Visa Photo Size: Requirements by Country (2026 Guide)

The US visa photo is 2×2 inches (600×600 pixels at 300 DPI). The UK, Canada, and Schengen visas use 35×45 mm. Every country has its own rules — wrong dimensions mean an automatic rejection. This guide gives you the exact numbers for 10 major countries, plus the mistakes that get photos thrown out.

Visa Photo Size by Country

The table below covers the countries that process the most visa applications. File size limits apply to digital submissions; print sizes apply to in-person or mail applications.

Quick rule of thumb: If you're applying to a US, Indian, or Brazilian visa office, use 2×2 inches / 600×600 px. For everything else in this table, 35×45 mm / 413×531 px is the standard.

US Visa Photo Requirements

The US Department of State publishes some of the strictest photo requirements of any country. Here is what matters for digital submissions to DS-160 and DS-11 forms.

Dimensions: 2×2 inches (51×51 mm). At 300 DPI, that is 600×600 pixels. The State Department accepts photos between 600×600 and 1200×1200 pixels — larger is fine, smaller is not.

Face position: Your face must occupy between 50% and 69% of the image's total height — measured from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head (including hair). The face must be centered horizontally.

File size: Maximum 240 KB for digital uploads. JPEG format only.

Background: White or off-white. No patterns, shadows, or gradients. The background must be uniformly lit.

Expression: Neutral expression, both eyes open and clearly visible. No smiling with teeth shown.

Head covering: Not permitted unless for religious reasons, and only if a signed statement is included.

Glasses: Not accepted since 2016. Remove glasses for all US visa and passport photos.

Sources: US Department of State travel.state.gov and the DS-160 online application guidelines.

UK Visa Photo Requirements

The UK Home Office specifies 35×45 mm prints for most physical applications. Digital uploads vary by application type — check your specific visa form for digital requirements.

Dimensions: 35 mm wide × 45 mm tall. At 300 DPI, that is approximately 413×531 pixels.

Background: Light grey or cream. Unlike the US, pure white is not required — a plain light-coloured background is acceptable.

Face position: Head must be centered and take up 70–80% of the photo. The photo must show the full face, from the top of the head to the chin.

Expression: Neutral. Eyes open, looking directly at the camera.

Recency: Taken within the last 6 months.

Glasses: Not permitted. Remove glasses.

Printing: If submitting a physical photo, it must be printed on photo-quality paper and must not be printed on a home inkjet printer.

Source: UK Government official guidance (gov.uk/photos-for-passports).

Schengen / EU Visa Photo Requirements

The Schengen Area — which covers 27 European countries — follows the ICAO Document 9303 standard for visa photos. All Schengen member states accept the same specification.

Dimensions: 35×45 mm. This is the same physical size as UK photos.

Background: Plain white or very light grey. No patterns.

Face position: Face centered, looking straight ahead. Head height (chin to crown) should be 70–80% of the photo height.

Expression: Neutral, mouth closed.

Recency: Taken within 6 months.

Glasses: Not permitted as of current ICAO guidelines.

Coverage: This specification applies to Schengen visa applications at any consulate — France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, and all other Schengen states. Always verify with the specific consulate for your application, as some add local requirements.

Source: ICAO Document 9303 Part 1 and Schengen visa application guidelines.

Canadian Visa Photo Requirements

Canada accepts two photo sizes depending on the application type.

Standard size: 35×45 mm — used for most immigration and visa applications. This matches the UK and Schengen standard.

Alternative size: 50×70 mm — required for some specific forms. Check your application form's instructions before printing.

Background: White or light-coloured. No dark or patterned backgrounds.

Face position: Head centered, face forward, between 31–36 mm of the 45 mm height should be occupied by the face (chin to crown).

Recency: Taken within the last 6 months.

Expression: Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open.

Glasses: Not permitted since December 2020.

Digital submissions: For Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) online applications, upload a JPEG between 60 KB and 4 MB. Minimum 420×540 pixels.

Source: IRCC official photo specifications.

Indian Visa Photo Requirements

India's e-Visa system — one of the world's most frequently used digital visa platforms — uses a 2×2 inch square photo, matching the US specification.

Dimensions: 2×2 inches (51×51 mm). At 300 DPI: 600×600 pixels.

Face coverage: The face must occupy at least 80% of the photo area — stricter than the US specification.

Background: White only. No exceptions.

Format: JPEG. Maximum file size: 1 MB.

Expression: Neutral, both eyes open, facing the camera.

Recency: Taken within the last 6 months.

Head covering: Permitted only for religious reasons.

Source: Indian e-Visa application portal.

How to Resize Your Photo for a Visa Application

Most people try to resize photos in image editors that default to pixel dimensions without checking DPI — then get rejected because the printed size is wrong. Here is the method that works.

Step 1: Start with the highest-resolution source you have. A photo taken on a modern smartphone at full resolution (12–50 MP) gives you plenty of data to work with. Never upscale a small photo — upscaling creates soft edges that fail biometric checks.

Step 2: Crop to the correct aspect ratio first. Use Pixotter's crop tool to crop your photo to a square (1:1) for US/India/Brazil visas, or to a 3:4.3 ratio (width:height) for 35×45 mm visas. Crop to center your face with correct head coverage before resizing.

Step 3: Resize to the exact pixel dimensions. Open Pixotter's resize tool. Enter the exact width and height in pixels from the table above. Lock the aspect ratio if you want — but for visa photos, you should already have the correct ratio from step 2.

• US visa: 600 wide × 600 tall
• UK/Schengen/Canada/Japan/South Korea: 413 wide × 531 tall
• India e-Visa: 600 wide × 600 tall

Step 4: Check the output file size. US digital submissions cap at 240 KB. If your resized photo exceeds this, use Pixotter's compress tool to reduce file size without changing pixel dimensions.

Step 5: Download and verify. Open the file and confirm the dimensions match. On Windows: right-click → Properties → Details. On Mac: open in Preview → Tools → Show Inspector.

Everything runs in your browser — your photo never leaves your device.

Common Mistakes That Get Visa Photos Rejected

Visa photo rejections are almost always avoidable. These are the mistakes that show up most often.

Wrong dimensions. A 4×6 inch print cropped to look square is not a 2×2 inch photo. Consulates measure. Submit the exact dimensions specified.

Wrong aspect ratio. Submitting a 600×800 pixel photo when 600×600 is required — even if it "looks" square — will fail automated checks. Use the pixel values in the table above.

File size too large. The US cap is 240 KB. Many smartphone JPEGs are 3–8 MB. Resize to the correct pixel dimensions first — that alone usually brings the file under the limit. If not, compress after resizing.

Wrong background. A slightly off-white background (cream, beige, pale blue) that looks neutral on your screen may fail the automated background check. Use a plain white wall or a purpose-made photo background, and ensure even lighting to eliminate shadows.

Shadows on the background or face. A shadow behind the head is one of the most common rejection reasons. Ensure the light source is in front of you, not behind.

Glasses. No country in this guide allows glasses in visa photos as of 2026. This includes prescription glasses, sunglasses, and tinted lenses.

Head covering. Not permitted except for documented religious reasons. Hats, beanies, and headbands all cause rejections.

Expression. Smiling (especially with teeth), raised eyebrows, or a tilted head will fail automated biometric checks. Face forward, neutral expression, eyes fully open.

Old photo. Most countries require a photo taken within the last 6 months. Submitting an older photo — even if it passes all other checks — can invalidate your application.

Low resolution or blurry. A 72 DPI screen-grab resized to 600×600 pixels will look blurry and fail. Start from a high-resolution source photo. See how to change image DPI if you need to adjust DPI for print submissions.

FAQ

What is the standard visa photo size in pixels?

It depends on the country. US, India, and Brazil use 600×600 pixels (2×2 inches at 300 DPI). UK, Schengen/EU, Canada, Japan, South Korea, China, and Australia use approximately 413×531 pixels (35×45 mm at 300 DPI). Always verify with the specific embassy or application portal before submitting.

Can I use the same photo for multiple visa applications?

Only if the countries use identical specifications and the photo was taken within each country's recency window (usually 6 months). US and India both use 2×2 inches, for example, so the same photo works for both — if the background and expression rules are also satisfied for each. UK and Schengen use the same 35×45 mm size and similar rules, so those often overlap too.

What is 35×45 mm in pixels?

At 300 DPI (the standard for photo printing), 35×45 mm equals 413×531 pixels. At 600 DPI (high-resolution print), it equals 827×1063 pixels. For digital submissions, 413×531 is the safe baseline — check the specific embassy guidelines, as some specify minimum pixel dimensions independently of DPI.

What file format do I need for a visa photo?

JPEG (JPG) is accepted by every country in this guide. PNG is accepted for some UK and Schengen applications. When in doubt, use JPEG. Avoid HEIC (iPhone's default format) — convert to JPEG before submitting.

My photo is the right size but keeps getting rejected — what am I missing?

Dimension errors are the most common cause, but background issues and facial expression are close behind. Check: (1) the background is uniformly white or light grey with no shadows, (2) your face fills the correct percentage of the frame, (3) no glasses, (4) neutral expression with both eyes fully open. Also confirm the photo was taken within 6 months.

Is passport photo size the same as visa photo size?

Usually yes — most countries use the same photo specification for both passports and visas. The US uses 2×2 inches for both. UK and Schengen use 35×45 mm for both. There are exceptions: some countries have slightly different background colour requirements for passport photos versus visa photos. Always check the specific application instructions rather than assuming your passport photo works for the visa application.

Related guides: Wallet Photo Size · Standard Photo Dimensions · Standard Photo Print Sizes · Photo Frame Sizes · How to Crop a Photo on iPhone · Resize for Printing