United States citizens must include two passport photos with their application. The photographs must be identical, color photographs that are 2-by-2 inches in size. These pictures must be printed on regular, photograph-quality paper and taken within the last six months, demonstrating what you currently look like while you are wearing normal street attire. The picture must consist of a frontal view of your full face. Your picture should be from the top of your head to at least 1 to 1 3/8 inches from the bottom of your chin.
Although there is no standard European Union passport, each country sets its own rules for passport picture requirements. The European Union passports generally require “standard” photographs; these are 3.5-by-4.5 centimeters and must include a frontal view of your full face and full head. Your eyes must be open, while your face should have a natural expression (meaning your mouth should be closed).
Canada requires passport pictures to be 2-by-2.75 inches, which may be in color or black and white, with a close-up of the head and shoulders and the face making up at least 25 percent of the picture. The length of the face should be from the crown of the head to the chin. Specifically, the measurements must be between 31 and 36 millimeters. Canadian passport pictures must be printed on plain, high-quality photographic paper, but not heavyweight paper.
The United Kingdom and Australia have the same passport photo requirements as the European Union. Most Asian countries utilize the “standard” passport photograph size used by the European Union. China, however, requires passport photographs to be 48-by-33 millimeters and Indian passports must have photographs that are 3.5-by-3.5 centimeters. Mexican passports require photos which are 3.5-by-4.5 centimeters. Brazilian passport pictures must be 7-by-5 centimeters.
