Passport Photo vs Visa Photo: What's the Difference?

Are Passport and Visa Photos the Same?

The short answer: sometimes, but not always. While passport and visa photos share similarities (neutral expression, plain background, no glasses), the technical specifications often differ. Using the wrong photo size or format can delay your visa application or passport renewal.

This guide breaks down the key differences so you know exactly what you need.

Size Differences by Document Type

The most obvious difference is photo dimensions. Here are common specifications:

• US Passport: 2x2 inches (51x51mm) square
• US Visa (DS-160): 600x600 pixels digital, 2x2 inches printed
• UK Passport: 35x45mm
• Schengen Visa: 35x45mm
• Canada Passport: 50x70mm (larger than most)
• China Visa: 33x48mm
• Japan Visa: 45x45mm square
• India eVisa: 600x600 pixels (2x2 inch square)

Background Color Variations

Background requirements can be surprisingly specific:

• US (passport and visa): Plain white or off-white
• UK Passport: Cream or light grey (pure white often rejected)
• Schengen Visa: Light grey or white
• Philippines Passport: Royal blue (unique requirement)
• China Visa: Pure white only
• India eVisa: Plain white or light color

Digital vs Printed Requirements

Passports and visas often have different format requirements depending on how you apply:

• US Passport (online renewal): Digital JPEG, 600x600 to 1200x1200 pixels
• US Passport (mail/in-person): 2 printed photos on photo paper
• US Visa (DS-160): Digital upload only, 600x600px, under 240KB
• UK Passport: Digital upload with photo code, or printed for postal
• Schengen Visa: Usually 2 printed photos required

File Size Limits

Digital submissions have strict file size requirements:

• US Visa (DS-160): 54KB to 240KB
• India eVisa: 10KB to 300KB
• K-ETA (South Korea): Under 100KB
• UK Passport Digital: 50KB to 10MB

When You Can Use the Same Photo

In some cases, one photo works for both:

• US Passport and US Visa: Same 2x2 inch / 600x600px specification
• UK Passport and Schengen Visa: Both use 35x45mm format
• Most EU passports and Schengen visas: 35x45mm standard

When You Need Different Photos

You'll need separate photos when:

• Canada Passport (50x70mm) vs Canada Visa (35x45mm)
• Japan Visa (45x45mm square) vs most other countries
• China Visa (33x48mm) has unique dimensions
• Philippines Passport (blue background) vs any white background visa

The Safe Approach

When in doubt, always check the specific requirements for your document type. Our photo checker supports 20+ document types and automatically validates against the correct specifications for each one, ensuring you never submit the wrong photo format.