Head size by country
- United States — 1–1⅜ in (25–35 mm) chin to crown, about 50–69% of the frame.
- United Kingdom — head 29–34 mm from chin to crown.
- New Zealand — head 28–31 mm (about 62–68% of the photo height).
- India — the face fills about 80–85% of the frame.
- Always confirm your country’s exact range on its requirements page.
It’s about proportion, not just size
Head height is only part of it. Your head also has to be centered horizontally, sit a specific margin below the top edge, and put your eye line within the required band. Cropping a photo to the right outer size with the head too big or too small still fails — the proportions have to be exact.
We set head size and position automatically
You don’t measure anything. Upload a photo and we crop and center it to the exact head height, top margin, and eye line for the country and document you choose — the part that fails most photos, handled for you.
Frequently asked
How big should my head be in a US passport photo?
Between 1 and 1⅜ inches (25–35 mm) from the bottom of your chin to the top of your head — roughly 50–69% of the 2 × 2 inch frame.
Why does head size matter so much?
Facial-recognition systems and the official spec both depend on consistent head proportions, so a head that’s too big or too small is rejected even if everything else is right.
What if my head is the wrong size?
The photo gets rejected. We resize and reposition your head to the exact spec automatically, so you don’t have to measure or crop it yourself.
Is head size the same in every country?
No — both the head-height range and how it’s measured vary by country. We apply the correct values for whichever document you select.