇺 EU	National ID	35×45 mm	White	6 months
🇪🇺 EU	Driver's Licence	35×45 mm	White or light grey	6 months
🇪🇺 EU	Residence Permit	35×45 mm	White or light grey	6 months
🇺🇸 US	Passport	51×51 mm	White or off-white	6 months	Square format — different from most countries
🇺🇸 US	Visa	51×51 mm	White or off-white	6 months	Same as passport
🇺🇸 US	Green Card	51×51 mm	White or off-white	6 months
🇺🇸 US	DV Lottery	51×51 mm	White	6 months	Digital upload only
🇺🇸 US	Naturalization	51×51 mm	White	6 months
🇺🇸 US	Driver's License	51×51 mm	White or grey	6 months	Varies by state
🇬🇧 UK	Passport	35×45 mm	Light grey or cream	1 month	Strictest recency globally
🇬🇧 UK	Visa	35×45 mm	White or light grey	6 months
🇬🇧 UK	Driving Licence	35×45 mm	Light grey	1 month
🇬🇧 UK	Citizenship	35×45 mm	Light grey	1 month
🇬🇧 UK	BRP	35×45 mm	Light grey	1 month
🇨🇦 Canada	Passport	50×70 mm	White	6 months	Larger format; home printing not accepted
🇨🇦 Canada	PR Card	50×70 mm	White	6 months	No home printing; guarantor signature required
🇨🇦 Canada	Citizenship	50×70 mm	White	6 months	600 DPI required
🇨🇦 Canada	Visa	50×70 mm	White	6 months
🇦🇺 Australia	Passport	35×45 mm	White or light grey	6 months
🇦🇺 Australia	Citizenship	35×45 mm	White or light grey	6 months
🇦🇺 Australia	Visa	35×45 mm	White or light grey	6 months
🇮🇳 India	Passport	35×45 mm	White or light grey	6 months
🇮🇳 India	Visa	35×45 mm	White	6 months
🇮🇳 India	PAN Card	25×35 mm	White	6 months	Smaller format
🇨🇳 China	Passport	33×48 mm	White or light grey	6 months	Non-standard size
🇨🇳 China	Resident ID	33×48 mm	White	6 months
🇨🇳 China	Visa	33×48 mm	White or light grey	6 months
🇯🇵 Japan	Passport	35×45 mm	White	6 months	Glasses allowed with conditions
🇯🇵 Japan	Visa	35×45 mm	White	6 months	Size varies by consulate
🇸🇬 Singapore	Passport	35×45 mm	White	6 months
🇸🇬 Singapore	Employment Pass	35×45 mm	White	6 months
🇦🇪 UAE	Emirates ID	35×45 mm	White	6 months	600 DPI; no digital alterations
🇦🇪 UAE	Residence / Visa	45×55 mm	White	6 months	Larger format than standard
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia	Iqama	50×50 mm	White	6 months	Square format
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia	Visa / Hajj	51×51 mm	White	6 months	Same size as US
🇶🇦 Qatar	ID / RP Card	35×45 mm	White	6 months
🇶🇦 Qatar	Residence / Visa	35×45 mm	White or light grey	6 months
🇹🇷 Turkey	Passport	50×60 mm	White	6 months	Larger format
🇹🇷 Turkey	National ID	50×60 mm	White	6 months
🇹🇷 Turkey	Visa	50×60 mm	White	6 months
🇷🇺 Russia	International Passport	35×45 mm	White	6 months
🇷🇺 Russia	Internal Passport	35×45 mm	White	6 months
🇷🇺 Russia	Visa	35×45 mm	White	6 months
🇺🇦 Ukraine	Passport	35×45 mm	White	6 months
🇧🇷 Brazil	Passport	35×45 mm	White	6 months
🇧🇷 Brazil	ID Card (RG)	35×45 mm	White	6 months
🇲🇽 Mexico	Visa	35×45 mm	White	6 months	Common at many consulates; not universal
🇲🇽 Mexico	Visa (alt.)	39×31 mm	White	6 months	Some consulates; confirm before printing
🇲🇽 Mexico	INE ID Card	35×45 mm	White	6 months
🇦🇷 Argentina	Passport	40×40 mm	White	6 months	Square format
🇨🇴 Colombia	Passport	40×40 mm	White	6 months	Square format
🇪🇬 Egypt	Passport	40×60 mm	White	6 months	Larger format
🇵🇰 Pakistan	Passport	35×45 mm	White	6 months
🇵🇰 Pakistan	NICOP	35×45 mm	White	6 months	For overseas Pakistanis
🇧🇩 Bangladesh	Passport	35×45 mm	White	6 months
🇳🇬 Nigeria	Passport	35×45 mm	White	6 months
🇰🇪 Kenya	Passport	35×45 mm	White	6 months
🇿🇦 South Africa	Passport	35×45 mm	White or light grey	6 months
🇲🇾 Malaysia	Passport	35×50 mm	White or light blue	6 months	Non-standard size
🇮🇩 Indonesia	Passport	35×45 mm	White or light blue	6 months
🇻🇳 Vietnam	Passport	40×60 mm	White or light blue	6 months
🇰🇷 South Korea	Passport	35×45 mm	White	6 months
🇹🇭 Thailand	Passport	35×45 mm	White	6 months
🇵🇭 Philippines	Passport	35×45 mm	White	6 months
🇮🇱 Israel	Passport	35×45 mm	White or light grey	6 months
🇯🇴 Jordan	Visa	35×45 mm	White	6 months
🇱🇧 Lebanon	Visa	35×45 mm	White	6 months
🇮🇶 Iraq	Passport	35×45 mm	White	6 months
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan	Passport	35×45 mm	White	6 months
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan	Passport	35×45 mm	White	6 months
🇲🇦 Morocco	Passport	35×45 mm	White	6 months
🇳🇵 Nepal	Passport	35×45 mm	White	6 months
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	ETA Visa	35×45 mm	White	6 months
🇵🇪 Peru	Passport	35×45 mm	White	6 months
🇨🇱 Chile	Visa	35×45 mm	White	6 months
🇻🇪 Venezuela	Passport	35×45 mm	White	6 months
🇦🇲 Armenia	Passport	35×45 mm	White	6 months
🇬🇪 Georgia	Visa	35×45 mm	White	6 months
🇷🇸 Serbia	Visa	35×45 mm	White	6 months

Countries that don't follow the 35×45 mm standard

Most of the world uses 35×45 mm. These countries are the exceptions — using this table for them without checking will result in a rejected application:

Country / Document	Size	Why it differs
🇺🇸 US passport, visa, green card	51×51 mm (2×2 in)	US uses imperial measurements and a square format
🇨🇦 Canada passport, PR, citizenship	50×70 mm	Canada's federal standard is larger than ICAO default
🇸🇦 Saudi Iqama / residence	50×50 mm	Square format
🇹🇷 Turkey passport, ID, visa	50×60 mm	Larger format specific to Turkish authorities
🇦🇪 UAE residence / visa	45×55 mm	Slightly larger than standard
🇨🇳 China passport, ID, visa	33×48 mm	Non-standard dimensions
🇪🇬 Egypt passport	40×60 mm	Taller format
🇻🇳 Vietnam passport	40×60 mm	Taller format
🇦🇷 Argentina passport	40×40 mm	Square format
🇨🇴 Colombia passport	40×40 mm	Square format
🇲🇾 Malaysia passport	35×50 mm	Taller than standard
🇮🇳 India PAN card	25×35 mm	Smaller than standard

Countries with non-white background requirements

Most countries require white. These require something different:

Country / Document	Background	Note
🇬🇧 UK passport, BRP, driving licence	Light grey or cream	Not white — white will be rejected
🇨🇭 Switzerland passport, ID	Plain grey	Not white — most common Swiss photo mistake
🇮🇩 Indonesia passport	White or light blue	Blue is accepted
🇲🇾 Malaysia passport	White or light blue	Blue is accepted
🇻🇳 Vietnam passport	White or light blue	Blue is accepted
🇨🇳 China passport	White, light grey, or light blue	Three options accepted

Countries with recency stricter than 6 months

Country / Document	Recency required
🇬🇧 UK passport, BRP, driving licence, citizenship	Within 1 month
🇬🇧 UK visa	Within 6 months
All others in this table	Within 6 months

Countries where glasses rules differ from the standard ban

Most countries now ban glasses entirely. Exceptions:

Country	Rule
🇯🇵 Japan	Prescription glasses allowed if both eyes fully visible, no glare
🇪🇺 Schengen visa	Allowed if no glare, eyes fully visible, clear lenses

Countries with notable home printing restrictions

Country	Rule
🇨🇦 Canada	Home printing explicitly prohibited by IRCC
🇬🇧 UK	Photo paper required; home printing on regular paper rejected
🇦🇪 UAE Emirates ID	ICP explicitly rejects digitally altered photos

Frequently asked questions

What is the standard passport photo size?

35×45 mm (35 mm wide, 45 mm tall) is the most common format globally, used by the EU, UK, Australia, India, Japan, and most other countries. The main exceptions are the US (51×51 mm / 2×2 inch) and Canada (50×70 mm).

What background colour is required for passport photos?

Most countries require plain white. The UK requires light grey or cream — not white. Switzerland requires plain grey. Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam accept white or light blue. All countries require the background to be uniform and shadow-free.

Can I wear glasses in a passport photo?

No, for most countries. The US, Canada, UK, Australia, and most others have banned glasses entirely since 2016. Japan allows prescription glasses with conditions. EU Schengen visa allows glasses if eyes are fully visible with no glare.

How recent does a passport photo need to be?

Six months for most countries. The UK is the strictest globally — photos must be taken within the last 1 month for passport, BRP, driving licence, and citizenship applications.

What is the difference between passport photo requirements and visa photo requirements?

For many countries they are the same. Exceptions: UK passport requires light grey background but UK visa accepts white or light grey. Japan visa size varies by consulate. US passport and visa use the same 51×51 mm format.

Does 35×45 mm mean 3.5 cm × 4.5 cm?

Yes. 35 mm = 3.5 cm, 45 mm = 4.5 cm. When ordering at a print lab, 35×45 mm and 3.5×4.5 cm are the same thing.

What resolution is required for passport photos?

300 DPI minimum for most countries. Canada requires 600 DPI for passport and PR card. UK requires 600 DPI. UAE Emirates ID requires 600 DPI. For digital uploads, most portals specify minimum pixel dimensions rather than DPI.

Can the same photo be used for different documents?

Only if the specifications are identical. For example, a UK driving licence and UK passport use the same size (35×45 mm) but the passport requires light grey background and the photo must be within 1 month. Always verify per document, not per country.