How to Resize a Photo for a Passport or Visa Form

To resize a photo for a passport or visa form, first read the official photo rules of the office you are applying to, then use the Resize Image tool to set the exact size. The tool has common passport-style sizes, but they are not official rules.

Every country, office and form sets its own requirements. Size, file type, background, head position and file size can all differ. This guide shows how to resize a photo, and how to avoid the mistakes that get photos rejected.

What you need

• The photo on your phone
• The official instructions for your application. Look for the size in pixels or millimetres, the file type and the maximum file size.
• A few minutes

Steps to resize a photo for a passport or visa form

1. Open the official photo instructions for your application and note the size, the file type (usually JPG), the maximum file size and any rules about the background and the face.
2. Open the Resize Image tool, tap the box and choose your photo. It stays on your device and is not uploaded.
3. Choose Pixels to type the exact width and height the instructions give. If the instructions give millimetres, check whether they also give pixels. If they do not, you may use Common sizes as a starting point and then compare the result with the rules.
4. Under Common sizes, you can choose Passport-style photo, 35 × 45 mm (413 × 531 px) or Square photo, 2 × 2 inch (600 × 600 px). These are widely used shapes, but they are not official requirements.
5. Choose how the photo should fit. Fill and crop covers the exact size and trims the edges. Keep proportions fits the whole photo inside the size and may leave space. Stretch squashes the picture and is usually a bad idea for a face.
6. If the form gives a maximum file size, set a Target size so the tool lowers the quality only as far as needed.
7. Tap Resize image, download the result and look at it carefully. Check that the face is centred, nothing is cut off and the picture looks natural.

Why the rules matter

Passport and visa offices often check photos by software and by people. A photo can be rejected for a wrong size, shadows on the face, glasses glare, a patterned background, or the head being too big or too small in the frame.

A size that works for one country may not work for another. 35 × 45 mm is used by many countries, while others use a square 2 × 2 inch photo, and online forms often ask for a certain number of pixels as well. This is why the tool calls its sizes “common sizes”. Always follow the instructions of your own application.

Getting a good photo to start with

Resizing cannot fix a poor photo. If you can, take a new one:

• Stand in front of a plain, light wall, in even light with no shadow on your face.
• Face the camera straight on with a neutral look, and keep your head level.
• Have someone else hold the phone at eye height, a little back from you, so the picture is not distorted.
• Do not use filters, beauty modes or heavy editing.

Some offices say clearly that edited photos are not allowed. If you change the background with our Remove Background tool, check first that your office accepts a photo like that. If the rules ask for a plain background, a clean wall in good light is the safest choice.

Keep the file within the size limit

If the form has a limit such as 100 KB, use the Target size option in Resize Image, or run the resized photo through Compress Image. Look at the result at full size. A face that is blurred or covered in blocky patches may be rejected.

If you only need to trim the photo to a shape first, use Crop Image with a passport-style box, then resize.

Common problems

The face looks squashed. You probably used Stretch. Go back and use Fill and crop instead.

The photo is cut off at the top. Fill and crop trims the edges. Crop the photo yourself first with Crop Image so the head and shoulders sit where you want them.

The website rejects the file. Compare its message with the rules: size in pixels, file size, file type, or an uploaded photo that is too dark or too light. Fix one thing at a time.

The photo looks smaller than the form asks. Making a small photo bigger cannot add detail. Start from a larger original.

Frequently asked questions

Are the common sizes official?

No. They are sizes many forms use, but every country and office has its own rules. Always follow the instructions of the application you are filling in.

What size is a passport photo in pixels?

It depends on the application. Some online forms give an exact pixel size, and some give a size in millimetres. This tool lists 413 × 531 px for a 35 × 45 mm photo at 300 dpi, but it is only a common size.

Can I use a photo taken with my phone?

Often, yes, if it meets the rules. Offices usually care about lighting, background, size and a clear face, not the camera. Check your office’s instructions.

Is my photo uploaded?

No. The photo is resized inside your browser, on your device. It is never sent to our servers or anyone else.

Should I change the background?

Only if the rules allow it. Some offices do not accept edited photos. The safest approach is to take the photo against a plain, light wall.