Passport photo guides
The parts people get wrong, written from what each authority actually publishes rather than from a single country's rules applied everywhere.
Passport photo size, country by countryPassport photo sizes compared: US 2x2 in, UK 35x45 mm, Australia a 35-40 by 45-50 mm range. Head height, file limits and why one photo rarely works twice.Open Can you wear glasses in a passport photo?Glasses rules differ by country. The US and Australia refuse them outright, the UK asks you not to unless you must. What each authority actually says.Open How recent does a passport photo have to be?Most countries accept a photo from the last six months. The UK asks for one taken in the last month. What each authority requires and why it matters.Open How to take a passport photo at homeTake a passport photo at home: light, background, camera settings and framing. What actually gets photos refused and how to check yours before you pay.Open What background does a passport photo need?Most guides say white. Three of the authorities we track refuse pure white and ask for light grey or neutral. What each country actually specifies.Open How many passport photos do you need?One, two, or none at all. Canada and Australia want two identical prints, the US wants one, and a UK application can be entirely digital.Open Is a visa photo the same as a passport photo?Canada uses 50x70 mm for a passport and 35x45 mm for a visa. The US matches on size but not on file limits. When one photo serves both, and when it does not.Open Can you smile in a passport photo?No, and the reason is not aesthetic. A smile moves the features facial recognition measures. What neutral actually means, and what counts as a smile.Open