Passport Photo Sizes by Country (Philippines, US, UK, and More)
Quick answer
Philippine passport photos are 35 × 45 mm (413 × 531 px at 300 dpi); US passport photos are 2 × 2 in (600 × 600 px). Check the form you are actually submitting, because visa and ID photos can differ from the general rule.
Most rejected passport photos are not bad photographs. They are the right photograph at the wrong size, or with the head too small in the frame. Both are fixable in a couple of minutes if you know the numbers.
The sizes
| Country | Photo size | Pixels at 300 dpi |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm) | 600 × 600 |
| Philippines (passport) | 35 × 45 mm | 413 × 531 |
| Philippines (2 × 2 ID) | 51 × 51 mm | 600 × 600 |
| United Kingdom | 35 × 45 mm | 413 × 531 |
| Schengen area / EU | 35 × 45 mm | 413 × 531 |
| Canada | 50 × 70 mm | 591 × 827 |
| Australia | 35 × 45 mm | 413 × 531 |
| India | 35 × 45 mm | 413 × 531 |
| China | 33 × 48 mm | 390 × 567 |
| Japan | 35 × 45 mm | 413 × 531 |
These are the common requirements, not a guarantee. Rules change, and a specific form can ask for something different from the general rule for that country — an overseas visa form, for instance, often follows the destination country rather than the one you are applying from. Read the form you are actually filling in.
Philippine passport and ID photo sizes
For a Philippine passport application, the photo is 35 × 45 mm. At 300 dpi that is 413 × 531 pixels. That is the same shape used by the UK, Schengen countries, Australia, India, and Japan, and it is the size to choose for a DFA passport appointment.
Many Philippine schools, visa applications, and government forms instead ask for a 2 × 2 inch photo, which is 51 × 51 mm or 600 × 600 pixels at 300 dpi. A 1 × 1 inch photo (25 × 25 mm, or 300 × 300 pixels) is still requested by some school and company IDs. The three sizes are not interchangeable, so check the instructions on the form before you print or upload.
| Use | Photo size | Pixels at 300 dpi |
|---|---|---|
| Philippine passport (DFA) | 35 × 45 mm | 413 × 531 |
| 2 × 2 ID / visa photo | 51 × 51 mm | 600 × 600 |
| 1 × 1 ID photo | 25 × 25 mm | 300 × 300 |
The DFA checklist also asks for a clear front view, a plain white background, a neutral expression, no glasses, and a photo taken within the last six months. Some offices ask for both ears to be visible, so keep hair away from the sides of the face. These are photographic requirements, not something a resize can fix: start with a photo that already meets them.
How to resize for a Philippine passport photo
- Open the image resizer and choose the PH passport 35×45 preset, or type 413 by 531 pixels.
- Check that the head is centred and that there is a little space above it. The resizer fits the photo inside the frame rather than stretching it.
- Download a JPG. If the form also has a file-size limit, run it through the image compressor and set a target such as 50 KB or 100 KB.
- Open the downloaded file and confirm the dimensions before uploading. A form that rejects the photo will not tell you which check failed.
Why pixels matter more than inches
Print size and pixel size are the same thing at a given resolution. At 300 dots per inch, one inch is 300 pixels, so a 2 × 2 inch photo is 600 × 600 pixels. The formula works for any size:
pixels = millimetres ÷ 25.4 × 300
For a 35 × 45 mm photo that gives 413 × 531 pixels. For 50 × 70 mm it gives 591 × 827. Rounding to the nearest pixel is fine.
How to make one
- Take the photo properly. Plain light background, even lighting, face square to the camera, neutral expression, no glasses, no filter. This is the part that cannot be fixed later.
- Crop to the right shape. Use your phone’s photo editor. Get the head roughly centred and leave a little space above it.
- Resize to the pixel numbers. Open the image resizer, type the width and height, and download. It runs in your browser, so the photo is not uploaded.
- Check the file size the form allows. Many application forms cap uploads at 20–50 KB. If yours does, run the result through the image compressor afterwards, then check the dimensions again.
What gets a photo rejected
- Head the wrong size. This is specified separately from the photo size. The US wants the head 25–35 mm tall in a 51 mm photo; the UK wants 29–34 mm in a 45 mm one. Measure chin to top of head, not top of hair.
- Shadows behind the head. Stand away from the wall and light from the front.
- Glasses. Most countries now refuse them, even with no glare.
- Smiling or a tilted head. Neutral expression, eyes open, mouth closed.
- Patterned or coloured background. Plain white or light grey is the safe choice.
- Beauty filters. They smooth skin and change the shape of the face; both are grounds for rejection.
- An old photo. Most authorities want one taken recently, and a photo that no longer looks like you will be refused even if it is the right size.
A note about DPI
The resizer works in pixels. That is what online application forms check, and it is enough for a print shop: at 300 dpi the dimensions in the table above produce exactly the right physical size. If a form asks you to confirm 300 dpi and still rejects the file, use the form’s own cropping step — some portals check the resolution tag inside the file rather than the pixel dimensions. For a printed photo, give the print shop the millimetres as well as the file.
Questions
What is the passport photo size in the Philippines?
35 × 45 mm, which is 413 × 531 pixels at 300 dpi. Use the PH passport 35×45 preset in the image resizer.
Is 2 × 2 the same as a Philippine passport photo?
No. A Philippine passport photo is 35 × 45 mm. 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm) is a different size, often used for visas, school records, and other government IDs. Check which one the form asks for.
What is a 1 × 1 photo in pixels?
300 × 300 pixels at 300 dpi. It is smaller than both the passport and 2 × 2 sizes, and some school and company IDs still request it.
Does the DFA require a white background?
Yes. The passport photo checklist calls for a plain white background, even lighting, a neutral expression, no glasses, and a recent photo. The exact checklist can change, so read the current DFA instructions before your appointment.
Can I use a photo from my phone?
Yes, if it has enough pixels. A 600 × 600 output needs at least that much detail to begin with; enlarging a small image produces a soft photo that may be rejected.
Does the background have to be white?
For the US and UK, plain white or off-white. Schengen countries accept white or light grey. Check the specific form.
Can I wear glasses?
Most countries now say no. If the form does not mention it, assume no and take the photo without them.
Can I smile?
No. A neutral expression with the mouth closed is the standard for nearly every passport authority.
Do I need a new photo for a renewal?
Usually yes. Renewal forms generally require a recent photo, and some require one taken within the last month. Check the instructions rather than reusing the old file.
Related
Common questions
What size is a Philippine passport photo?
35 × 45 mm, which is 413 × 531 pixels at 300 dpi. The same shape is used by the UK, Schengen countries, Australia, India, and Japan.
What size is a US passport photo?
2 × 2 inches, or 51 × 51 mm, which is 600 × 600 pixels at 300 dpi.
Can I use the same photo for a visa or ID?
Not always. A visa form often follows the destination country rather than the country you are applying from, and some IDs specify a different head size or background. Read the form you are actually submitting.