How big should the head be in a Hong Kong passport photo?

Head 64 to 72 percent of the photo height (The size from chin to crown for the person in the photograph should be 32mm to 36mm. There should be sufficient headroom.). Our tool places the crop inside this range automatically and shows the guide lines so you can see it.

Can I wear glasses in a hksar passport photo (40 x 50 mm, chin to crown 32-36 mm, white background)?

Only if you have to. If you must wear them, no tinted lenses, and the frames, glare or reflections must not cover your eyes.

Can I take the photo myself with my phone?

Yes. Use the rear camera if you can, stand about 1.5 metres (5 feet) from the camera in front of a plain wall, face a window for even light, and have someone else press the button or use the timer. Our live guide shows where your head should be.

HKSAR Passport Photo (40 x 50 mm, chin to crown 32-36 mm, white background): size and requirements

Q: What background colour does Immigration Department, Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, 'Photograph Requirements for Travel Document' require?

The photograph should have a plain white background.. If your original background is already plain and even, you can keep it; otherwise we replace it.

Q: Is this the official Immigration Department, Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, 'Photograph Requirements for Travel Document' website?

No. We are an independent tool that prepares the photo. You apply for the document with Immigration Department, Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, 'Photograph Requirements for Travel Document'. The requirements on this page are quoted from their official page, linked above, and were last checked on 2026-10-10.

The HKSAR Passport Photo size is 40 x 50 mm (1.57 x 1.97 inches), or 1280 x 1600 pixels for online upload (minimum 1200 x 1600), file under 5 MB. The photograph should have a plain white background.; head 64 to 72 percent of the photo height. Last verified 2026-10-10 against Immigration Department, Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, 'Photograph Requirements for Travel Document'.

For the photograph submitted with a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport application by Chinese citizens who are Hong Kong permanent residents, whether uploaded through the Internet or ImmD mobile app, submitted at a self-service kiosk, or handed in as a print. The same rule covers the Document of Identity for Visa Purposes. Not for the Hong Kong identity card or an entry visa.

Make this photo for $6.99 Read the full rules

Sunlit airport terminal with travellers and long shadows

VerifiedRead from the official pageLast checked 2026-10-10Immigration Department, Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, 'Photograph Requirements for Travel Document'

Requirements at a glance

Size: 40 x 50 mm (1.57 x 1.97 inches), or 1280 x 1600 pixels for online upload (minimum 1200 x 1600), file under 5 MB
Head height: Head 64 to 72 percent of the photo height (The size from chin to crown for the person in the photograph should be 32mm to 36mm. There should be sufficient headroom.)
Background: The photograph should have a plain white background.
Expression: Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open, looking at the camera
Glasses: Only if you must; no tint, no glare
Head covering: Not allowed
Prints needed: 1
We deliver: 1280 x 1600 px (600 DPI), under 5120 KB, plus a 4 x 6 inch print sheet

What trips people up

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Not 35 x 45: 'The size of the photograph must be 40mm (width) X 50mm (height). The size from chin to crown for the person in the photograph should be 32mm to 36mm. There should be sufficient headroom.' That is a 64-72 % head, smaller than the ICAO 70-80 % band.
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Digital file: 'Image type: JPEG', 'File size: 5MB or below', and either 'Captured by scanner (600dpi) - Photograph size: 40 mm(W) x 50 mm(H)' or 'Captured by digital camera - Image size: at least 1200 px(W) x 1600 px(H)'.
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Head dress and clothing: 'When you take the photograph, please do not wear head dress, and avoid heavy make-up and overly dark or overly light-coloured clothing.' No religious exemption is written on the page.
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Rejection list: 'Not centred', 'Wearing a frame across eyes', 'With hair across eyes or eyebrows', 'Seen with flash reflection on face/glasses', 'With shadow', 'Too light', 'Too dark'.
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Upload is provisional: 'Whether the successfully uploaded photograph meets the requirements has yet to be determined. If necessary, we may request you to submit another photograph to process your application.'
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Paper applications: 'An application submitted by post or drop-in with a substandard photograph will not be processed and will be returned to the applicant.' Do not fold, staple, paper-clip or write on the back of the print.
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The photo is laser-engraved: 'The quality of the image that appears on your passport or Document of Identity for Visa Purposes will depend on the quality and colour of the original photograph you furnish.'
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Processing normally takes 5 working days plus 2 to 3 for Internet applications; the new passport is collected in person with the permanent identity card.

Good to know before you pay

ImmD's self-service kiosks offer a photograph-taking service, so if you are applying at a kiosk you can skip the file altogether; the upload matters for the Internet and mobile-app routes.

Source and verification

VerifiedLast checked 2026-10-10Immigration Department, Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, 'Photograph Requirements for Travel Document'

Read from the official page. Last checked 2026-10-10 at Immigration Department, Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, 'Photograph Requirements for Travel Document'.

The photograph should show your full frontal face with clear facial features.
The photograph should have a plain white background.
The size of the photograph must be 40mm (width) X 50mm (height). The size from chin to crown for the person in the photograph should be 32mm to 36mm. There should be sufficient headroom.
When you take the photograph, please do not wear head dress, and avoid heavy make-up and overly dark or overly light-coloured clothing.
Wearing a frame across eyes
Seen with flash reflection on face/glasses
An application submitted by post or drop-in with a substandard photograph will not be processed and will be returned to the applicant.
Image type: JPEG
File size: 5MB or below
Captured by scanner (600dpi) - Photograph size: 40 mm(W) x 50 mm(H)
Captured by digital camera - Image size: at least 1200 px(W) x 1600 px(H)
Whether the successfully uploaded photograph meets the requirements has yet to be determined. If necessary, we may request you to submit another photograph to process your application.
Applicant can choose to submit photograph by using the photograph taking service# in the self-services kiosks.

Quotes 1-12 are from source.url (sources/hk/immd-photo-requirements.txt, read live via r.jina.ai on 2026-10-10); quotes 8-12 also appear on GovHK's online application page (sources/hk/govhk-apply-hksar-passport-online.txt), which supplies eligibility.officialWording. Quote 13 is the ImmD kiosk page (sources/hk/immd-kiosk.txt). physical 40 x 50 mm and head 0.64-0.72 (32/50, 36/50) from quote 3; dpi 600 from quote 10; digital min 1200 x 1600 from quote 11, target 1280 x 1600 is our 4:5 rendering above that minimum; maxKb 5120 from quote 9; headCovering 'not-allowed' from quote 4 (the page writes no exemption); glasses 'discouraged' from quotes 5-6. No photo-age limit is published ('recent' only), so maxPhotoAgeMonths is not set. neutralExpression and mouthClosed are not written on the page and follow ICAO practice.

We are an independent service, not a government website. Applying for a passport or visa is done with your government; we only prepare the photo.

Frequently asked questions

Woman taking a selfie with her phone in front of a bright outdoor wall — A plain wall and daylight are enough.