South Africa passport photo maker
Upload a photo or take one with your phone. We find your face, crop it to 35 × 45 mm with your head at the official size, optionally replace the background, check the result and make a print sheet.
- Never uploaded
- Free, no sign-up
- No watermark
- Works on phones
- Works offline after one download
Not an official tool. The passport or visa office decides; always check the official rules.
The crop size, head position and background colors change with the document.
Your files are processed on your device and never uploaded.
Drag the photo to move it. Line up your head with the dashed outline.
Your photo
Works offline after one download.
How to make a South Africa passport photo
- Upload a recent, front-facing photo, or take one on your phone in front of a plain light wall in even light.
- Your face is detected and the crop is fitted to 35 × 45 mm. Adjust the zoom and position so your head fits the outline.
- Choose a background, press “Create photo”, review the checklist, then download the photo or a 4 × 6 in (10 × 15 cm) print sheet to print.
South Africa passport photo requirements we check
| Requirement | Rule | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Photo size | 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm) · 600 × 600 px at 300 DPI | travel.state.gov — Passport photos checked Oct 11, 2026 |
| Head height | 1–1⅜ in (25–35 mm), top of hair to chin (50%–69% of the height) | travel.state.gov — Passport photos checked Oct 11, 2026 |
| Eye height | 1⅛–1⅜ in (29–35 mm) from the bottom (56%–69%) | travel.state.gov — Passport photos checked Oct 11, 2026 |
| Background | Plain white or off-white, no shadows | travel.state.gov — Passport photos checked Oct 11, 2026 |
| Head position | Centered, facing the camera, not tilted unconfirmed or guideline Official rule: head centered and facing the camera. The allowed offset (share of image width) is a tool heuristic. | travel.state.gov — Passport photos checked Oct 11, 2026 |
| Eyeglasses | Not allowed (except rare medical cases with a signed statement) | travel.state.gov — Passport photos checked Oct 11, 2026 |
| Age of photo | Taken in the last 6 months | travel.state.gov — Passport photos checked Oct 11, 2026 |
Official rules: travel.state.gov. The final decision is made by the U.S. Department of State.
| Requirement | Rule | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Photo size | 600 × 600 px digital photo (2 × 2 in printed); JPEG, 240 kB or less for online forms | travel.state.gov — Digital image requirements checked Oct 11, 2026 |
| Head height | 50%–69% of the photo height (top of hair to chin) | travel.state.gov — Photo composition template checked Oct 11, 2026 |
| Eye height | 56%–69% of the height, from the bottom | travel.state.gov — Photo composition template checked Oct 11, 2026 |
| Background | Plain white or off-white, no shadows unconfirmed or guideline Official rule: plain white or off-white background. Brightness (0-1), variation and color limits are tool heuristics measured on the border area around the head. | travel.state.gov — Visa photo requirements checked Oct 11, 2026 |
| Eyeglasses | Not allowed | travel.state.gov — Visa photo requirements checked Oct 11, 2026 |
| Age of photo | Taken in the last 6 months | travel.state.gov — DV-2026 instructions (PDF) checked Oct 11, 2026 |
Official rules: travel.state.gov. The final decision is made by the U.S. Department of State.
| Requirement | Rule | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Photo size | 35 × 45 mm · 413 × 531 px at 300 DPI | gov.uk — Photos for passports checked Oct 11, 2026 |
| Head height | 29–34 mm, crown (top of head) to chin (64%–76% of the height) unconfirmed or guideline 29–34 mm from chin to crown is the figure published for printed UK photos; we could not confirm it on GOV.UK during our last check. Digital applications are cropped by HM Passport Office (at least 600 × 750 px, 50 kB–10 MB). | gov.uk — Photos for passports checked Oct 11, 2026 |
| Background | Plain cream or light grey, with clear contrast | gov.uk — Photos for passports checked Oct 11, 2026 |
| Head position | Centered, facing the camera, not tilted unconfirmed or guideline Official rule: head centered and facing the camera. The allowed offset (share of image width) is a tool heuristic. | gov.uk — Photos for passports checked Oct 11, 2026 |
| Eyeglasses | Best removed; if worn, no glare, tinted lenses or frames over the eyes unconfirmed or guideline Best removed; if worn, no glare, tinted lenses or frames over the eyes | gov.uk — Photos for passports checked Oct 11, 2026 |
| Age of photo | Taken in the last month | gov.uk — Photos for passports checked Oct 11, 2026 |
Official rules: www.gov.uk. The final decision is made by HM Passport Office.
| Requirement | Rule | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Photo size | 50 × 70 mm (2 × 2¾ in) · 591 × 827 px at 300 DPI | canada.ca — Passport photos checked Oct 11, 2026 |
| Head height | 31–36 mm, crown (top of head) to chin (44%–51% of the height) | canada.ca — Passport photos checked Oct 11, 2026 |
| Background | Plain white or light-coloured, no shadows | canada.ca — Passport photos checked Oct 11, 2026 |
| Head position | Centered, facing the camera, not tilted unconfirmed or guideline Official rule: head centered and facing the camera. The allowed offset (share of image width) is a tool heuristic. | canada.ca — Passport photos checked Oct 11, 2026 |
| Eyeglasses | Allowed if the eyes are clearly visible, with no glare or tinted lenses unconfirmed or guideline Allowed if the eyes are clearly visible, with no glare or tinted lenses | canada.ca — Passport photos checked Oct 11, 2026 |
| Age of photo | Taken in the last 6 months | canada.ca — Passport photos checked Oct 11, 2026 |
Official rules: www.canada.ca. The final decision is made by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
| Requirement | Rule | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Photo size | 35 × 45 mm · 413 × 531 px at 300 DPI | passports.gov.au — Photo guidelines checked Oct 11, 2026 |
| Head height | 32–36 mm, crown (top of head) to chin (71%–80% of the height) | passports.gov.au — Photo guidelines checked Oct 11, 2026 |
| Background | Plain white or light grey | passports.gov.au — Photo guidelines checked Oct 11, 2026 |
| Head position | Centered, facing the camera, not tilted unconfirmed or guideline Official rule: head centered and facing the camera. The allowed offset (share of image width) is a tool heuristic. | passports.gov.au — Photo guidelines checked Oct 11, 2026 |
| Eyeglasses | Best removed; if worn, no glare, tinted lenses or frames over the eyes unconfirmed or guideline Best removed; if worn, no glare, tinted lenses or frames over the eyes | passports.gov.au — Photo guidelines checked Oct 11, 2026 |
| Age of photo | Taken in the last 6 months | passports.gov.au — Photo guidelines checked Oct 11, 2026 |
Official rules: www.passports.gov.au. The final decision is made by the Australian Passport Office.
| Requirement | Rule | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Photo size | 35 × 45 mm · 413 × 531 px at 300 DPI | German Foreign Office — Biometric passport photos (PDF) checked Oct 11, 2026 |
| Head height | 32–36 mm, crown (top of head) to chin (71%–80% of the height) | German Foreign Office — Biometric passport photos (PDF) checked Oct 11, 2026 |
| Background | Plain, light and even (light grey works best) | German Foreign Office — Biometric passport photos (PDF) checked Oct 11, 2026 |
| Head position | Centered, facing the camera, not tilted unconfirmed or guideline Official rule: head centered and facing the camera. The allowed offset (share of image width) is a tool heuristic. | German Foreign Office — Biometric passport photos (PDF) checked Oct 11, 2026 |
| Eyeglasses | Allowed if the eyes are clearly visible, with no reflections or tinted lenses | German Foreign Office — Biometric passport photos (PDF) checked Oct 11, 2026 |
| Age of photo | Taken in the last 6 months | German Foreign Office — Biometric passport photos (PDF) checked Oct 11, 2026 |
Official rules: hongkong.diplo.de. The final decision is made by the consulate of the Schengen country you apply to.
| Requirement | Rule | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Photo size | 33 × 48 mm · 390 × 567 px at 300 DPI unconfirmed or guideline | visaforchina.cn — Chinese Visa Application Service Center checked Oct 11, 2026 |
| Head height | 28–33 mm, crown (top of head) to chin (58%–69% of the height) unconfirmed or guideline 28–33 mm from chin to crown with 3–5 mm above the head, as published by visa photo guides that cite the Chinese embassy. We could not open the official page to confirm. Online applications use 354 × 472 to 420 × 560 px. | visaforchina.cn — Chinese Visa Application Service Center checked Oct 11, 2026 |
| Space above the head | About 4 mm unconfirmed or guideline 28–33 mm from chin to crown with 3–5 mm above the head, as published by visa photo guides that cite the Chinese embassy. We could not open the official page to confirm. Online applications use 354 × 472 to 420 × 560 px. | visaforchina.cn — Chinese Visa Application Service Center checked Oct 11, 2026 |
| Background | Plain white or near-white, no borders unconfirmed or guideline | visaforchina.cn — Chinese Visa Application Service Center checked Oct 11, 2026 |
| Head position | Centered, facing the camera, not tilted unconfirmed or guideline Official rule: head centered and facing the camera. The allowed offset (share of image width) is a tool heuristic. | visaforchina.cn — Chinese Visa Application Service Center checked Oct 11, 2026 |
| Eyeglasses | Not allowed unconfirmed or guideline Not allowed | visaforchina.cn — Chinese Visa Application Service Center checked Oct 11, 2026 |
| Age of photo | Taken in the last 6 months unconfirmed or guideline | visaforchina.cn — Chinese Visa Application Service Center checked Oct 11, 2026 |
Official rules: www.visaforchina.cn. The final decision is made by the Chinese Visa Application Service Center or embassy.
| Requirement | Rule | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Photo size | 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm) · 600 × 600 px at 300 DPI | evisa.gov.et — Ethiopia e-Visa portal checked Oct 17, 2026 |
| File | JPEG, JPG or PNG, under 2 MB | evisa.gov.et — Ethiopia e-Visa portal checked Oct 17, 2026 |
| Head height | 1–1⅜ in (25–35 mm), top of hair to chin (50%–69% of the height) unconfirmed or guideline The e-Visa portal's photo tips give the size (2 × 2 in) but no head size. We use the usual range for 2 × 2 in photos (head 50–69% of the height, top of hair to chin). | evisa.gov.et — Ethiopia e-Visa portal checked Oct 17, 2026 |
| Background | Plain white | evisa.gov.et — Ethiopia e-Visa portal checked Oct 17, 2026 |
| Head position | Centered, facing the camera, not tilted unconfirmed or guideline Official rule: head centered and facing the camera. The allowed offset (share of image width) is a tool heuristic. | evisa.gov.et — Ethiopia e-Visa portal checked Oct 17, 2026 |
| Eyeglasses | Not mentioned on the e-Visa portal unconfirmed or guideline The portal's photo tips don't mention glasses. Taking them off avoids glare, a common reason photos are rejected. | evisa.gov.et — Ethiopia e-Visa portal checked Oct 17, 2026 |
| Age of photo | Taken in the last 6 months | evisa.gov.et — Ethiopia e-Visa portal checked Oct 17, 2026 |
| Color and lighting | In color, not over- or under-exposed | evisa.gov.et — Ethiopia e-Visa portal checked Oct 17, 2026 |
| Who takes it | No selfies; no filters or retouching | evisa.gov.et — Ethiopia e-Visa portal checked Oct 17, 2026 |
| Clarity | Clear, with no blurred or unclean background | evisa.gov.et — Ethiopia e-Visa portal checked Oct 17, 2026 |
Official rules: www.evisa.gov.et. The final decision is made by Ethiopia's Immigration and Citizenship Service.
| Requirement | Rule | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Photo size | 35 × 45 mm · 413 × 531 px at 300 DPI unconfirmed or guideline | Consulate General of Nigeria, Atlanta — Visa photo specification checked Oct 19, 2026 |
| Head height | 29–34 mm, crown (top of head) to chin (64%–76% of the height) | Consulate General of Nigeria, Atlanta — Visa photo specification checked Oct 19, 2026 |
| Background | White | Consulate General of Nigeria, Atlanta — Visa photo specification checked Oct 19, 2026 |
| Head position | Centered, facing the camera, not tilted unconfirmed or guideline Official rule: head centered and facing the camera. The allowed offset (share of image width) is a tool heuristic. | Consulate General of Nigeria, Atlanta — Visa photo specification checked Oct 19, 2026 |
| Eyeglasses | None, unless you wear them every day | Consulate General of Nigeria, Atlanta — Visa photo specification checked Oct 19, 2026 |
| Age of photo | Taken within the last 30 days | Consulate General of Nigeria, Atlanta — Visa photo specification checked Oct 19, 2026 |
| Colour | Full colour | Consulate General of Nigeria, Atlanta — Visa photo specification checked Oct 19, 2026 |
| Expression | Neutral, with eyes open and visible | Consulate General of Nigeria, Atlanta — Visa photo specification checked Oct 19, 2026 |
| Headgear | Only for religious purposes | Consulate General of Nigeria, Atlanta — Visa photo specification checked Oct 19, 2026 |
| File type | JPG, JPEG or PNG | Consulate General of Nigeria, Atlanta — Visa photo specification checked Oct 19, 2026 |
Official rules: www.nigeriaconsulateatlanta.org. The final decision is made by the Nigeria Immigration Service.
| Requirement | Rule | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Photo size | 5 × 5 cm (50 × 50 mm) · 591 × 591 px at 300 DPI | Embassy of Kenya (mfa.go.ke) — e-Passport requirements checked Oct 19, 2026 |
| Head height | 25–35 mm, top of hair to chin (50%–70% of the height) unconfirmed or guideline The Kenyan embassy’s page gives the size (5 × 5 cm) but no head size. We use the usual range for square photos: top of hair to chin about half to two thirds of the height. | Embassy of Kenya (mfa.go.ke) — e-Passport requirements checked Oct 19, 2026 |
| Background | White, with no shadows | Embassy of Kenya (mfa.go.ke) — e-Passport requirements checked Oct 19, 2026 |
| Head position | Centered, facing the camera, not tilted unconfirmed or guideline Official rule: head centered and facing the camera. The allowed offset (share of image width) is a tool heuristic. | Embassy of Kenya (mfa.go.ke) — e-Passport requirements checked Oct 19, 2026 |
| Eyeglasses | Not allowed (taken without spectacles) | Embassy of Kenya (mfa.go.ke) — e-Passport requirements checked Oct 19, 2026 |
| Age of photo | Recent (no age limit is stated; 6 months is a common rule) unconfirmed or guideline Recent (no age limit is stated; 6 months is a common rule) | Embassy of Kenya (mfa.go.ke) — e-Passport requirements checked Oct 19, 2026 |
| Expression | No smiling or laughing | Embassy of Kenya (mfa.go.ke) — e-Passport requirements checked Oct 19, 2026 |
| Face and ears | Full face with both ears visible | Embassy of Kenya (mfa.go.ke) — e-Passport requirements checked Oct 19, 2026 |
| Clarity | Clear, not blurred and without a dark hue | Embassy of Kenya (mfa.go.ke) — e-Passport requirements checked Oct 19, 2026 |
| How you send it | Uploaded with your e-Passport application on eCitizen, as JPEG or PNG; manual applications are not accepted | Embassy of Kenya (mfa.go.ke) — e-Passport requirements checked Oct 19, 2026 |
Official rules: accounts.ecitizen.go.ke. The final decision is made by Kenya’s Department of Immigration Services.
| Requirement | Rule | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Photo size | 35 × 45 mm · 413 × 531 px at 300 DPI | Home Affairs — Passport & ID photograph specifications (PDF) checked Oct 19, 2026 |
| Head height | 29–34 mm, crown (top of head) to chin (64%–76% of the height) | Home Affairs — Passport & ID photograph specifications (PDF) checked Oct 19, 2026 |
| Background | Light grey or plain cream-coloured, clearly different from your face | Home Affairs — Passport & ID photograph specifications (PDF) checked Oct 19, 2026 |
| Head position | Centered, facing the camera, not tilted unconfirmed or guideline Official rule: head centered and facing the camera. The allowed offset (share of image width) is a tool heuristic. | Home Affairs — Passport & ID photograph specifications (PDF) checked Oct 19, 2026 |
| Eyeglasses | Allowed if your eyes are clearly visible: no flash reflection, no dark-tinted lenses or heavy frames, and no frames over the eyes | Home Affairs — Passport & ID photograph specifications (PDF) checked Oct 19, 2026 |
| Age of photo | Not more than one month old | Home Affairs — Passport & ID photograph specifications (PDF) checked Oct 19, 2026 |
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed, looking directly at the camera; no grinning, frowning or raised eyebrows | Home Affairs — Passport & ID photograph specifications (PDF) checked Oct 19, 2026 |
| Framing | A close-up of your head and the top of your shoulders, facing square onto the camera | Home Affairs — Passport & ID photograph specifications (PDF) checked Oct 19, 2026 |
| Head coverings | Only for religious reasons, with your face from chin to forehead and both edges of the face showing | Home Affairs — Passport & ID photograph specifications (PDF) checked Oct 19, 2026 |
| Prints | Two identical colour photos for a passport (colour or black and white for an ID), printed professionally on high-quality photo paper | Home Affairs — Passport & ID photograph specifications (PDF) checked Oct 19, 2026 |
Official rules: www.dha.gov.za. The final decision is made by South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs.
| Requirement | Rule | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Photo size | 35 × 45 mm (3.5 × 4.5 cm) · 413 × 531 px at 300 DPI | Embassy of Uganda, Tokyo — Consular services checked Oct 19, 2026 |
| Head height | 32–36 mm, crown (top of head) to chin (71%–80% of the height) unconfirmed or guideline The Embassy of Uganda in Tokyo gives the size (4.5 × 3.5 cm) but no head size. We use the common range for 35 × 45 mm passport photos (32–36 mm, chin to crown). | Embassy of Uganda, Tokyo — Consular services checked Oct 19, 2026 |
| Background | White | Embassy of Uganda, Tokyo — Consular services checked Oct 19, 2026 |
| Head position | Centered, facing the camera, not tilted unconfirmed or guideline Official rule: head centered and facing the camera. The allowed offset (share of image width) is a tool heuristic. | Embassy of Uganda, Tokyo — Consular services checked Oct 19, 2026 |
| Eyeglasses | Not allowed | Embassy of Uganda, Tokyo — Consular services checked Oct 19, 2026 |
| Age of photo | Recent (no age limit is stated; 6 months is a common rule) unconfirmed or guideline Recent (no age limit is stated; 6 months is a common rule) | Embassy of Uganda, Tokyo — Consular services checked Oct 19, 2026 |
| Ears | Both ears visible | Embassy of Uganda, Tokyo — Consular services checked Oct 19, 2026 |
| Head coverings | No scarves or hats | Embassy of Uganda, Tokyo — Consular services checked Oct 19, 2026 |
| Colour | Coloured photos | Embassy of Uganda, Tokyo — Consular services checked Oct 19, 2026 |
| Where you apply | Online, on the Uganda e-Passport Application Portal (passports.go.ug) | Embassy of Uganda, Tokyo — Consular services checked Oct 19, 2026 |
Official rules: passports.go.ug. The final decision is made by Uganda’s Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control.
Rows marked “unconfirmed or guideline” are either published only by secondary sources, or describe an official rule without an exact number (the limit shown is how Picsawa measures it).
Other passport and visa photos
- U.S. passport photo 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm)
- U.S. visa photo 600 × 600 px digital photo (2 × 2 in printed)
- UK passport photo 35 × 45 mm
- Canada passport photo 50 × 70 mm (2 × 2¾ in)
- Australia passport photo 35 × 45 mm
- Schengen area visa photo 35 × 45 mm
- China visa photo 33 × 48 mm
- Ethiopia e-visa photo 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm)
- Nigeria visa photo 35 × 45 mm
- Kenya passport photo 5 × 5 cm (50 × 50 mm)
- Uganda passport photo 35 × 45 mm (3.5 × 4.5 cm)
- DV Lottery (green card) photo 600 × 600 px
Why use Picsawa
- Private by designFiles are processed on your device and never uploaded.
- Free, no sign-upNo account, no watermark and no daily limits.
- Works everywherePhones, tablets and computers, in any modern browser.
About the South Africa passport photo maker tool
A South Africa passport photo must be 35 × 45 mm. Your head must measure 29–34 mm, crown (top of head) to chin (64%–76% of the height). This tool measures your face and builds the crop to hit the middle of that range, then saves a 413×531 pixel JPEG at 300 DPI, which prints at exactly the right size.
Background: Light grey or plain cream-coloured, clearly different from your face. If yours isn’t, choose a background color and only the area behind you is replaced; your face and hair are not edited.
For printing, download the 4 × 6 in (10 × 15 cm) print sheet with as many copies as fit, print it at a photo shop or at home at 100% size, and cut along the edges. All processing happens in your browser; your photo is never uploaded.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a South Africa passport photo?
35 × 45 mm. In pixels at 300 DPI that is 413×531. The head must measure 29–34 mm, crown (top of head) to chin (64%–76% of the height).
Where do these South African passport photo rules come from?
From the Department of Home Affairs’ “Passport & ID Photograph Specifications”, as published by South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation: 35 × 45 mm, head 29–34 mm, light grey or plain cream background, not more than one month old, and two identical colour photos printed professionally.
Can I use this photo for a South African ID?
Yes. The same Home Affairs specification covers passports and IDs; for an ID, the photos may also be black and white.
Do I need to bring photos to Home Affairs?
Ask your Home Affairs office before you go: offices that capture your photo digitally may not need printed ones. When printed photos are needed, bring two identical ones taken in the last month.
How is the head size measured?
It is measured from your chin to the top of your head (crown). The tool estimates these points from your face and shows them as lines on the preview, so you can adjust the zoom if needed.
Can I wear glasses?
Allowed if your eyes are clearly visible: no flash reflection, no dark-tinted lenses or heavy frames, and no frames over the eyes. When in doubt, remove them: glare and frames over the eyes are a common reason photos are rejected.
How do I print my photo at the right size?
Download the print sheet (4 × 6 in (10 × 15 cm) print) and print it at 100% scale (“actual size”, not “fit to page”) on photo paper, or order a standard 4×6 print at a photo shop. Then cut out the photos.
Is this an official government tool?
No. This tool is not affiliated with any government. The final decision is made by South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs, so always check the official rules before you apply.
Not an official tool. This tool is not affiliated with any government. The final decision is made by the passport or visa office. Always check the official rules for your document before you apply.