What size is a Singapore Passport photo?

35 x 45 mm (1.38 x 1.77 inches), or 400 x 514 pixels for online upload, file under 8 MB. We render the file at 400 x 514 pixels (300 DPI).

How big should the head be in a Singapore passport photo?

Head 56 to 78 percent of the photo height (Your face in the photograph should measure between 25 mm and 35 mm from chin to crown). 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 singapore passport photo (400 x 514 px upload or 35 x 45 mm print)?

Yes, provided there is no glare on the lenses, the frames do not cover your eyes, and the lenses are not tinted.

How recent does the photo have to be?

Taken within the last 3 months. Our tool reads the date from your photo file and warns you if it is older.

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.

Singapore Passport Photo (400 x 514 px upload or 35 x 45 mm print): size and requirements

Q: Is this the official Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), 'Photo Guidelines', 'Apply for a Passport' and form IMM(E)11 website?

No. We are an independent tool that prepares the photo. You apply for the document with Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), 'Photo Guidelines', 'Apply for a Passport' and form IMM(E)11. The requirements on this page are quoted from their official page, linked above, and were last checked on 2026-10-08.

The Singapore Passport Photo size is 35 x 45 mm (1.38 x 1.77 inches), or 400 x 514 pixels for online upload, file under 8 MB. Of plain white background (if your hair is white, the background must be light grey); head 56 to 78 percent of the photo height. Photo taken within the last 3 months. Last verified 2026-10-08 against Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), 'Photo Guidelines', 'Apply for a Passport' and form IMM(E)11.

For the one colour photograph submitted with a Singapore passport application: a 400 x 514 px file uploaded in the MyICA e-Service, or a 35 x 45 mm matte print pasted on form IMM(E)11 at a Singapore Overseas Mission. Not for a Singapore visa or long-term pass, and not for the NRIC (same photo standard, separate page).

Make this photo for $6.99 Read the full rules

Marina Bay Sands towers seen across the bay in Singapore

VerifiedRead from the official pageLast checked 2026-10-08Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), 'Photo Guidelines', 'Apply for a Passport' and form IMM(E)11

Requirements at a glance

Size: 35 x 45 mm (1.38 x 1.77 inches), or 400 x 514 pixels for online upload, file under 8 MB
Head height: Head 56 to 78 percent of the photo height (Your face in the photograph should measure between 25 mm and 35 mm from chin to crown)
Background: Of plain white background (if your hair is white, the background must be light grey)
Expression: Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open, looking at the camera
Glasses: Allowed without glare or tint
Head covering: Only for religious or medical reasons; full face visible
Photo age: Taken within the last 3 months
Prints needed: 1
We deliver: 400 x 514 px (300 DPI), under 8192 KB, plus a 4 x 6 inch print sheet

What trips people up

Check
ICA's recommended upload dimension is 400 x 514 px (its FAQ answers 'What is the recommended dimensions for online photo submission?' with 'The dimension is 400X514 pixels for upload of photos via e-Services'), in jpg, jpeg, heic, heif or png up to 8 MB. Most tools export 35 x 45 mm at 300 dpi (413 x 531 px); we render exactly 400 x 514, the only figure ICA publishes.
Check
ICA bans any retouching: 'your photograph must not be altered or enhanced in any way. This includes the modification of facial features and/or the usage of photo editing software.' We therefore keep your original background and only crop and resize.
Check
ICA does not recommend selfies ('the result is usually not ideal and will cause delay to your application'); have someone else hold the phone at a distance and use our guide for framing.
Check
The photo must be taken within the last three months, and a photo that fails the guidelines does not fail silently: 'Your application will be delayed if your photograph does not meet our requirements', with local processing stretching from one or two weeks to up to four.
Check
Face 25 to 35 mm from chin to crown on the 35 x 45 mm print, both edges of the face and the top of the shoulders showing, head straight, eyes open, no hair across the eyes.
Check
Plain white background, but if your hair is white the background must be light grey. Headgear is allowed only when habitually worn for religious or racial custom and must not be white.
Check
Glasses frames must not cover any part of the eyes, with no flash or reflection on the lenses; tinted glasses and sunglasses are refused.
Check
Hardcopy prints must be on matte or semi-matte, non-reflective photo paper (ICA Photo Guidelines: 'Printed photograph for hardcopy submission must be on a matte or semi matte finish'); the overseas form IMM(E)11 itself asks for 'Sharp and clear, 35 mm wide by 45 mm high without border'.

Known portal issues

Note
Photo rejected: notified by email after submission
Watch the email address on the application for a rejection notice. Read the fix

Good to know before you pay

If a photo studio already gave you a compliant 35 x 45 mm digital file, you only need to resize it to 400 x 514 px before uploading; ICA itself suggests the image editor on your computer for that.

Source and verification

VerifiedLast checked 2026-10-08Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), 'Photo Guidelines', 'Apply for a Passport' and form IMM(E)11

Read from the official page. Last checked 2026-10-08 at Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), 'Photo Guidelines', 'Apply for a Passport' and form IMM(E)11.

A new coloured photograph must be submitted when applying for a new application.
Printed photograph for hardcopy submission must be on a matte or semi matte finish (non-reflective photo).
Your photograph must meet ICA’s requirements. ICA’s passport photo requirements are based on specifications by the International Standards Organisation (ISO) and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
We recommend that you download and use mobile apps that are specifically designed to take photographs for passport or identity card applications.
Please note that your photograph must not be altered or enhanced in any way. This includes the modification of facial features and/or the usage of photo editing software.
We do not recommend selfie as the result is usually not ideal and will cause delay to your application.
The dimension is 400X514 pixels for upload of photos via e-Services.
jpg, jpeg,heic, heif and png file extension 8MB
A passport-sized, digital, colour photograph taken within the last three months
Your application will be delayed if your photograph does not meet our requirements. We will notify you if your photo is rejected.
Sharp and clear, 35 mm wide by 45 mm high without border
Taken within the last 3 months
Of plain white background (if your hair is white, the background must be light grey)
Both edges of your face and the top of your shoulders must be clearly shown
You must look at the camera with a neutral facial expression with mouth closed
Your face in the photograph should measure between 25 mm and 35 mm from chin to crown
Only headgear or head coverings habitually worn in accordance with your religious or racial custom is allowed, and should not be in white
the frames must not cover any part of your eyes. There should not be any flash or light reflected off the glasses. Tinted glasses and sunglasses are not allowed.

Quotes 1-8 are from the ICA 'Photo Guidelines' page at source.url, read directly via the text proxy (sources/sg/ica-photo-guidelines.txt; quote 3 keeps the page's typographic apostrophes in 'ICA’s'; quote 8 keeps the page's missing space in 'jpeg,heic'). Quotes 9-10 are from https://www.ica.gov.sg/documents/passport/apply (sources/sg/ica-passport-apply.txt). Quotes 11-18 are from section 5 'Photograph' of the Singapore Passport Application Form (overseas) IMM(E)11 PDF linked from that page (sources/sg/ica-form-imme-11-os.txt; the PDF text carries 'en-SG' language tags between items, omitted here). The matte / semi-matte finish rule is from the Photo Guidelines page, not from IMM(E)11, which states only '35 mm wide by 45 mm high without border'. Head fractions 25-35 mm / 45 mm. digital 400 x 514 px is framed by ICA's FAQ as the 'recommended dimensions for online photo submission' and is the only figure it publishes, so min and target are set equal to it and no maximum is set (ICA does not say whether other sizes are refused); maxKb 8192 = 8 MB; format 'jpeg-or-png' is the closest type value (heic/heif are also accepted, see gotchas). dpi 300 is our rendering choice (ICA states none). glasses 'allowed-no-glare' follows the frames/reflection/tint rule. headCovering 'religious-medical-only': the form admits religious or racial custom only and names no medical exception. editing 'unaltered-required' follows the 'must not be altered or enhanced in any way' rule. No eye-line rule is published. No separate child rule is published; the form and guidelines apply to all ages.

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.