...

Singapore Passport Photo Guide

Getting the right photo for your Singapore passport application is crucial to avoid delays or rejection. Singapore passport photos require a neutral expression, full face and head view on a plain white background. Size must be 35mm x 45mm (printed) or 400px x 514px (digital), in JPEG format under 60kb. No hats, headwear except for religious reasons, large jewelry, or shadows are allowed. Photos must be recent (within three (3) months) and reflect your natural skin tone. Read on to learn more about our passport photo service and how we can help you get your photo approved.

Get Professional Singapore Passport Photo Help

As seen on

Here are the full specifications for the Singapore passport photo:1

  • Photo Size and Dimensions
    • Printed Photos: 35mm wide x 45mm high (without border).
    • Digital Photos: 400 pixels wide x 514 pixels high. JPEG format, less than 60kb.
  • Recent: The photo must have been taken within the last 3 months.
  • Color: The photo must be in color.
  • Clear: No shadows, glare, or marks.
  • Pose: Full face and head, eyes open, looking directly at the camera.
  • Expression: Neutral, mouth closed, no smiling.
  • Headwear: Not allowed unless for religious reasons (plain, dark-colored, doesn’t obscure features).
  • Background: Plain white. (Light grey if your hair, headwear, or religious head-covering is white).
  • Other: No jewelry, headphones, or other items that obscure your face.
  • Glasses: Allowed only if you wear them normally. Tinted glasses and sunglasses are not allowed.
  • Quantity of photo: Two identical copies.
Passport Photo Tool
Click the photo to view the full-size Singapore passport photo size infographic.

Additional Tips:

  • Stand upright with your shoulders relaxed and facing the camera directly.
  • Ensure good lighting to avoid shadows on your face.
  • Have someone else take the photo for better framing and focus.
  • Use a plain white wall or backdrop for the background.
  • Dress in clothes that contrast with the white background (avoid white or very light colors).
  • Don’t smile or grimace. Maintain a neutral expression.
  • Remove any headwear not for religious reasons.
  • If you wear glasses, ensure they don’t cover your eyes and there’s no glare.

Immigration & Checkpoints Authority(ICA) specifically set the standards for Singapore passport photos. To ensure that your passport photo meets all the requirements set by the government, obtain it through Visas for Future.


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. For every product sold, we plant a tree!


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 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:

  1. You don’t have to leave your house.
  2. We know the passport photo rules of the country you’re applying to.
  3. We validate your photo – we check your passport photo to make sure it is in order.
  4. 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.

Tips for Taking a Perfect Singapore  Passport Photo Using a Smartphone

Smartphones can capture excellent passport photos if done correctly. Here are some tips:

Preparation

  • Camera: Use the back camera for higher resolution.
  • Background: Find a plain white wall or use a white sheet hung evenly. Avoid busy patterns or shadows.
  • Lighting: Diffused natural light is ideal. Avoid harsh shadows or directly standing under a light source.
  • Attire: Wear plain clothing with contrasting colors from the background (avoid white). Remove hats and large jewelry.

Taking the Photo

  • Distance: Stand 1.5-2 meters away from the background.
  • Pose: Look directly at the camera with a neutral expression (no smiling, frowning). Keep your head straight and shoulders relaxed.
  • Composition: Frame the shot so your head and shoulders are visible with some space above your head. Use the grid function for even centering.
  • Avoid Selfies, tilted heads, closed eyes, shadows across your face, and flash photography.

Additional Tips

  • Timer: Use the timer function to avoid camera shake from holding the phone.
  • Multiple Photos: Take several shots to ensure you capture the best one.
  • Editing: Some free apps allow cropping and adjusting brightness/contrast to meet specifications.
  • Double-check: Compare your photo with official guidelines to ensure compliance.

Useful Tools

  • Online passport photo tools guide you through the process and automatically adjust your photo to meet requirements.
  • Smartphone passport photo apps: These apps offer tools for framing, background removal, and editing.

Singapore Passport photo for kids and babies

Taking a passport photo for a child or baby can be challenging, but with some adjustments, you can still achieve a perfect one using your smartphone! Here’s what you need to know:

Specifications

  • Same as adults: Singapore passport photo requirements are identical for all ages. Refer to the general and size/dimension information you mentioned earlier.
  • Relaxations for babies:
    • The mouth can be open (for newborns, it’s allowed).
    • Hands and toys in the photo are generally okay, as long as they don’t obscure the face.

Tips for Taking the Photo

  • Lay them down: Place them on a white sheet or blanket on a flat surface for babies.
  • Comfort is key: Keep them happy and calm with toys or familiar faces.
  • Capture multiple shots: Be patient and take many pictures to increase your chances of getting a good one.
  • Use burst mode: If your phone has it, this can help capture a moment with open eyes during movement.
  • Edit carefully: Crop and adjust brightness/contrast minimally while ensuring the photo remains natural.

Correct and Incorrect Samples of Singapore Passport Photos

Source: Immigration & Checkpoints Authority Singapore2

Steps to get a Singapore passport photo Online

Step 1: Visit Visas for Future and click on Get Passport Photo now

Step 2: Fill out the order form and pay the application fee.

Step 3: Upload your photo.

Step 4: Receive your photo in 24 hours.


Frequently Asked Questions

What to wear for a passport photo in Singapore?

1. Wear plain clothing with contrasting colors from the white background (avoid white).
2. Remove hats and large jewelry.
3. Wear simple makeup if desired, but avoid anything excessive.

How do I resize a photo for a Singapore passport?

If you want to resize your Singaporean passport photo, you can use a mobile app, photo editing software, or an online tool; you can also use the online passport photo service provided by Visas for Future.

I have additional questions about my passport photo.

You can contact us here.


  1. Photo Guidelines. (2024). ICA. <https://www.ica.gov.sg/photo-guidelines> []
  2. Photo Guidelines. (2024). ICA. https://www.ica.gov.sg/photo-guidelines []

Ask a question

If you still have a question about this topic after reading the article, let us know and we'll update the article. Include your email if you want us to reply to you.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
James Abel Diego
Written by

James Abel Diego is a content writer at Visas for Future who is an expert in travel and visa policies for Turkey, India, Colombia and Egypt. He is an Education graduate who is inclined with passion in writing informative content. He has been in several training sessions making him more of value in content and fulfilling customer orders efficiently. James maintains his understanding of visa processing by executing real visa orders once per quarter.

Glen Vidania
Managed by Glen Vidania

Glen Vidania is the Content Manager at Visas for Future, a company that offers online visa services for eco-friendly travelers. He is a certified Content Marketer and an experienced academic writer. He writes and promotes content that is informative, engaging, and relevant to the readers. He had work experience and gained skills in writing articles, data entry, SEO email marketing, and guest posting. He is also an expert in applying for visas for Turkey and India.

Glen Vidania
Published by Visas for Future

Visas for Future strives to help you virtually, so that your research is complete in one visit. Our articles are informative, complete and to-the-point. We write in an accessible way, so that non-native English speakers will understand. Our website is accessible for the visually impaired. We have full oversight of our articles and are unbiased in writing. Check our editorial guidelines.

Send fan mail

We love to hear from you! If our article helped you in anyway, let us know and we'll share it with the team on our Friday meetings.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Cite this article

MLA Style

Diego, James Abel. "Singapore Passport Photo Guide." Visas For Future, https://www.visasforfuture.com/singapore-passport-photo-must-show-ears/. Accessed on 22 September 2023.

Chicago Style

Diego, James Abel. "Singapore Passport Photo Guide." Visas For Future. September 22, 2023. https://www.visasforfuture.com/singapore-passport-photo-must-show-ears/.

Published: 22 Sep 2023 11:05 UTC

Last modified: 24 Mar 2024 8:12 UTC

Reading time: 7 minutes

Check our editorial guidelines


How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating 0 / 5. Vote count: 0

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.