South Africa passport photo size and rules
South Africa passport photos must be 35 × 45 mm, with the head 29–34 mm from chin to top of head. Background rule: “recent coloured photos in white background”. Source checked 2026-10-20.
Official measurements
| Photo size | 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Head height | 29–34 mm — official wording: “head to chin 29mm to 34mm with mouth closed” |
| Background | recent coloured photos in white background |
| Our HD file | 413 × 531 px at 300 dpi (prints at exactly 35 × 45 mm) |
Other rules from the official page
- Four recent coloured photos, head and shoulders
- Mouth closed
Exact wording
“showing head and shoulders measuring 35mm x 45mm and head to chin 29mm to 34mm with mouth closed”
Source
Checked 2026-10-20. Rules can change — the receiving office's current rules are final. Private Apps is not affiliated with any government.
How our maker fits these rules
The app measures your head from chin to the top of your hair and crops and scales your own photo so the head sits in the middle of the allowed 29–34 mm range. It does not change the background, retouch or rotate anything — so take the photo in front of a plain wall that matches the background rule above. The checklist tells you if the background, head tilt or framing need a retake, and the free preview lets you inspect the result first.