Pakistan Passport Photo Tool
Crop, resize and check your Pakistan passport photo online — free, instant, 100% in your browser.
Click to upload or drag & drop your photo here
JPG or PNG — plain white background required
Pakistan Passport Photo Requirements Checklist
Pakistan Passport Photo: The Complete 2026 Size, Background & Requirements Guide
Getting your Pakistan passport photo right matters more today than it used to. Since the Directorate General of Immigration & Passports (DGIP) moved passport applications onto an automated online portal, even small deviations in sizing, background tone, or head position get flagged by the system before a human ever reviews your file. Having spent years helping applicants and overseas Pakistanis prepare compliant identity photos, I’ve seen firsthand how a technically “close enough” photo that would have passed years ago now gets rejected outright by the automated check. This guide, along with the free Pakistan passport photo tool above, is built to help you avoid that.
Below, I’ll cover the exact size and background requirements for a Pakistan passport photo, how the same specification applies to CNIC and NICOP photos, how to use the tool above, and the questions I hear most often from applicants preparing a photo for the DGIP online portal.
A compliant Pakistan passport photo is 35mm wide by 45mm high with a plain white background.
What Is a Pakistan Passport Photo?
A Pakistan passport photo is the standardised biometric photograph required for a Pakistani passport, visa application, Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC), and National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP). The specification is set by NADRA (National Database and Registration Authority) and the DGIP, and is broadly aligned with international ICAO biometric photo guidance.
The required size is 35mm wide by 45mm high, equal to roughly 413 × 531 pixels digitally — the exact frame used by the tool at the top of this page. Unlike the CNIC’s separate print-size convention in some older guidance, the modern DGIP online passport application uses this same 35mm × 45mm ratio for its digital upload.
Official Pakistan Passport Photo Requirements
- Size: 35mm (width) × 45mm (height), roughly 413 × 531 pixels digitally.
- Face proportion: The face and top of the shoulders should take up approximately 70–80% of the frame.
- Background: Plain white only — no cream, grey, patterned, or shadowed backgrounds are accepted.
- Expression: Neutral, mouth closed, both eyes open and clearly visible, no smiling.
- Glasses: Discouraged; glare, tinted lenses, or frames covering the eyes are common rejection reasons.
- Head coverings: Religious head coverings such as a hijab or dupatta are permitted, provided the full face from chin to forehead is visible and the fabric doesn’t shadow the face.
- Colour photo only: Black-and-white or heavily filtered photos are rejected.
- Recency: The photo should reflect your current appearance, generally accepted within the last six months.
How to Use This Pakistan Passport Photo Tool
- Upload your photo: Click the upload box or drag and drop a JPG or PNG photo taken against a plain white background.
- Zoom and position: Use the sliders to align your face within the dashed guide frame, so the face and shoulders fill roughly 70–80% of the photo.
- Check the requirements checklist: Confirm your photo meets each Pakistan passport photo requirement listed below the editor.
- Download your cropped photo: Save a correctly sized 35mm × 45mm (413 × 531px) file, ready for the DGIP online portal or for printing.
Because this tool runs entirely in your browser using HTML5 Canvas, your photo is never uploaded to an external server — an important consideration when formatting a sensitive identity document photo.
Step-by-Step Example: Preparing a Pakistan Passport Photo
| Step | What to Do |
|---|---|
| 1. Setup | Stand 1m from a plain white wall or sheet, with bright, even light in front of you. |
| 2. Capture | Have someone else take the photo (selfies are not accepted); keep a neutral expression. |
| 3. Upload | Upload the raw photo to the Pakistan passport photo tool above. |
| 4. Crop | Zoom and align so your face and shoulders fill the guide frame at roughly 70–80%. |
| 5. Submit | Upload the correctly sized file to the DGIP online portal or print it for in-person submission. |
Even lighting and a true white backdrop are the most common factors separating an accepted Pakistan passport photo from a rejected one.
Pakistan Passport Photo Size at a Glance
This chart shows how each Pakistan passport photo measurement relates to the full 45mm frame height — the same reference the guide overlay in the tool above uses.
Pakistan Passport Photo vs CNIC and NICOP Photo
| Document | Photo Size | Background | Issuing Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passport | 35mm × 45mm | White | DGIP |
| CNIC | 35mm × 45mm | White | NADRA |
| NICOP (Overseas Pakistanis) | 35mm × 45mm | White | NADRA |
| Pakistan eVisa | 35mm × 45mm (413×531px) | White | DGIP online portal |
Since the same core specification applies across most Pakistani identity documents, one correctly sized photo can often be reused, provided it meets the strict white-background and neutral-expression rules consistently.
Pakistan Passport Photo vs Other Countries
| Country | Photo Size | Background |
|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | 35mm × 45mm | White only |
| Australia | 35mm × 45mm | White / light grey |
| Germany | 35mm × 45mm | Light grey (preferred) / white |
| France | 35mm × 45mm | Light grey or light blue — white forbidden |
If you’re preparing photos for more than one country, don’t assume a single background colour works everywhere — as the table above shows, France explicitly forbids the same white background that Pakistan strictly requires. A dedicated multi-country service such as passportphotos4.com covers general passport photo formatting as well as visa photos online for a wide range of destinations.
Using This Tool Alongside Country-Specific Passport Photo Services
Many readers preparing a Pakistan passport photo are also applying for visas or travel documents in other countries at the same time — a common situation for overseas Pakistanis and dual nationals. These resources are worth bookmarking alongside this tool:
- Passport photo for UK applications — formatted to UK Home Office size and background rules.
- Passport photo for USA applications — formatted to the U.S. State Department’s 2×2 inch specification.
- Passport photo for India applications — formatted to Indian passport and visa photo standards.
Using the free Pakistan passport photo tool above for your Pakistani application, and a country-specific formatter for anything else, ensures every photo you submit matches the exact rules of the authority reviewing it, rather than relying on one generic template for every country.
Common Reasons a Pakistan Passport Photo Gets Rejected
- Off-white or tinted background: The single most common rejection reason on the DGIP online portal.
- Incorrect face proportion: Face and shoulders taking up less than 70% or more than 80% of the frame.
- Glasses glare: Reflections or frames obscuring the eyes.
- Smiling or non-neutral expression: Even a slight smile can lead to rejection under automated checks.
- Selfie submissions: Self-taken photos are generally not accepted; have someone else take the photo.
- Oversized file: Uploading a digital photo that exceeds the strict file size limit set by the specific application portal.
- Outdated photo: Using a photo older than six months or one that no longer resembles your current appearance.
Digital vs Printed Pakistan Passport Photos
| Factor | Digital (DGIP Online Portal) | Printed (In-Person Submission) |
|---|---|---|
| Format | JPEG, 35mm × 45mm equivalent (413×531px) | Physical photographic print, 35mm × 45mm |
| File size limit | Strict — varies by application type, often well under 500KB | Not applicable |
| Where to get it | Format yourself using an online passport photo tool | Photo studio or approved photographer |
| Review process | Automated quality check before human review | Manual review at the passport office window |
Frequently Asked Questions About Pakistan Passport Photos
What size does a Pakistan passport photo need to be?
A Pakistan passport photo must be 35mm wide by 45mm high (approximately 413 × 531 pixels), with the face taking up roughly 70–80% of the frame.
What background is required for a Pakistan passport photo?
A plain white background is required, with no shadows, patterns, or other colors — off-white or cream backgrounds are commonly rejected by the automated online portal.
Can I wear a hijab or dupatta in my Pakistan passport photo?
Yes, religious head coverings such as a hijab or dupatta are permitted, as long as the full face from chin to forehead remains clearly visible and the fabric doesn’t cast a shadow on the face.
Can I wear glasses in my Pakistan passport photo?
Glasses are generally discouraged, since glare, tinted lenses, or frames covering the eyes are common reasons the online DGIP portal flags a photo for rejection.
What is the file size limit for a Pakistan passport photo online?
File size limits vary by application type; some portals require the digital photo to be under a strict limit, so it’s worth checking the specific requirement on the DGIP online portal before uploading.
Where can I get a Pakistan passport photo formatted online?
You can crop and check your Pakistan passport photo for free using the tool on this page, or use a dedicated service such as passportphotos4.com for additional country-specific formatting options.
Conclusion
A correctly sized and formatted Pakistan passport photo matters more now than it did a few years ago, simply because the DGIP’s automated online portal leaves very little room for near-enough photos. After years of helping applicants navigate exactly this kind of technical detail, my advice is consistent: use a truly white background, keep the expression completely neutral, and check your file against the portal’s specific size limit before submitting. Use the free tool at the top of this page to crop and check your Pakistan passport photo against the official 35mm × 45mm specification in seconds — entirely in your browser, with nothing ever uploaded.
For official guidance and to submit your application, you can also visit the DGIP online passport application portal directly.