Passport & Visa Photo Size Guide: Exact Dimensions in mm, Inches, and Pixels at 300 DPI
Reference table and cropping guide for US (2x2 inch), UK/EU/Schengen (35x45mm), India, Canada, and China passport and visa photos converted to exact 300 DPI pixel dimensions.
Passport and visa applications are routinely rejected because digital photo uploads have the wrong aspect ratio, insufficient resolution, or incorrect head framing. Physical print standards are specified in inches or millimeters, whereas online immigration portals validate uploads by pixel width and height.
To convert any physical photo size into pixels for crisp thermal printing or portal upload, multiply the physical measurement in inches by 300 DPI (Dots Per Inch)—or divide millimeters by 25.4 and multiply by 300.
1. Official International Passport Photo Size Reference (300 DPI)
| Country / Standard | Physical Size (mm) | Physical Size (Inches) | Exact Pixels @ 300 DPI | Aspect Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States (Passport & Visa) | 51 × 51 mm | 2.0 × 2.0 in | 600 × 600 px | 1:1 (Square) |
| UK, EU, Schengen, Australia | 35 × 45 mm | 1.38 × 1.77 in | 413 × 531 px | 7:9 |
| India (Passport Seva / OCI) | 51 × 51 mm (or 35 × 45 mm) | 2.0 × 2.0 in | 600 × 600 px | 1:1 |
| Canada Passport | 50 × 70 mm | 1.97 × 2.76 in | 591 × 827 px | 5:7 |
| China Visa | 33 × 48 mm | 1.30 × 1.89 in | 390 × 567 px | 11:16 |
2. The Conversion Formula Explained
// 1 inch = 25.4 millimeters
Pixels = Math.round((Millimeters / 25.4) * DPI)
// Example: 35mm width at 300 DPI
Width_px = Math.round((35 / 25.4) * 300) = 413 px
Height_px = Math.round((45 / 25.4) * 300) = 531 px3. Checklist to Avoid Biometric Rejection
- Head Height Ratio: Crown of head to chin should occupy 70% to 80% of the total vertical frame height (roughly 29mm to 34mm on a 45mm tall photo).
- No Eyeglass Glare: Most jurisdictions (including the US since 2016) strictly prohibit eyeglasses in passport photos.
- File Weight Limit: If the portal also enforces a file size ceiling (e.g., 20KB–100KB), pass your cropped photo through our Compress Image to 100KB tool after cropping.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many pixels is a 2x2 inch US passport photo at 300 DPI?
At 300 DPI (dots per inch), a 2×2 inch US passport photo is exactly 600 × 600 pixels. For online DS-160 or passport renewal portals, the US State Department accepts square images between 600×600 px and 1200×1200 px.
How many pixels is a 35x45 mm UK or Schengen visa photo at 300 DPI?
35 mm equals 1.378 inches and 45 mm equals 1.772 inches. Multiplying by 300 DPI gives 413 × 531 pixels.
Does the Passport Photo Cropper remove backgrounds automatically?
No. The tool crops and resizes your photo to exact millimeter/inch aspect ratios at 300 DPI locally in your browser, so you should take your original photo in front of a plain white or off-white wall with even lighting.