Everything you need to know about South African biometric passport photo requirements, including exact dimensions, background color, pose rules, and how to take a compliant photo at home.
| Requirement | Specification |
|---|---|
| Country | South Africa |
| Document Type | Biometric Passport |
| Photo Size | 35 × 45 mm (3.5 × 4.5 cm) |
| Resolution (DPI) | 600 |
| Head Size | 29–34 mm from chin to crown (70–80% of photo) |
| Background Color | White or light grey |
| Printable | Yes — on matte or glossy photo-quality paper |
| Digital for Online Submission | Yes |
| Digital Photo Size | 827 × 1063 pixels minimum (at 600 DPI) |
| Photo Paper Type | Matte or glossy |
| Color | Color only (black and white not accepted) |
| Number of Photos | 2 |
| Recency | Taken within the last 1 month |
The South African Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has strict requirements for biometric passport photos. Below is a comprehensive guide to ensure your photo is accepted.
Glasses are permitted in South African passport photos, but with restrictions. Lenses must not make your eyes invisible — no tinted, reflective, or heavily glare-coated lenses. Sunglasses are strictly prohibited. Ensure your eyes are clearly visible through the lenses with no reflection or glare.
You don't need a professional studio. Follow these simple steps to take a compliant South African passport photo at home using your smartphone.
Any modern smartphone camera (iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, etc.) is more than capable of taking a passport-quality photo. Make sure the lens is clean and the camera is set to the highest resolution.
Place your phone on a tripod or ask someone to take the photo for you. Selfies tend to have the wrong angle and distortion. Note: Photo booth photos are not accepted for South African passports.
Stand facing a window with natural daylight for the best even lighting. Avoid direct sunlight, which creates harsh shadows. If using indoor lighting, use multiple light sources from different angles to eliminate shadows.
Wear your normal everyday clothing. Avoid uniforms and white tops that blend with the background. If you wear religious head coverings daily, you may keep them on as long as your full face is visible.
Make sure your hair does not cover your eyes or cast shadows on your face.
Stand about 1.5 meters in front of the camera with your head facing directly forward. Keep your shoulders relaxed and your head level — not tilted or turned. Ensure your entire face from chin to forehead is visible, photographed directly from the front.
Keep your face relaxed with a neutral expression. Both eyes must be open and your mouth closed. No smiling, frowning, or exaggerated expressions.
Comparison of acceptable and unacceptable passport photos
A South African biometric passport photo must be exactly 35×45 mm (3.5×4.5 cm). Your head must measure between 29 and 34 mm from the bottom of your chin to the top of your head, occupying 70–80% of the photo.
Yes, glasses are permitted as long as the lenses do not make your eyes invisible. Tinted or reflective lenses are not allowed. Sunglasses are strictly prohibited. Ensure there is no glare or reflection on the lenses.
No. You must maintain a neutral facial expression with your mouth closed. No smiling, frowning, or exaggerated expressions are allowed.
Yes! You can take your passport photo with any smartphone. Simply upload it to PassportPhoto.help and our AI will automatically crop, resize, remove the background, and ensure it meets all official South African passport photo requirements.
The background must be plain white or light grey. No patterns, objects, shadows, or other people should be visible. If you don't have a white wall, don't worry — our tool will automatically replace your background with the required color.
Your South African passport photo must have been taken within the last 1 month. This is stricter than most countries, which typically require photos within 6 months. It should reflect your current appearance.
No. Photo booth photos are NOT accepted for South African passport applications. You must provide properly taken photographs that meet all the official specifications. Neither the photo nor copies may be defaced by holes, pencil, or ink marks.
No, hats and head coverings are not allowed unless worn daily for religious purposes. Even then, your full face must be clearly visible from the bottom of your chin to the top of your forehead, and the head covering must not cast shadows on your face.
