Passport & visa photo size by country
Passport and visa photo sizes vary by country. A US photo is 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm); UK and Schengen photos are 35 x 45 mm; a Canadian photo is 50 x 70 mm. Each has its own head-size range, background colour, and digital file rules — compared below and sourced from the official government spec.
| Country / document | Photo size | Head size | Background | Digital | Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States Passport | 2 × 2 in51 × 51 mm | 25–35 mm | plain white or off-white | JPEG, ≥600px | Check → |
| United States Visa | 2 × 2 in51 × 51 mm | 25–35 mm | plain white or off-white | JPEG, ≥600px≤220 kB | Check → |
| United Kingdom Passport | 1 3/8 × 1 3/4 in35 × 45 mm | 29–34 mm | plain light grey or cream | JPEG, ≥750px | Check → |
| Canada Passport | 2 × 2 3/4 in50 × 70 mm | 31–36 mm | plain white | JPEG, ≥700px | Check → |
| Schengen Area Visa | 1 3/8 × 1 3/4 in35 × 45 mm | 32–36 mm | plain white or light grey | JPEG, ≥750px | Check → |
Each figure is sourced from the relevant government body and shown with a "last verified" date on that country's page. Requirements change — always confirm against the official source before submitting.
See also our passport photo guides for glasses, babies, head coverings, and taking a photo at home.