Passport and visa photos come in two dominant sizes worldwide, and submitting the wrong one is one of the most common reasons an application is rejected. The two standards are 35×45 mm (portrait) and 2×2 inch (square). This guide explains exactly which countries use each, the precise pixel and head-height requirements, and how to produce either correctly.
The two standards side by side
| Spec | 35×45 mm | 2×2 inch |
|---|---|---|
| Shape | Portrait | Square |
| Physical size | 35 × 45 mm (3.5 × 4.5 cm) | 51 × 51 mm (2 × 2 in) |
| Pixels (print) | ≈ 413 × 531 px | 600 × 600 px |
| Head height | Country-specific (≈ 70–80%) | 1–1.4 in (25–35 mm) |
| Used by | India, UK, EU, Australia, most | United States |
35×45 mm — the international standard
35×45 mm (3.5×4.5 cm) is the portrait-orientation photo used by India and most of Europe, the UK, Australia and many other countries for passports and visas. At the 300 DPI usually required for print, that works out to roughly 413×531 pixels. Head size and background rules vary slightly by country, so check your authority's page — but the frame size itself is consistent. Make one with the Passport Photo 35×45 mm tool.
2×2 inch — the US standard
2×2 inches (51×51 mm) is the square photo required for US passports and US visas, including the Diversity Visa lottery. The US Department of State specifies a digital photo of 600×600 pixels (and accepts up to 1200×1200), taken within the last six months, with the head measuring between 1 and 1.4 inches (25–35 mm) from chin to crown. Use the Passport Photo 2×2 inch tool to crop to the exact square.
“Your photo size should be 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm)... In pixels, the size should be 600 x 600 to 1200 x 1200 pixels. The head must be between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches (25–35 mm).”
How to make either size
- Start from a recent, front-facing photo against a plain light background.
- Pick the tool for your size — 35×45 mm or 2×2 inch — and it crops to the exact ratio so your head is framed correctly.
- If your portal also caps the file size, compress the result to the required KB before uploading.
- Download and submit. Files are processed in your browser and never stored.
Frequently asked questions
- Is 2×2 inch the same as 35×45 mm?
- No. 2×2 inch (51×51 mm) is a square photo used by the United States; 35×45 mm is a portrait-shaped photo used by India, the UK, the EU and most other countries. They are not interchangeable.
- What is 2×2 inch in pixels?
- A US 2×2 inch passport photo is 600×600 pixels at the standard resolution, and the Department of State accepts up to 1200×1200 pixels.
- What is 35×45 mm in pixels?
- At the 300 DPI print standard, 35×45 mm is approximately 413×531 pixels. Some portals request a specific pixel size, so check the exact figure your application asks for.
- Can I crop a normal photo to a passport size myself?
- Yes — start from a clear front-facing photo with space around the head, then use a passport photo tool to crop to the exact ratio. Make sure the background, expression and head height also meet your authority's rules.