Passport Photo Dimensions

Issued by national governments, a passport is a highly important document necessary for international travel. The main purpose of this is to certify the nationality and identity of the owner. Some of its very important elements include sex, date of birth and name. It also contains valuable information about the holder’s citizenship, nationality and place of birth. Aside from these things, another highly important part of a passport is the holder’s photo. In order to have a better understanding of what these things are all about, it is good to know the different passport photo dimensions.

The Dimensions of a Passport Photo

The photo is one of the most important elements of a passport because it helps authorities identify people easier. Because of this, it is very important to pay good attention to the different photo details. In terms of size, the picture must be 2 inches wide and 2 inches long. Because it is important to identify the identity of people right away, the picture of the face must be clear, the size of which must be somewhere between 1 inch and 1-3/8 inches. It must have a clear view of the space between chin and the top of the head.

Additional Facts and Other Important Details

Before you put your photograph in a passport, be sure to abide by certain requirements and standards first because not all pictures are valid. First, it must be taken sometime in the last 6 months. Of course, it must show your current appearance. Next, be sure that your photo is colored. It must show your entire face, specifically the front part. The background of the picture must be off-white or plain white to emphasize the face even more.

Be sure to wear normal street clothes before you have your passport photo taken. Wearing uniforms is not allowed, with the exception of religious outfits that are part of daily clothing. The use of headgears or hats is not allowed. Do not put anything on that can obscure the appearance of your hair and hairline. In case you normally use hearing devices and prescription glasses, you must wear them in case you will have your passport photo taken. The same thing also applies for wigs as well as a number of other items.

Never wear nonprescription glasses, especially if the lenses are tinted. The same rules also apply for dark glasses. They are unacceptable except if they are used for medical reasons. If this is the case, be sure to prepare a valid medical certificate. You can easily avoid inconveniences by following these all-important facts.