Passport Photo Size Guide (Complete FAQ)

Getting your passport photo size right is crucial for passport applications, visas, and official ID documents. Incorrect dimensions or face alignment can lead to rejection, delays, or resubmission. This Passport Photo Size Guide answers the most common questions and helps you prepare a perfect photo using online tools.

Subarnadip Pal photo
By Subarnadip Pal 4 min read

A php Developer

What Is the Standard Passport Photo Size?

The most widely accepted passport photo size across many countries is:

  • Width: 3.5 cm

  • Height: 4.5 cm

  • Equivalent in mm: 35 × 45 mm

This size is commonly required for passports, visas, Aadhaar-related forms, PAN applications, and other government IDs.

 

Why Is the 3.5×4.5 cm Photo Size Important?

Government and embassy systems automatically verify photo dimensions. Even a small deviation can cause rejection. The 3.5×4.5 cm size ensures:

  • Proper face visibility

  • Correct head positioning

  • Compliance with international passport standards

  • Faster application approval

 

How Do I Resize a Passport Photo to 3.5×4.5 cm?

You can resize your photo accurately without Photoshop or paid software by using an online passport photo resizer.

 

Step 1: Upload an image by clicking the Choose file button to start resizing a 3.5x4.5 cm passport or ID photo online.

 

Step 2: The uploaded image appears stretched by default; select the Crop option to adjust the photo without distortion.

 

Step 3: Align the face with the standard head-size guideline from the top of the head to the chin for passport photo accuracy.

 

Step 4: Adjust the top-to-chin guideline size if needed and click Download to save the resized 3.5x4.5 cm photo.

 

Fit your face within the head-size guideline (top to chin) and drag left or right to align.

Use this free online tool to resize images to 3.5×4.5 cm:
https://imgsmaller.com/resize-image-to-3.5x4.5cm

This tool allows you to:

  • Set exact width and height in cm

  • Adjust face position inside the frame

  • Maintain photo quality

  • Download instantly without watermark

 

Can I Resize a Passport Photo on Mobile?

Yes. You can resize passport photos directly from your mobile phone. The tool works on:

  • Android phones

  • iPhones

  • Tablets

  • Desktop and laptop browsers

No app installation is required.

 

What Should Be the Face Size in a 3.5×4.5 cm Photo?

In most cases:

  • The face height should cover 70–80% of the photo

  • The head must be centered

  • Eyes should be horizontally aligned

  • Chin and head top must be clearly visible

The resizing tool allows you to adjust head-to-chin size to match official standards.

 

Does Background Color Matter?

Yes. Most passport authorities require:

  • Plain white or off-white background

  • No shadows

  • No patterns or objects

If your background is not correct, resize and crop the image first, then adjust lighting before uploading.

 

Can I Resize a Passport Photo Without Losing Quality?

Yes. Quality loss usually happens when images are stretched incorrectly. A proper passport photo resizer:

  • Preserves original resolution

  • Uses smart scaling

  • Avoids pixel distortion

Always preview the image before downloading.

 

Is This Tool Free to Use?

Yes. The passport photo resize tool is:

  • 100% free

  • No signup required

  • No watermark

  • No image stored on servers

Your photo remains private.

 

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Uploading selfies with tilted heads

  • Incorrect aspect ratio

  • Face too small or too large

  • Shadows on face or background

  • Cropping ears or chin

Using a dedicated passport photo resizing tool helps avoid these issues.

 

Which Applications Require 3.5×4.5 cm Photos?

This size is commonly used for:

  • Passport applications

  • Visa forms

  • Government job forms

  • University admissions

  • ID verification documents

Always double-check specific country guidelines.

 

Is My Photo Uploaded to the Server?

ImgSmaller follows a privacy-first processing model, and how your image is handled depends on the feature you use.

Zero-Upload Processing (Default)

For standard actions such as:

  • Resizing to 3.5×4.5 cm

  • Cropping

  • Adjusting dimensions

  • Face positioning

👉 All processing happens directly inside your browser.
Your image is never uploaded to any server.

This zero-upload mode ensures:

  • Maximum privacy

  • Faster processing

  • No data storage

  • No tracking of personal photos

 

 

When Is Image Upload Required?

The only case where an image needs to be sent to the server is:

Background Removal Feature

Background removal requires AI-based processing that cannot run fully inside the browser.

In this case:

  • The image is temporarily uploaded to the server

  • Used only for background removal processing

  • Never shared with third parties

 

How Long Are Uploaded Images Stored?

For background removal only:

  • Images are automatically deleted after 30 minutes

  • A secure cron job runs every 30 minutes to remove all processed images

  • No manual access or reuse of images

This ensures:

  • Short-lived storage

  • Compliance with privacy best practices

  • No long-term image retention

 

Privacy Summary (Quick Overview)

  • ✅ Zero-upload for resizing & cropping

  • ✅ Server upload only for background removal

  • ✅ Automatic deletion after 30 minutes

  • ✅ No account or login required

  • ✅ No watermark or hidden tracking

 

Final Tip: Always Use a Dedicated Passport Photo Tool

General image editors are not designed for passport standards. For best results, use a tool built specifically for passport photo resizing.

➡ Resize your image to exact 3.5×4.5 cm here:
https://imgsmaller.com/resize-image-to-3.5x4.5cm

Ce que disent les utilisateurs

Kevin Brooks, Florida, USA

ImgSmaller is a simple and useful image compression tool with good quality results and an easy interface. It works well for quick optimizations, though I’d love to see more advanced features and format options in future updates.

Ryan Thompson, USA

ImgSmaller makes image compression fast, simple, and perfect for improving website speed without sacrificing quality.

Michael Anderson, California, USA

ImgSmaller is an excellent image compression tool that helps reduce image size without losing quality. It’s fast, easy to use, and perfect for optimizing JPG, PNG, and WebP images for better website speed and SEO performance. The clean interface and privacy-focused zero-upload feature make it a reliable choice for developers, bloggers, and designers.

Kumari sunidhi

It's is so useful, thank you so much❤😊 U can provide the facility of converting compressed image results into pdf format, that will be so helpful. chatgpt told me about this website

Écrire un avis

No Login Required

Support ImgSmaller

Found it useful? Add a link to help others discover privacy‑friendly image compression.

Link to Us

Partagez cet outil

Le partage aide les autres à trouver cet outil gratuit.