Get Your Best South African Passport Photo

South Africa passport photo requirements in one place

In your application form for an SA passport, you have to attach 2 color photographs (as opposed to black and white photos for a South Africa ID). Below is a compiled list of all guidelines provided by the SA authorities. According to those, your biometric passport photo must meet the following requirements:

• Size: 35x45 mm
• Background: white or light gray
• Recency: no older than 6 months
• Head size: taking 70–80% of the photograph
• Head position: look directly at the camera, both edges of the face visible. Mouth should be closed and the eyes clearly visible (no portrait style allowed)
• Glasses: allowed (read more about specific rules)
• Smiling: neutral facial expression
• Alternations: not allowed. The image must present your natural facial features
• Quality: avoid shadows and flash reflection.
• Headwear: not allowed (scroll down to see exceptions)

Following these official regulations is the first step in the first-time SA passport application or the South African passport renewal process. Read on to discover more detailed information to take the best picture for your travel document.

Note: Did you know you can take pictures for all official documents at home? Check our biometric photo editor and forget about photo booths! Get your passport, ID, and visa photos with a phone.

What is the size for a South Africa passport photo?

Your biometric photograph must have the correct measurements to be accepted. The official specifications mention only the size in millimeters (mm). Still, you may need to know the dimensions in other measurement units.

The table below presents the pixel size of passport photos in South Africa (as well as in centimeters and inches).

Note: Our passport photo maker will automatically crop and resize the image to meet all South African passport picture size rules!

Can you wear hats or glasses in a South Africa passport picture? 

According to the official South Africa passport photo requirements, no head coverings (such as hats, caps, or hair bands) are allowed. The only exception is any headwear you wear for religious purposes (e.g., hijabs).

Note that in such a case, your entire face must be visible from the bottom of the chin to the top of your head.

You can wear prescription and reading glasses, but there are several things to remember. For one, you must avoid heavy frames and tinted lenses. Secondly, you must ensure that the frames are not covering any parts of your eyes, as they must be clearly visible. Wearing sunglasses isn't allowed.

One of the South African passport picture requirements is that your photo will be rejected if the glasses cause any glare or reflections. For that reason, we recommend that you take your spectacles off for the passport picture. Alternatively, you can opt for contact lenses.

Hairstyle and facial hair in SA passport photos

The official guidelines allow you to keep your hair loose for a picture. However, remember that your face must be visible from one edge to the other. Any hair across your face (unless you naturally wear bangs) can get your photo rejected.

Men who naturally wear beards don’t need to shave for the passport picture but consider trimming to keep the whole face within the required dimensions.

Can you edit your passport photo?

No. Any editing (changing the saturation, removing blemishes or the red-eye effect) will get your photo rejected during the South African passport application process. According to the official SA passport guidelines, the picture must reflect your natural facial features and skin color. That’s why it’s best to avoid any editing.

For better understanding, look at these examples of acceptable and unacceptable passport pictures.

Not sure if your picture meets the requirements? Don’t risk getting your South African passport application rejected! To ensure the image’s quality follows the official SA passport requirements, our biometric photo experts (available 24/7) will then double-check it for the best results.

South African passport photo requirements for babies

Biometric photographs for children usually follow the same strict rules we listed above. For babies, however, several exceptions are mentioned. When taking your newborn’s picture for a South African passport, you can place the child on a white sheet or a blanket and snap the photo from above. If your baby can sit, place them on the floor with a white wall in the background. No other objects or persons can be in the frame.

Keep in mind that as per South African passport photo requirements of babies, the child must have their eyes open, mouth closed, and look directly at the camera. With newborns, taking the right shot can be challenging and time-consuming. Let alone stressful!

A better option for you and the child might be to drop a trip to a professional photo studio and take an SA passport photo at home instead. Try our passport photo tool and get your child’s passport photo hassle-free!

South Africa passport pictures: printed copies

You’ll need 2 printed copies of your biometric pictures for a physical application for SA passports. However, their quality must meet the official South Africa passport photo requirements. Read the information below to ensure that your printouts are compliant.

Your printed biometric pictures must:

• Be printed on high-quality matte or glossy photo paper
• Resolution of minimum 600dpi
• Have no ink marks or creases

The authorities advise you to print passport photos at a professional studio. But it’s not necessary. If you want to take your South Africa passport photos at home, you can print them at one of the stores in the area with such a service. Or, for those who want maximum convenience, we can deliver the prints right to your mailbox! Check the details on our printing services.

How to get your SA passport or visa photo online? 

Finding a reliable photography studio or a photo booth in your area isn’t always the most convenient option. You can save time and money with a digital camera on your mobile phone. 

No queues, no waiting time. 

With our AI-powered photo app, you’ll create expert-verified biometric photos without leaving your house. Take pictures for the South African passport application or a visa application a few clicks. Download our biometric passport photo editor on iOS or Android and take as many photographs as you want—until you find the perfect shot!