🇸🇬 ICA COMPLIANT

Singapore Passport & Visa Photo Maker

Create perfect 35×45mm photos for Singapore passport, Employment Pass, Student Pass, and all ICA applications. Meets all biometric standards automatically.

Last updated: February 2026 | By Prabir Sarkar

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35 × 45 mm

White background

35×45mm

Photo Size

White

Background

70-80%

Face Coverage

3 Months

Photo Validity

Singapore Passport Photo Requirements (2025-2026)

Planning to work, study, or travel through Singapore? The Lion City has some of the most efficient immigration processes in the world – but they're also quite strict about photo requirements. Whether you need a photo for your Singapore passport, Employment Pass, or tourist visa, getting it right the first time saves a lot of hassle.

Singapore's ICA (Immigration & Checkpoints Authority) uses advanced biometric scanning, which means your photo needs to meet precise technical standards. The good news? Our tool handles all of this automatically. Here's what you need to know.

Official ICA Photo Specifications

Photo Dimensions 35mm × 45mm (width × height)
Digital Size 400 × 514 pixels minimum
File Size 60KB minimum, 240KB maximum (for online)
Face Coverage 70% to 80% of photo frame
Background Plain white, no patterns or shadows
Expression Neutral, mouth closed
Glasses Not allowed (since 2018)
Photo Age Taken within last 3 months

Photos for Singapore Documents

Singapore Passport

For Singapore citizens. Biometric, valid for 10 years.

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NRIC Photo

National Registration Identity Card for citizens/PRs.

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Employment Pass (EP)

For foreign professionals working in Singapore.

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S Pass

For mid-skilled foreign workers.

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Student Pass

For international students studying in Singapore.

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Dependant's Pass

For family members of EP/S Pass holders.

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ICA Photo Guidelines

Strict ICA Requirements

Singapore's ICA is known for rejecting photos that don't meet exact specifications. Common reasons for rejection include: wearing glasses, shadows on face, wrong background color, or photo taken more than 3 months ago. Use our tool to ensure compliance.

Do's

  • • Face camera directly with neutral expression
  • • Both eyes open, clearly visible
  • • Use pure white background
  • • Ensure even lighting, no shadows
  • • Show full head from top of hair to chin

Don'ts

  • • No glasses (any type, including clear)
  • • No colored contact lenses
  • • No head coverings (except religious)
  • • No heavy makeup or filters
  • • No Photoshop alterations

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I take a passport photo in Singapore? ▼

You can use our free online tool from anywhere, or visit photo studios at ICA Building, malls like Jurong Point or Tampines Mall, or any professional photography shop. For convenience, our online tool lets you take the photo at home and ensures ICA compliance.

What's the difference between EP and S Pass photo requirements? ▼

Both Employment Pass and S Pass use the same photo specifications (35×45mm, white background). The same photo works for either application. The difference is in the eligibility requirements, not the photo format.

Can I upload a selfie for Singapore passport? ▼

Yes, you can take a selfie as long as it meets ICA requirements. Use our tool to take or upload your selfie – we'll automatically adjust the background, crop to correct size, and ensure it meets biometric standards. Just make sure you have good lighting and a plain wall behind you.

How recent should my Singapore passport photo be? ▼

Your photo must be taken within the last 3 months. This is stricter than many other countries that allow 6-month-old photos. If your appearance has changed significantly (new hairstyle, weight change), you should take a new photo even if the old one is recent.

Ready to Create Your Singapore Photo?

Our free tool creates ICA-compliant photos instantly. Works for passport, EP, S Pass, Student Pass, and all Singapore immigration documents.

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Singapore Passport Photo Guide — ICA's Digital-First System

One of the World's Most Powerful Passports — And Strictest Photo Checks

The Singaporean passport consistently ranks in the top 2-3 most powerful travel documents globally, with visa-free access to over 190 countries. The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) takes passport integrity seriously, and that extends to photo compliance. ICA's digital processing system runs thorough automated checks, and their rejection rate for non-compliant photos is among the highest in Asia.

Singapore requires 35×45mm photos with a white background. Since 2018, glasses are no longer allowed in Singaporean passport photos — no exceptions, not even for prescription lenses. The expression must be neutral with mouth closed, and both eyes must be equally open. Any digital alteration — skin smoothing, eye enlargement, face slimming — is explicitly prohibited. ICA uses facial recognition comparison between the submitted photo and the biometric capture at their counter, so what you submit must look like the actual you.

Application Methods

  • MyICA portal (online) — The recommended method. Upload your photo, fill the form, pay online. Available at ica.gov.sg.
  • ICA Building — 10 Kallang Road, ICA Building, Singapore 208718. For in-person applications and photo capture.
  • ICA@SingPost — Selected SingPost offices offer passport services for convenience.
  • Singapore Embassy Washington DC — 3501 International Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
  • Singapore High Commission London — 9 Wilton Crescent, London SW1X 8SP

What ICA's System Catches

  1. Glasses in the photo — No exceptions since 2018. Even frameless lenses with no glare are rejected. Remove all eyewear before the photo.
  2. Beauty filters active — Singapore's tech-savvy population means many phone photos have subtle beauty mode enabled by default. Check your camera settings — smooth skin, big eyes, and V-line jaw effects are all detected and rejected.
  3. Background not perfectly white — Off-white, cream, or slightly blue backgrounds fail. ICA's system checks background color precisely.
  4. Head covering without religious reason — Headbands, caps, beanies, and decorative scarves aren't allowed. Religious head coverings (tudung, turban) are accepted with the full face visible.
  5. Photo taken in landscape orientation — The system expects portrait orientation (taller than wide). A landscape photo gets auto-rejected even if the face is correctly framed within it.

Costs

A Singaporean passport costs S$70 (~$52 USD) for adults (5-year validity). Processing through MyICA typically takes 4-6 working days. In-person applications at the ICA Building allow same-day collection if submitted before noon. For Singaporeans abroad, consular applications cost S$80 with processing times of 4-6 weeks. There's no 10-year passport option — Singapore issues all passports with a 5-year validity.

Official Resources

Helpful Passport Photo Guides

Passport Photo Size Guide

Complete size chart in pixels, cm, and inches for 50+ countries.

How to Make Passport Photos at Home

Step-by-step guide to take and print passport photos yourself.

12 Reasons Photos Get Rejected

Common mistakes that cause passport photo rejection and quick fixes.