Singapore passport photo standards from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) sets the photograph standard for the Singapore biometric passport. The specification is published on the ICA Photo Guidelines page and reproduced in the official passport application forms, and it is explicitly aligned with ISO and ICAO 9303 biometric requirements. The same photograph standard is reused across ICA documents, including the NRIC, Permanent Residence, Long-Term Visit Pass, Student’s Pass, Employment Pass, the APEC Business Travel Card, and entry visas, with only the digital file-size limits differing between services.
ICA applies a multi-layered verification process to every submitted photo and is explicit that a non-compliant image will be refused. In its 2022 media release, ICA stated that it will reject photos that are not on a pure featureless white background, that are laterally inverted, that are no longer current, or that show uneven brightness, facial shadows, or glare on spectacles. The photograph must have been taken within the last three months, and ICA may verify recency against the file’s capture metadata.
Submitting a photo that does not meet the ICA specification delays the application and forces a resubmission before the passport can be issued. The rules below summarise what the subject must look like in the final photograph so that the image clears ICA’s checks on the first attempt.
ICA passport photo rules for the subject
The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority sets clear expectations for how you must appear in a Singapore passport photo. Meet every point below or the application will be delayed.
Expression & pose
- Neutral expressionICA requires a neutral facial expression with the mouth closed. Smiling, showing teeth, and other expressions are not permitted.
- Eyes open and forwardBoth eyes must be open and looking directly into the camera. Gazing up, down, or to the side is not accepted.
- Head straightThe head must face the camera directly with no tilt or rotation. Any visible angling of the head breaks the full-face requirement.
- Shoulders visibleThe top of the shoulders must be visible and level in the frame, with both edges of the face clearly shown.
Eyewear & lenses
- Tinted lenses bannedSunglasses and tinted glasses are prohibited. Lenses must be fully clear so the eyes are visible.
- Frames clear of eyesSpectacle frames must not cover any part of the eyes. Heavy upper rims that cross the pupils or eyelids are not accepted.
- No glare on lensesThere must be no flash reflection or glare on the lenses. Glare obscuring the eyes is a routine cause of rejection.
- Coloured contactsColoured or patterned cosmetic contact lenses are not accepted. Clear prescription contact lenses may be worn.
Hair
- Eyes uncoveredHair must not fall across or cover the eyes. Both eyes must be fully visible.
- Eyebrows visibleFringes and bangs should be swept aside so the eyebrows are not covered. Hair touching or hiding the eyebrows is a common automated rejection trigger.
- Hairstyle and colourICA does not regulate hair length, styling, dyed colours, or tying. Hair must simply not obstruct facial features.
Headwear
- General banHats and head coverings are not permitted in Singapore passport photos.
- Religious or racial exceptionHeadgear habitually worn for religious or racial reasons is allowed if the full face oval from chin to forehead and both edges of the face are visible.
- Colour restrictionPermitted headgear must not be white. ICA application forms state this explicitly so the head outline remains distinguishable from the background.
Jewelry & accessories
- Earrings and necklacesEarrings, necklaces, and small piercings are permitted provided they do not obscure facial features or cast shadows on the face.
- No props in frameHands, headphones, scarves covering the chin, and other objects must not appear in the frame. Only the applicant may be visible.
Cosmetics
- Natural appearanceLight, natural makeup is acceptable. Heavy or theatrical makeup that alters facial features or apparent skin tone is not permitted under ICA’s natural-appearance principle.
- False lashes and contouringDramatic false eyelashes and heavy contouring that change the apparent shape of the eyes or nose risk rejection.
Clothing
- Avoid white topsPlain white clothing is a known automated-rejection trigger because the head and shoulder outline becomes indeterminate against the white background. Dark, contrasting clothing is strongly recommended.
- Shoulders shownUpper shoulders must be visible in the frame. Religious and cultural attire is acceptable provided the face is fully visible and the headgear rules are followed.
Photo quality
- No facial shadowsShadows on the face, including those cast by hat brims or harsh overhead light on the brow, nose, or chin, are not accepted. ICA cites uneven brightness as a routine rejection cause.
- No red-eyeRed-eye is not permitted, and ICA does not allow digital correction of red-eye. The photo must be retaken if red-eye appears.
- Sharp and clearThe image must be sharp and clear. Motion blur from the subject moving during capture causes rejection.
Dimensions, resolution & background.
Head position & camera distance.
- Head height, measured from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head, must be between 32 mm and 35 mm (roughly 55.6–77.8% of the photo height).
- The head must be centered horizontally in the frame, with a small symmetrical margin on each side.
- Shoulders must be square to the camera and both visible. No three-quarter angles or rotated torso.
- The full face, from chin to crown, must be inside the frame with proper top margin.
Singapore accepts more than one size — we generate them all.
Singapore publishes more than one acceptable format depending on where you submit your application — domestic passport offices, the official online portal, and regional consulates abroad can each call for a different print or pixel size. We render every variant below from the same source photo, so the head sits at the same physical position across files, and each one arrives in your order email with a clear filename indicating which submission channel it's for.
Singapore Passport 35×45 mm
Primary specSingapore's recommended print format — accepted at most in-country submissions and the default we render first.
Singapore Passport 400×514 px — online
Print + DigitalPixel-exact format required by the official online portal upload.
How recent the photo must be.
Your passport photo must have been taken within the last three months. A new photo is required sooner whenever your appearance has changed in a way that makes the old photo no longer recognizable.
You need a new photo if you’ve had…
- Facial surgery or a major change to facial structure
- A significant gain or loss of weight that visibly changes your face
- Large facial tattoos or piercings added or removed
- A gender transition that has changed your appearance
You do not need a new photo just because of…
- A new hair color
- Growing or removing a beard or moustache
- Ordinary, minor aging
- A new hairstyle that still leaves the face fully visible
Country-specific details to know.
A few Singapore-specific points worth knowing before you submit.
Three-month recency
The photo must be taken within the three months before application. ICA may inspect the file’s capture metadata to verify recency, so reusing an older photo is a known failure point.
Appearance-change rule
Regardless of remaining passport validity, ICA expects a new passport with an updated photo whenever facial appearance has changed significantly. This is to ease immigration clearance at the gate.
Light grey for white hair
Singapore’s usual white background has one codified exception. When the applicant’s hair is white, ICA permits a light grey background instead, so the hair does not blend into the background.
Visa upload tightness
Entry visa uploads use a much tighter digital ceiling than passport uploads. The same 35 by 45 mm subject rules apply, but visa files must be JPEG and no larger than 60 KB.
As easy as snap, upload, done.
You take a quick picture. We do the spec work and tell you immediately if anything needs a retake.
Free to check. You only pay when you keep it.
Print & paper standards.
If you submit a printed photo with a paper application, the print itself has to meet acceptance-facility standards in addition to the rules above.
- Photo paper with a matte finish.
- No visible pixels, banding, dithering, or printer artifacts.
- The print must be undamaged: no creases, holes, smudges, staples, or pinholes.