Passport photo size, country by country

The sizes side by side

Three of the four common English-speaking destinations use the same 35 by 45 mm rectangle that Europe settled on. The United States is the outlier, and it is the one people get wrong most often, because a square crop is not something you can improvise from a rectangular print.

• United States: 2 x 2 inches, which is 51 x 51 mm, square
• United Kingdom: 35 mm wide by 45 mm high
• Australia: 35 to 40 mm wide by 45 to 50 mm high, a range
• Schengen area: 35 x 45 mm, following ICAO Doc 9303

Head height matters more than the border

Getting the outer dimensions right and the head wrong is the commonest way to fail. Each authority specifies how much of the frame your head must fill, measured from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head, hair included.

The US asks for 1 to 1.4 inches inside a 2 inch frame, so roughly half to two thirds. The UK asks for 29 to 34 mm inside 45 mm, which is a much tighter band. Australia wants 32 to 36 mm. A photo cropped for one of these will sit outside the band for another even when the paper size matches.

Digital files have their own rules

Applying online adds a second set of constraints that have nothing to do with millimetres. The US wants a square file between 600x600 and 1200x1200 pixels, sized between 54 KB and 10 MB. The UK wants at least 600 by 750 pixels and between 50 KB and 10 MB.

These ranges are wide enough that a good photo will usually satisfy them, but they are worth checking before you pay for anything, because a file that is too small cannot be fixed by resizing it up.

Can one photo cover several countries

Sometimes, and it is worth knowing when. A 35 by 45 mm photo that satisfies the UK will generally satisfy Schengen requirements and Australia's range, because the head-height bands overlap.

The United States is the exception. Its square format means a rectangular photo cannot be reused, and the head band sits lower than the European one. Plan for a separate US photo.

What size is a passport photo?

It depends on the country. The US uses 2 by 2 inches (51 x 51 mm), the UK and most of Europe use 35 by 45 mm, and Australia accepts anything from 35 to 40 mm wide by 45 to 50 mm high.

Why is the US passport photo square?

The US settled on a 2 by 2 inch format that predates the European standard and never aligned with it. It is the practical reason a European photo cannot be reused for a US application.

Can I use the same photo for a UK and a Schengen application?

Usually yes. Both use 35 by 45 mm and the head-height requirements overlap. Check the recency rule though: the UK wants a photo from the last month, which is stricter than most.

How much of the photo should my head fill?

US 1 to 1.4 inches of a 2 inch frame, UK 29 to 34 mm of 45 mm, Australia 32 to 36 mm. Measured from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head including hair.