A passport-size photo that meets the requirements is important for security reasons. The passport-size photo is used to identify the passport holder, so it is important to clearly and accurately represent the applicant.
Here are the full rules for the Philippine passport photo:((Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines. (2020). Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines. https://philippineembassy-dc.org/?s=passport+photo>))
Size and Format
- Dimensions:
- Passport Photo: 35mm x 45mm (width x height).
- Format: High-resolution color digital photo in JPEG format.
- File size: No larger than 2MB.
Pose and Expression
- Pose: Frontal, facing directly at the camera with your head centered: no tilting or rotation.
- Expression: Neutral, with both eyes open and mouth closed. A slight “Mona Lisa” smile is acceptable.
- Eyes: Visible and not covered by hair or glasses.
Background and Clothing
- Background:
- Passport Photo: Royal blue, with no shadows or reflections.
- Clothing: Plain clothing with subdued colors, covering shoulders and chest. Avoid plunging necklines, sleeveless tops, or other revealing items.
Additional Requirements
- Head size: 70-80% of the photo.
- Hair: Neatly styled away from the face, not covering the eyes.
- Glasses: Not allowed. Contact lenses are acceptable if they don’t alter your eye color.
- Headwear: Not allowed, except for religious purposes with prior approval.
- Jewelry: Earrings and other facial jewelry are not allowed.
- Recency: Must have been taken within the last six months of your application date. This ensures that your passport accurately reflects your current appearance.
- Number of copies: Two (2) identical.
Technical Specifications
- Color balance: Consistent and natural skin tones.
- Focus: Sharp and clear image with no blurriness or pixelation.
- Lighting: Even and balanced lighting, avoiding harsh shadows or overexposure.
- Red-eye removal: If necessary, remove any red-eye effect from your photo.
If the passport photo does not meet the Department of Foreign Affairs requirements, it may be rejected, causing delays or even preventing the issuance of the passport.
To ensure that your Philippine passport photo meets all the specifications set by the Philippine government, obtain your photo through the Visas for Future passport photo service.
Visas for Future Passport Photo Service
Use the Visas for Future passport photo service to get a passport photo that’ll work for your application. Simply take a photo of yourself using our guidelines, send it in and we’ll edit it. We’ll send you your passport photos by post with free shipping. We deliver to Canada, the EU, the US, and the UK. For individuals outside of those countries, we can deliver your passport photos to your inbox, which you can print at home.
How it works
Take a photo.
We verify your photo.
Passport photos are delivered by post or email.
How to take your passport photo
Here’s how you can take passport photos at home to ensure that they’ll be high quality:
1.) Stand .5 meters or 2 feet from the wall. This ensures that there’s no shadow on your portrait.
2.) Place the camera 2 meters or 6 feet away from the subject. This will prevent distortion and give you a prettier picture!
3.) Have the camera on the same level as the subject’s face.
4.) Use plenty of lighting. Natural light is preferred but plenty of light in general is the best. Make sure it is even and doesn’t leave a shadow.
Benefits of using an online passport photo service
There are many choices when it comes to getting a passport photo but here are reasons why you should go with an online agent:
- You don’t have to leave your house.
- We know the passport photo rules of the country you’re applying to.
- We validate your photo – we check your passport photo to make sure it is in order.
- Save money with bulk orders – you can order many passport photos and save.
Why choose us
Visas for Future is a convenient service that can help you with your passport photo needs. Here are six reasons why you should choose Visas for Future for your passport photo services:
- Expertise: Our experts ensure that your passport photo meets the official requirements of your destination country.
- Convenience: You can upload your own photo or take one with your smartphone, and we will crop, resize, and enhance it to create a perfect biometric photo.
- Support: We’re visa and passport photo experts. You can ask us travel questions, making your trip-planning process easier.
- Speed: Your photos are shipped within a day!
- Unlimited retakes: You can also take as many photos as you want until you are satisfied with the result.
Philippines Passport Photo Capture Guidelines
While taking your own Philippine passport photo is possible, adhering to the guidelines meticulously to avoid delays or rejection is crucial.
Self-capture Limitations
- Professionalism: Ensure your photo is professional-looking, even if taken at home. Avoid blurry selfies or photos with informal backgrounds.
- Technical Specifications: Maintain the required dimensions (35mm x 45mm), format (JPEG), resolution (600 dpi), and file size (under 2MB).
- Equipment: Use a camera with good resolution and lighting. A tripod can help steady the camera for a clear image.
Do’s for Self-capture
- Set up: Find a plain white wall or backdrop with even lighting. Avoid shadows or reflections.
- Pose and Expression: Stand straight, facing the camera directly with your head centered. Maintain a neutral expression with closed lips (a slight “Mona Lisa” smile is okay).
- Focus and Framing: Use the camera’s timer or remote shutter to avoid blurry photos. Ensure your head fills 70-80% of the frame with some space above your head.
- Clothing and Hair: Wear plain, subdued clothing covering your shoulders and chest. Style your hair away from your face and eyes. Remove glasses and headwear (except for religious purposes with prior approval).
- Check and Edit (lightly): Review your photo and ensure it meets all requirements. Edit minimally to adjust brightness, contrast, or red-eye removal while preserving natural tones.
Don’ts for Self-capture
- Informal Setting: Avoid using selfies, mirrors, or cluttered backgrounds.
- Incorrect Pose or Expression: Don’t tilt your head, squint, smile widely, or wear sunglasses.
- Poor Technical Quality: Avoid blurry, pixelated, or poorly lit photos.
- Inappropriate Clothing or Hair: Don’t wear revealing clothes or headwear (except for religious purposes) or have hair covering your face.
- Heavy Editing: Avoid altering your appearance significantly through editing.
Dos and Don’ts for a Philippine Passport Photo
Do’s
- Pose
- Face the camera directly with your head centered and level.
- Maintain a neutral expression with both eyes open and mouth closed. A slight smile is acceptable.
- Background
- Use a plain white background with no shadows, patterns, or reflections.
- Clothing
- Wear plain clothing with subdued colors that cover your shoulders and chest. Avoid revealing clothing, sleeveless tops, or uniforms.
- Hair
- Style your hair neatly away from your face, ensuring it doesn’t cover your eyes or eyebrows.
- Eyes
- Ensure your eyes are visible and not covered by anything. Contact lenses are allowed if they don’t alter your natural eye color.
- Technicals
- Use a high-resolution color photo (at least 600 dpi) in JPEG format.
- Ensure the file size is less than 2MB.
- Maintain proper lighting with clear focus and no blurriness.
- Remove red-eye if necessary.
Don’t
- Pose
- Don’t tilt your head or rotate your body.
- Avoid exaggerated expressions, frowning, or showing teeth.
- Background
- Don’t use a busy or patterned background.
- Clothing
- Avoid plunging necklines, sleeveless tops, revealing clothing, or uniforms.
- Hair
- Don’t let your hair cover your eyes or eyebrows.
- Eyes
- Don’t wear glasses or anything that covers your eyes.
- Technicals
- Don’t use a low-resolution photo or an unsupported format.
- Avoid photos larger than 2MB.
- Don’t submit blurry or poorly lit photos.
Passport Photo Guidelines for Kids and Babies
The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has set specific photo requirements for passport applications, including those for children of all ages and babies.
Newborns (newborn to one (1) year old)
- Specifications: Same as general requirements.
- Exemptions:
- If the baby cannot hold their head up on their own, a parent or guardian may gently support the baby’s head from behind, ensuring their hands are not visible in the photo.
- A neutral-colored blanket can be used to support the baby, but it should not cover the face or clothing.
Infants (one (1) to two (2) years old)
- Specifications: Same as general requirements.
- Exemptions:
- A parent or guardian may gently hold the child’s hands behind their back, ensuring their hands are not visible in the photo.
- A neutral-colored blanket or toy can be used to comfort the child, but it should not cover their face or clothing.
Children (two (2) to eighteen (18) years old)
- Specifications: Same as general requirements.
- Exemptions:
- Children who are unable to understand the instructions to keep their head still or look directly at the camera may have a slightly blurred photo accepted. However, the child’s face should still be recognizable, and the photo should meet the other specifications.
Sample of Correct and Incorrect Philippine Passport Photo
How to Get a Philippines Passport Photo Online
Step 1: Click on “Get Passport Photo now“ button.
Step 2: Fill out the order form. Kindly provide your name, email address, phone number, country of residence, and the country you are applying to.
Step 3: Pay the application fee
- Use a valid credit or debit card.
- Review all your details and proceed to payment.
Step 4: Upload your photo.
Step 5: Receive and download your passport photo.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I wear for a Philippine passport photo?
Plain clothing: Cover your shoulders and chest. Opt for solid, neutral colors like white, black, or gray.
Subdued clothing: Avoid plunging necklines, sleeveless tops, revealing clothes, or uniforms.
Neat hair: Style away from your face and eyes.
Is it Ok to wear makeup in a passport photo Philippines?
Yes, wearing makeup in your Philippine passport photo is acceptable, but with limitations. The key is to keep it natural and minimal, ensuring it doesn’t alter your overall appearance and adheres to the following guidelines.
What is the best color to wear for a passport photo?
Dark solid colors: These contrast well with the typical white or light grey background, making your face stand out. Think black, navy blue, dark green, or brown.
Neutral colors: These can also work well, like grey, beige, or khaki. Just make sure they provide enough contrast with your skin tone.
Can you have colored hair in your passport photo in the Philippines?
Yes, you can have colored hair in your Philippine passport photo! The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) of the Philippines does not have any specific restrictions on hair color for passport photos. As long as your hair is styled neatly and does not obscure your face, you are good to go.
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Cite this article
MLA Style
Miguel, Charlyn. "Philippines Passport Photo Guide." Visas For Future, https://www.visasforfuture.com/passport-size-photo-philippines-in-pixels/. Accessed on 22 September 2023.
Chicago Style
Miguel, Charlyn. "Philippines Passport Photo Guide." Visas For Future. September 22, 2023. https://www.visasforfuture.com/passport-size-photo-philippines-in-pixels/.