Visa Photo Size by Country (2026): 2x2, 35x45, 33x48, and Digital Upload Rules
Compare common visa photo sizes by country and workflow: U.S. 2x2 and 600x600 uploads, Schengen 35x45 prints, China 33x48 photos, UKVI uploads, India eVisa, Vietnam eVisa, Canada PR, Saudi eVisa, Russian visa, and more.
Why visa photo sizes differ by country
There is no universal visa photo size. A U.S. visa upload is usually a square digital file. A Schengen appointment often starts from a 35x45 mm print. Country pages still matter inside Schengen: Italy, Spain, France, Germany, and the Netherlands can put slightly different wording into their consular or visa-centre checklists. A China visa route commonly uses 33x48 mm. UKVI, India eVisa, Canada PR, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore all add their own upload or appointment handling.
That is why a visa photo size chart is useful only if it keeps the workflow attached to the size. Print size, pixel size, file size, background, and upload route are separate checks. Mixing them is how users end up with a technically neat file that the wrong portal rejects.
Visa photo size chart
| Route | Common photo target | Main thing to verify |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. visa / DS-160 | 2x2 in print or 600x600 to 1200x1200 px JPEG upload | 240 KB cap and square crop |
| Schengen short-stay visa | Often 35x45 mm | Member-state consulate checklist |
| Italy visa | Often 35x45 mm in Italian consular checklist examples | White-background and appointment-pack wording |
| Spain visa | Often 35-45 mm in Spanish mission checklist examples | Recent-photo and consulate-specific checklist wording |
| Netherlands visa | Dutch 35x45 mm photo specification when the route asks for a passport photo | Whether the Netherlands Worldwide route asks for a printed photo, upload, or biometrics |
| UK visa / permission photo | Digital upload route with GOV.UK file and face checks | Whether the portal asks for upload or live capture |
| India eVisa | Square JPEG upload | Pixel and file-size limits in Indian Visa Online instructions |
| Vietnam eVisa | 4x6 cm JPG/JPEG portrait | White background, straight face, no hat, no glasses, and the exact portal file-size field |
| Canada visitor visa / TRV | At least 35x45 mm paper photo, with 31-36 mm head height when paper photos are required | Use the IRCC TRV photo specification and check whether biometrics replaces paper photos |
| Canada PR card | 50x70 mm print model plus digital upload range | IRCC alteration warning and 420 KB to 4 MB file range |
| China passport / travel document | 33x48 mm print with white background in consular passport/travel-document photo guidance | Use passport/travel-document guidance, not a square 2x2 U.S. photo |
| China visa | Commonly 33x48 mm, with matching digital portrait upload | Use the exact embassy or visa-centre instruction |
| Japan visa | Commonly 45x35 mm print | Local Japanese mission checklist |
| Singapore visa | Digital application manuals and mission notes vary by route | SAVE or mission-specific upload rules |
| New Zealand visa / NZeTA | Digital upload route | Immigration NZ photo quality and upload checks |
| Australia visa | Route-dependent: live app capture, biometrics, or passport-sized photos | Whether Home Affairs asks for app capture, biometrics, or printed photos |
| Saudi eVisa | 200 x 200 px image, 5 KB to 100 KB, white background | Use the official Saudi eVisa photo specification for the upload route |
| UAE visa | Route-dependent passport-style photo or service-card upload | Use the ICP, embassy, airline, sponsor, or service checklist before choosing size |
| Russian visa application form | 3.5 x 4.5 cm printed photo glued to the printed form | Use the Russian MFA application site and the consular or visa-centre checklist for your submission location |
How to use the chart without preparing the wrong file
- Identify the exact visa route and country first.
- Confirm whether the route asks for a printed photo, uploaded file, live capture, or biometrics appointment.
- Only then choose the outer size or pixel target.
- Export one file per route instead of reusing a photo from another country.
- Keep the official page open while you check background, file type, file size, and recency.
Do not let one successful visa photo become your template for every visa. A U.S. square upload, a China portrait upload, and a Schengen print are different jobs even when they all start from the same face image.
Best Passlens guide for each route
- U.S. visa photo guide for DS-160 and 2x2 routes.
- Schengen visa photo guide for 35x45 mm appointment workflows.
- Italy visa photo guide, Spain visa photo guide, and Netherlands visa photo guide for country-specific Schengen checklist wording.
- UK visa photo guide for GOV.UK digital upload checks.
- Canada visa photo guide for TRV paper-photo rules and the biometrics warning.
- India visa photo guide for choosing between eVisa and paper routes.
- India eVisa photo guide for square JPEG upload rules.
- Vietnam eVisa photo guide for 4x6 cm JPG/JPEG portrait uploads.
- Canada PR digital photo guide for IRCC permanent resident card uploads.
- China passport photo guide for 33x48 mm passport and travel-document photos.
- China visa photo guide for 33x48 mm and COVA-style checks.
- Japan visa photo guide, Singapore visa photo guide, New Zealand visa photo guide, and Australia visa photo guide for route-specific cases.
- Saudi eVisa photo guide for 200 x 200 px uploads and 5-100 KB files.
- UAE visa photo guide for route-specific upload and service-card checks.
- Russian visa photo guide for 3.5 x 4.5 cm printed application photos.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common visa photo size?
There is no single most common size that works everywhere. U.S. visa routes often use 2x2 inch or square digital files, many Schengen routes use 35x45 mm, and China passport, travel-document, and visa routes commonly use 33x48 mm.
Can I use a passport photo for a visa?
Sometimes. Use it only if the visa route asks for the same size, background, recency, and submission mode. A passport photo from one country can be the wrong shape for another country's visa portal.
Sources
- U.S. Department of State - Digital image requirements
- GOV.UK - Photo for a visa application or permission
- Indian Visa Online - eVisa instructions
- Vietnam National Electronic Visa system
- IRCC - Permanent resident card photo requirements
- Chinese Visa Application Service Center - Application photo requirement PDF
- Immigration New Zealand - Visa and NZeTA photos
- Australian Department of Home Affairs - Australian Immi App
- Saudi eVisa - Photo specifications
- Russian MFA Consular Department - Electronic visa application form
