DPI
Passport photo DPI requirements
DPI (dots per inch) links print millimetres to digital pixels. Formula: pixels = (mm ÷ 25.4) × DPI. Most passport documents in our catalog use 300 DPI — so 35×45 mm becomes 413×531 px and 51×51 mm becomes 600×600 px.
Example compliant crops
AI-generated illustrative portraits — not real applicants.
300 DPI — default for most documents
- us-passport, us-visa, us-green-card — 300 DPI → 600×600 px
- gb-passport, eu-schengen-visa, in-passport, de-passport — 300 DPI → 413×531 px
- cn-visa — 300 DPI → 390×567 px (33×48 mm)
- br-passport, es-passport — 300 DPI → 354×472 px (30×40 mm)
- ca-passport — 300 DPI → 591×827 px (50×70 mm)
Catalog exceptions
- sg-passport — 290 DPI → 400×514 px (35×45 mm; ICA publishes exact digital pixels)
- nz-passport — 600 DPI → 827×1063 px (35×45 mm high-resolution digital upload)
Why DPI matters for uploads
Embassy validators infer expected pixels from published mm size. Exporting at the wrong DPI places head-height bands incorrectly even if the JPEG looks sharp on your phone screen.
Official specifications
Official sources
Frequently asked questions
- What DPI for US passport photo?
- 300 DPI — 600×600 pixels for 51×51 mm.
- Can I use 72 DPI screen resolution?
- No — always export at the document’s catalog DPI for submission.
- Why does Singapore use 290 DPI?
- ICA publishes an exact 400×514 px digital size; our catalog stores the derived DPI for that pair.
- Does higher DPI mean better approval odds?
- Only when the authority asks for it (e.g. nz-passport at 600 DPI). Otherwise match catalog pixels exactly.
Related guides
PicsForm matches published requirements; always confirm current rules on the official portal.