South African passport photo size

35 × 45 mm on light grey or plain cream, no more than a month old.

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The Department of Home Affairs publishes one specification sheet for passport and identity document photos; the version we read is the one the High Commission in London published in 2024. Passport photos must be two identical colour prints, 35 millimetres wide and 45 millimetres high, taken against a light grey or plain cream-coloured background.

The preset makes 413 by 531 pixels at 300 DPI, which prints at 35 by 45 millimetres. Turn on the sheet to get eight copies on one 4 by 6 inch print, more than the two you hand in.

One rule stands out from other countries: the photos must not be more than one month old. Plan the photo close to your application date. The table links the sheet and shows when we read it.

What the official source states

South Africa passport, printed photo

Photo size: 35 × 45 mm
Pixels at 300 DPI: 413 × 531 px
Background: Plain cream or light grey

Requirements checked on October 15, 2026. Official source

Check the official requirements before you submit. We resize to the numbers shown; we do not check face position, expression, glasses, lighting or background rules.

White is not on the list

Many countries ask for white. This sheet asks for light grey or plain cream, and it shows a busy background and shadows behind the head among the photos it rejects. The face must stand out clearly from the background, so a pale wall and a darker top work well together.

"Replace the background" fills with light grey for this preset. Look closely at the hairline afterwards; a cut-out edge looks wrong on a print.

Close-up, 70 to 80 percent face

The photo is a close-up of your head and the top of your shoulders, with the face taking up 70 to 80 percent of it. The sheet's template marks the face height at no less than 29 and no more than 34 millimetres. Measured on this file, that range runs from about 342 pixels to 401 of the full 531.

Printed by a professional

The sheet asks for high quality photo paper and says that photos printed at home are not likely to be of an acceptable quality. Take the file to a photo lab. Prints must have no ink marks or creases and must not be damaged. Ask them not to resize it.

Expression, glasses and head coverings

Look straight at the camera with a neutral expression and your mouth closed, without grinning, frowning or raised eyebrows. Face the camera squarely, not over one shoulder, with both edges of the face visible and no hair across it.

If you wear glasses, the eyes must show clearly with no flash reflection, no dark-tinted lenses or heavy frames, and frames that do not cover the eyes. Head coverings are allowed only for religious reasons, with the face visible from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead.

Passport and identity document differ

The same sheet covers identity documents, where two identical colour or black and white photos are accepted. For a passport they must be in colour. Black and white photos for an ID must meet every other requirement on the sheet.

Frequently asked questions

What size is a South African passport photo?

35 millimetres wide and 45 millimetres high.

What background is required?

Light grey or plain cream, according to the Department of Home Affairs sheet.

How old can the photo be?

No more than one month.

How many photos do I need?

Two identical colour photos for a passport.

Can I print them at home?

The sheet says photos printed at home are not likely to be of an acceptable quality. Use a photo lab.

Can the photo be black and white?

Not for a passport. Black and white photos are accepted only for identity documents, and must meet every other requirement.

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