Philippines Passport Photo Requirements 2026
A Philippines passport (ePassport) photo must be 35×45 mm portrait on a plain white background. The head — chin to crown — must measure 32–36 mm. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) applies this specification to all Philippine ePassport applications. The 45×45 mm square format applies separately to Philippine visa applications and to driving licences. In practice, biometric photos are captured at the DFA Consular Office during your appointment, but a compliant printed photo serves as a reliable backup.
Documents covered
The same official specification applies to all of the following documents:
| Document | Size | |
|---|---|---|
| Philippines Passport | 35 × 45 mm (1.378 × 1.7717 in) | |
| Philippines Visa | 35 × 45 mm (1.378 × 1.7717 in) | |
| Philippines Driving License | 25 × 25 mm (0.9843 × 0.9843 in) |
Detailed requirements
Background
Plain white only. No off-white, no patterns, no shadows.
Expression and eyes
Neutral expression, mouth closed, both eyes open. No smiling.
Glasses
Glasses are not allowed in Philippine passport photos as of recent DFA guidelines. Remove them for the photo.
Headwear
No headwear except for daily religious wear that does not obscure the face.
Recency
The photo must have been taken within the last six months and must reflect your current appearance.
Digital format
In practice, the DFA takes a new biometric photo at your appointment. For online application forms, a JPEG passport-sized photo upload is sometimes required.
Country-specific notes
- Philippine ePassport photos are 35×45 mm portrait — different from the 45×45 mm square format used for Philippine visa applications and driving licences.
- The DFA typically takes a new biometric photo at your appointment. Your printed photo is used for the application form, not the ePassport itself.
- Glasses are not permitted in Philippine biometric photos.
Common rejection reasons
These are the most frequent reasons passport offices reject submitted photos.
- 1 Photo is square 45×45 mm (the visa/driving-licence format) instead of 35×45 mm portrait for the passport.
- 2 Wearing glasses.
- 3 Background is not pure white.
- 4 Smiling or showing teeth.
- 5 Photo is older than six months.
- 6 Hair covering the eyebrows or face.
How to take it yourself in 3 steps
Plain white background
Stand 0.5 m from a pure white wall. Diffuse daylight in front of you, no shadow behind.
Remove your glasses
Philippine DFA rules do not allow glasses. Camera at eye level, 1.5 m away, neutral expression.
Output 35×45 mm portrait
Philippine ePassport photo must be exactly 35×45 mm portrait. Our app produces the correct DFA format and verifies the rules.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a Philippine passport photo? +
Can I wear glasses for a Philippine passport photo? +
Will the DFA take a new photo at my appointment? +
What background should the photo have? +
Can I take a Philippine passport photo at home? +
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