What Size Is a Passport Photo?
US passport photos are 2×2 inches; UK, EU and most of the world use 35×45 mm — the full size table with pixels at 300 dpi, plus head-height rules.
It depends on the country — the two dominant sizes are 2×2 inches (US) and 35×45 mm (UK, EU and most of the world). Both print at 300 dpi from the sheet maker — here’s the full table so you can match yours.
Passport photo sizes by country
| Country / document | Size | Pixels at 300 dpi |
|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 US passport & visa | 2×2 in (51×51 mm) | 600×600 px |
| 🇬🇧 UK passport | 35×45 mm | 413×531 px |
| 🇪🇺 Schengen / EU visa | 35×45 mm | 413×531 px |
| 🇮🇪 Ireland | 35×45 mm | 413×531 px |
| 🇮🇳 India passport | 2×2 in (51×51 mm) | 600×600 px |
| 🇦🇺 Australia / 🇳🇿 NZ | 35×45 mm | 413×531 px |
| 🇯🇵 Japan | 35×45 mm | 413×531 px |
| 🇨🇳 China visa | 33×48 mm | 390×567 px |
| 🇨🇦 Canada passport | 50×70 mm | 591×827 px |
The rule inside the size
Paper dimensions are only half the spec — each authority also fixes how much of the frame your head must fill:
- US: head measures 1–1⅜ in (25–35 mm) from chin to crown, eyes 1⅛–1⅜ in from the bottom edge.
- UK: head 29–34 mm — roughly two-thirds of the photo’s height.
- Schengen: face covers 70–80% of the frame (32–36 mm chin-to-crown).
A photo printed at the right size with the wrong head proportion is still rejected, so check the crop before committing a sheet.
Once you know your size
Pick the matching preset in the tool — 2×2 in, 35×45 mm and 33×48 mm are built in, and custom covers the rest. For what the “300 dpi” actually buys you (and when it doesn’t matter), see DPI explained; for getting prints made cheaply, where to print compares the channels; and the cutting guide turns the printed sheet into clean individual photos.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a US passport photo in pixels?
2×2 inches at 300 dpi = 600×600 pixels — the size the State Department expects for both prints and digital uploads. The online renewal portal accepts 600×600 to 1200×1200 px. For printing, our sheet maker tiles the 2×2 preset onto a 4×6 sheet (six photos per sheet) at true 300 dpi.
Is 35×45 mm the same as 2×2 inches?
No — 35×45 mm is a rectangle (roughly 1.4×1.8 in), while 2×2 in is a square (50.8 mm a side). They are not interchangeable: a US application needs the square, a UK/EU/Schengen application needs the rectangle. Submitting one where the other is required is a guaranteed rejection.
What size is a UK passport photo?
35 mm wide × 45 mm tall, with the head (chin to crown of head) measuring 29–34 mm — about two-thirds of the frame. UK digital uploads need a photo at least 600×750 px. Most of Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and India visa photos share the 35×45 mm format.
Can I use the same photo size for every country?
Not safely. The world splits into two camps — the 2×2 in square (US, India passport, most US visa work) and the 35×45 mm rectangle (UK, EU, Schengen, Australia, Japan) — plus outliers like Canada's 50×70 mm and China's 33×48 mm. If you travel across systems, print separate sheets rather than hoping one size passes both.
What about the head size inside the photo?
Each standard fixes the face's fraction of the frame, not just the paper size: US wants the head 25–35 mm (1–1⅜ in) chin-to-crown, UK 29–34 mm. A correctly sized print with a too-small head still fails — check the crop with a compliance tool like photochecker.passports.pics before you print.
How many passport photos fit on a 4×6 print?
Six 2×2 in photos (a 3×2 grid) or eight 35×45 mm photos in landscape orientation — the tool tries both rotations and picks whichever fits more. That's why the DIY route costs about 6 cents per photo instead of $8+ each at a drugstore counter.