Passport Photo Size Chart: 56 Countries at a Glance (2026)

Passport photo specifications change every few years as countries update their biometric standards. The most common failure is the wrong size — submit a 2x2 inch photo for a country that wants 35x45 mm and the application gets rejected. The second most common failure is the wrong background colour — submit a white-background photo for a country that wants a specific shade of blue and the application gets rejected. To save you the time of cross-referencing 56 government websites, here is the consolidated 2026 cheat sheet.

The 10 most-requested countries (US, UK, Schengen, China, India, Canada, Australia, Japan, Brazil, Mexico)

United States: 2x2 inch (51x51 mm), white background, head height 1–1⅜ inch. United Kingdom: 35x45 mm, light grey or cream background, head height 29–34 mm. Schengen (visa): 35x45 mm, light background (white or off-white), head height 32–36 mm. China: 33x48 mm, white background, head height 28–33 mm. India: 35x35 mm (some sources 35x45), white background, head height 70–80% of frame. Canada: 50x70 mm, white background, head height 31–36 mm. Australia: 35x45 mm, light background, head height 32–36 mm. Japan: 35x45 mm, white or light grey, head height 32–36 mm. Brazil: 50x70 mm, white background. Mexico: 35x45 mm or 30x40 mm, white background.

How to actually use this cheat sheet

Open the BGRemover workspace, upload your photo, remove the background, then use the 'Passport' template (under the templates menu) to set the correct crop and background colour for your country. The template handles the resize, the background colour, and the head-height check. The result is a print-ready file at 300 DPI, which is the standard for passport photos worldwide.

Why head height matters more than image size

Embassies and passport offices reject photos for two main reasons: wrong image size (easy to fix by printing at the right size) and wrong head height (harder to fix, usually requires a re-shoot). The head height must be 70–80% of the frame, measured from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head (not including hair). Most passport apps and online tools reject photos where the head is too small or too large. Use the BGRemover passport template — the head-height check is built in.

Background colour rules by country

Most countries want white (US, Canada, China, India, Brazil, Mexico, Russia) or light grey / off-white (UK, Schengen, Australia, Japan). A handful of countries specify a particular blue: France historically used light blue for older ID cards, and some Schengen visa applications still want a specific shade. When in doubt, use white — the rejection rate is lowest. The BGRemover template picks the correct background colour per country automatically.