Passport photo for visa applications: sizes and rules by country

Applying for a visa often means hunting down a photo that meets a completely different set of rules than your passport photo. The sizes look similar, the backgrounds sound the same — but submit the wrong one and your application gets rejected before anyone even reads your name.

This guide breaks down visa photo requirements for the most common destinations so you know exactly what to print before you apply.

Are visa photos the same as passport photos?

Sometimes, but not always. The rules around expression, glasses, and background are usually very similar — neutral expression, eyes open, no heavy shadows. What changes most often is the physical size of the photo.

The most important thing to understand: visa photo requirements are set by the destination country, not your home country. A US citizen applying for a Chinese visa needs to follow China’s photo specifications, not the US State Department’s. Many people assume their standard passport photo will work for any visa. It often doesn’t.

US visa photo requirements

If you already have a US passport photo, you’re in luck — the US visa photo is identical.

• Size: 2×2 inches (51×51mm)
• Background: Plain white
• Head size: Must occupy 50–69% of the frame, measured from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head
• Glasses: Not permitted (same rule as the US passport)
• Expression: Neutral, mouth closed

This applies to tourist visas (B-2), work visas, student visas, and most other US nonimmigrant visa categories. Learn more about US passport photo size requirements.

UK visa photo requirements

The UK uses a slightly different size than the US, and the background color matters more than people expect.

• Size: 35×45mm
• Background: Cream or light grey — not pure white
• Head height: Must be between 29mm and 34mm within the frame
• Expression: Neutral, mouth closed
• Glasses: Not allowed

Using a white background when UK guidelines specify cream or light grey is one of the most common reasons UK visa photos get flagged. The distinction is subtle on screen but real in practice.

Schengen visa photo requirements

The Schengen area covers 27 European countries, and they follow a shared photo standard based on ICAO biometric guidelines.

• Size: 35×45mm
• Head height: 32–36mm within the frame (this is the critical measurement — stricter than many other countries)
• Background: White or very light grey/cream
• Expression: Neutral, mouth closed, eyes clearly open
• Glasses: Not allowed

The head proportion rule catches a lot of people off guard. A photo where your head fills 28mm of the frame might look fine to you but will fail the Schengen check. Always verify head height, not just overall photo dimensions.

Indian visa photo requirements (for foreign applicants)

India’s e-visa and sticker visa both require the same specification:

• Size: 2×2 inches (51×51mm)
• Background: Plain white
• Head coverage: Face must cover 70–80% of the frame
• Expression: Neutral, eyes open, looking directly at the camera
• Glasses: Not recommended; avoid tinted lenses entirely

The high face-coverage requirement (70–80%) means India’s photo ends up looking more zoomed in than a typical US passport photo even though the dimensions are the same.

China visa photo requirements

China has its own distinct size that differs from both the US and European standards.

• Size: 33×48mm
• Background: White
• Head height: 28–33mm within the frame
• Clothing: Light-colored clothing is encouraged; avoid white tops that blend into the background
• Expression: Neutral, mouth closed

The 33×48mm size is specific enough that most standard photo booths won’t produce it correctly. You’ll need a tool that lets you set custom dimensions or has a China visa preset.

Canada visitor visa photo requirements

• Size: 35×45mm
• Background: White
• Head height: 31–36mm within the frame
• Expression: Neutral, mouth closed
• Glasses: Not allowed

Canada’s requirements closely mirror the Schengen standard. If you’ve already prepared a Schengen visa photo, it will likely work for a Canadian visitor visa as well — but always verify against the current IRCC guidelines before submitting.

Australia visa photo requirements

Australia’s Department of Home Affairs accepts photos in line with ICAO standards:

• Size: 35×45mm (or 45×35mm landscape for some older forms — check your specific application)
• Background: Plain white or off-white
• Head height: 32–36mm within the frame
• Expression: Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open
• Glasses: Not permitted

Common mistakes that get visa photos rejected

Using your passport photo size for a different country’s visa. A 2×2 inch US passport photo submitted with a UK visa application is the wrong size. Even a few millimeters off can trigger a rejection.

Submitting an outdated photo. Most countries require photos taken within the last six months. A photo from your last passport renewal two years ago won’t qualify.

Wrong background color for that specific country. UK visa guidelines call for cream or light grey — not white. Schengen and Australia accept white or very light cream. China requires white. These are not interchangeable.

Head proportion outside the allowed range. The overall photo dimensions being correct doesn’t mean the head size within the frame is correct. Always check both measurements.

Glasses in the photo. The US, UK, Schengen, Canada, and Australia all prohibit glasses. When in doubt, remove them.

How to get the right size for any visa

The fastest way to avoid size errors is to use a tool that has country-specific presets built in. Our passport and visa photo tool includes preset sizes for US visa, UK visa, Schengen, India, China, Australia, Canada, and more — so you don’t have to calculate dimensions manually or guess whether your crop meets the head-proportion rules.

Upload your photo, select the destination country, and the tool handles the cropping and sizing automatically. You’ll get a print-ready file at the correct dimensions with the right background.

For a deeper comparison of how passport and visa requirements overlap and differ, see our passport photo vs visa photo guide. For cost information, including where to get photos printed once you have the right file, see how much passport photos cost.