Visa Photo Maker: Correct Size for Every Country
Visa photo sizes are not universal. A Schengen visa wants 35x45 mm, China wants 33x48 mm, the US wants 2x2 inches, and Japan wants 45x45 mm — and several countries add their own background colour rule on top. A photo that is correct for one application will often be rejected by another.
The practical consequence is that you cannot reuse a single file across applications. Make one photo per application, matched to the spec that application publishes. Where a country accepts both a digital upload and a printed photo, the two can differ too: the US DS-160 takes a square JPEG between 600x600 and 1200x1200 pixels under 240 KB, while a consular interview asks for a printed 2x2 inch photo on photo paper.
This tool carries preloaded specs for the most common visa sizes. Pick your destination above, upload a photo, and download a file already set to the right dimensions, background and resolution.
Upload a photo
Drag a photo here, or click to browse
JPG, PNG, or WebP up to 10 MB
Photo specifications
- Size
- 35 × 45 mm
- Pixels
- 413 × 531 px
- Output
- 300 DPI
- Backgrounds
Common uses
- Schengen short-stay visa applications. — The 26 Schengen countries share one photo specification: 35x45 mm with the head 32-36 mm tall on a light background.
- US visa applications (DS-160). — A square digital upload in a 600-1200 pixel range, under 240 KB, plus a printed 2x2 inch photo for the interview.
- China, Japan, India and other country-specific applications. — Each publishes its own size. Select the country preset and the tool sets the dimensions and default background for you.
- Visa renewals and re-applications. — Requirements change, and the photo must have been taken within the last 6 months in most jurisdictions. Make a fresh one rather than reusing an old file.
Visa Photo Sizes by Destination
The sizes used most often. Where a country publishes more than one format, the one shown is the primary visa application format.
| Unit | Width | Height | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schengen area | 35 mm | 45 mm | 413x531 px at 300 DPI; head 32-36 mm tall |
| United States (DS-160) | 51 mm | 51 mm | Square 2x2 in; 600-1200 px, JPEG, under 240 KB |
| China | 33 mm | 48 mm | 390x567 px at 300 DPI; white background |
| Japan | 45 mm | 45 mm | 531x531 px at 300 DPI; square |
| India | 51 mm | 51 mm | Square 2x2 in; 600x600 px at 300 DPI |
| United Kingdom | 35 mm | 45 mm | 413x531 px at 300 DPI; UK visa and immigration |
| Canada | 50 mm | 70 mm | 591x827 px at 300 DPI; larger than most |
Several of these overlap: any 35x45 mm photo satisfies Schengen, the UK, Australia and most of Europe. The outliers are the square formats (US, Japan, India) and Canada’s taller 50x70 mm. Confirm against your own application form — consulates update requirements without notice.
What Visa Photo Applications Check
Rules differ by country, but these are the properties that are checked almost everywhere.
- 1. Exact dimensions for the destination.Print size and aspect ratio must match the published spec. A 35x45 mm photo submitted where 33x48 mm is required is rejected regardless of how good it looks.
- 2. Correct background colour.White or light grey for most. Some authorities specify otherwise — several Southeast Asian countries require blue or red — so check before you export.
- 3. Head size and position.Most visa specs define a head-height range, typically 70-80% of the frame for 35x45 mm. Your head should be centred with your eyes on the horizontal midline.
- 4. Taken within the last 6 months.Nearly universal. The photo must match your current appearance.
- 5. No glasses, no headwear, neutral expression.Glasses are excluded by most authorities including the US, the UK and Schengen countries. Headwear is allowed only for religious or medical reasons.
- 6. Sharp, unaltered, correctly exposed.No filters, no retouching, no red-eye removal and no beauty filters. Even lighting with no shadows on the face or background.
Consulates can and do change these requirements. Check the official guidance for your destination before submitting — the links below cover the largest application volumes.
Official sources
The figures on this page were checked against these sources. Requirements change, so confirm the details that apply to your own application before you submit.
- European Commission — Schengen visa photo requirements
- US Department of State — Visa Photo Requirements
- GOV.UK — Photo rules for visa and immigration applications
Last reviewed 2026-09-13.
How to Make a Visa Photo
- 1Select your destination country in the preset list above. The tool loads its size, aspect ratio and default background colour.
- 2Upload a recent photo. Front-facing, evenly lit, with your head and shoulders filling a good part of the frame.
- 3Let the background be replaced. The original is removed automatically and swapped for the colour your destination requires.
- 4Adjust the crop to the head-size guide. The on-screen guides show the range the selected spec allows.
- 5Check the resolution. Digital uploads usually state a pixel range and a file-size cap; printed photos need 300 DPI or higher.
- 6Download as JPG for uploads and printing, or as PNG if you need a transparent background.
Applying to several countries: make one photo per application. Even where two countries share a size, the background colour or head-height rule may differ.
Why Visa Photos Get Rejected
The failures that come back most often, in rough order of frequency.
- Wrong size for the destination. Using a 35x45 mm photo for a China application, or a 2x2 photo for Schengen. Sizes are not interchangeable.
- Wrong background colour. White is not universal. Check what the consulate specifies before you export.
- Photo older than 6 months. One of the most common reasons, and the easiest to avoid.
- Glasses or headwear. Excluded by most authorities. Remove both unless you have a documented medical or religious reason.
- File rejected by the upload form. Usually format or file size. US DS-160 needs JPEG under 240 KB; most forms reject PNG or multi-megapixel files.
- Shadows on the face or background. Caused by a single light source to one side. Face a window or put a light next to the camera.
Visa Photo Questions
What size is a Schengen visa photo?▾
35x45 mm, with the head 32 to 36 mm tall. That is about 413x531 px at 300 DPI.
What size is a China visa photo?▾
33x48 mm, with a white background. That is about 390x567 px at 300 DPI.
Can one visa photo work for several countries?▾
Often, but not always. Visa photo specs differ between countries, so make one per application.