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Passport photo size in pixels: 2×2 in, 35×45 mm and how to resize
Short answer
- A US passport photo is 2 × 2 inches; for digital submission the U.S. Department of State asks for a square image between 600 × 600 and 1200 × 1200 pixels.
- Pixels = inches × dpi, or mm ÷ 25.4 × dpi. At 300 dpi, 35 × 45 mm is about 413 × 531 px.
- Work in this order: crop to the right ratio → resize to the pixel size → compress if there is a file-size limit. The official spec for your country and application always wins.
Common photo sizes
| Size | Typical use | Ratio | At 300 dpi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm) | US passport and visa | 1:1 | 600 × 600 px |
| 35 × 45 mm | Many countries, including the UK and Schengen-area visas | 7:9 | about 413 × 531 px |
Requirements differ by country and by application type, and they go beyond size: head height, background colour, expression, glasses and how recent the photo is are all specified. For a US passport, the head from chin to top of hair must measure 1 to 1⅜ inches (25–35 mm) on the 2 × 2 inch print. Other countries publish their own rules and sometimes their own minimum pixel sizes for online applications, so always check the official government page before you submit.
Doing the conversion
DPI means dots, or pixels, per inch. So pixels = inches × dpi, and for metric sizes pixels = mm ÷ 25.4 × dpi. Example: 35 mm at 300 dpi is 35 ÷ 25.4 × 300 ≈ 413 px. If the portal gives a pixel size directly, such as “at least 600 × 600 px”, use that and ignore dpi entirely; digital photos are judged by their pixels.
Crop, resize, then compress
- Crop to the right ratio. In Crop Image, choose the 1:1 preset for a square US photo, or use the precision settings for other ratios such as 7:9. Centre the face and leave the space above the head and below the chin that your spec requires. Resizing without cropping first stretches or squashes the face.
- Resize to the target pixels. In Resize Image, keep the ratio locked and enter the width, for example 600 or 1200 for a US photo. Check that the height matches.
- Compress only if there is a size limit. If the portal sets a maximum in KB, enter it in Compress Image. Compression can reduce pixel dimensions when quality alone is not enough, so recheck the width and height afterwards. If the file is already under the limit, leave it as it is.
Before you submit
- Check the image properties: width and height must match the requirement exactly, or fall inside the allowed range.
- Most portals want JPG/JPEG. If you have a PNG or HEIC, convert it with Convert Image or, for iPhone photos, see what to do when HEIC photos will not open.
- Do not use filters, beauty modes or background-replacement apps unless the official guidance allows them; many governments reject altered photos.
- For the file-size step in more detail, see compressing a photo to a target size.