Canada
- Print size
- 35 × 45 mm
- Face size
- 31–36 mm chin to crown
- Background
- Plain white or light grey
Two identical prints. The photographer's name, address and the date must be printed on the back or on a label.
Official requirementsVisa photo rules,
country by country.
Half the photos rejected at visa centres are rejected for the same four reasons, and none of them is the size. Take this page to your photo studio.
Rules that apply almost everywhere
Get these six right and your photo will pass in most countries. Get one wrong and the application stops at the counter, which costs you an appointment slot, not just a reprint.
- RecentTaken within the last six months, and it must look like you look now.
- Neutral expressionMouth closed, no smile, both eyes open and clearly visible.
- Straight to cameraHead square to the lens, not tilted or turned. Shoulders level.
- No spectaclesSeveral countries now ban glasses outright. When in doubt, remove them — nobody is refused for not wearing glasses.
- Head coveringPermitted for religious reasons, but the full face from chin to forehead must be uncovered.
- No shadows or glareEven lighting, plain background, no shadow behind the head, no flash reflection.
Sizes below are the commonly applied specifications. Some posts and lodgement channels differ, and digital-upload requirements are not always the same as print requirements. Confirm on the official link for your destination before you pay a studio.
Country by country
Take this page to the studio. Most photo shops in India shoot to one generic size and it is not the right one for half these countries.
United States
- Print size
- 51 × 51 mm (2 × 2 in)
- Face size
- 25–35 mm head height
- Background
- Plain white or off-white
Taken within the last six months. No spectacles at all — this is the rule people most often get wrong.
Official requirements
United Kingdom
- Print size
- 35 × 45 mm printed
- Face size
- Face clearly visible, no shadows
- Background
- Plain light grey or cream
Most UK applications now take a digital photo at the visa centre or through the app, so a printed photo may not be needed at all.
Official requirements
Australia
- Print size
- 35 × 45 mm
- Face size
- 32–36 mm chin to crown
- Background
- Plain light background
Written details are usually required on the reverse. Check whether your lodgement channel wants prints or an upload.
Official requirements
Germany & Schengen
- Print size
- 35 × 45 mm
- Face size
- 32–36 mm face height
- Background
- Neutral light grey
Schengen posts apply the specification strictly and reject borderline prints at the counter. Use a studio that knows the Schengen standard.
Official requirements
New Zealand
- Print size
- 35 × 45 mm
- Face size
- Face centred, neutral expression
- Background
- Plain light background
Digital upload is common. Where a print is required, no borders and no gloss finish.
Official requirements
Ireland
- Print size
- 35 × 45 mm
- Face size
- Face clearly visible
- Background
- Plain light background
Two identical prints are usually asked for, with your application reference written on the back.
Official requirements
UAE & Gulf
- Print size
- 43 × 55 mm is commonly required
- Face size
- Head and shoulders, face centred
- Background
- Plain white
Requirements vary by emirate, employer and application channel more than anywhere else here. Confirm the exact size before printing.
Official requirementsWhere photos actually go wrong
Not the size. These four.
- Shot against a cream wallLooks white to the eye, reads as off-colour on scan. Use a proper backdrop, not your living room.
- Glasses left onThe most common single reason a photo is bounced at the visa centre counter.
- Cropped from an old photoResizing a wedding photo never passes. Head proportion and resolution both fail.
- Printed on glossy paperMatte finish is expected almost everywhere. Gloss causes glare on scanning.
Build your full document checklistPhotos are one line on it — get the rest right too
Not sure your photo will pass?
Send it to us before you print a set of eight. Thirty seconds of checking saves an appointment slot and a second trip to the studio.