Hong Kong Passport (Digital upload)

Last verified 2026-10-15 against Hong Kong Immigration DepartmentStandards: ICAO Doc 9303

Government-spec dimensions, head positioning, and file constraints.

Pixel size
1200 × 1600 px
Print size
1200 × 1600 p ×
Background
white#FFFFFF
Face height
64–72% · target 68%
Eye line
54%–66% from bottom
File size limit
5 MB
1200 px · 1200 px1600 px · 1600 px
Face height: 64%–72% (target 68%)Eye line: 54%–66% (target 60%)

Note: Online passport application, digital-camera route; JPEG up to 5 MB; at least 1200x1600 px; white background. Not a 40x50 mm print crop.

Dimensions

  • Submission channel: Online HKSAR passport application, digital-camera photograph
  • Pixel size: At least 1200 x 1600 px; this preset outputs 1200 x 1600 px
  • File / size: JPEG, up to 5 MB
  • Print size: Not applicable to this digital-camera preset
  • Color mode: Color photograph

Head position

  • Face the camera directly with the face centered and sufficient headroom.
  • The general travel-document guide specifies a 32–36 mm chin-to-crown head in a 40 x 50 mm print frame.
  • This preset uses that guide's 64%–72% head-height proportions for framing. The authority does not separately publish a digital-camera head-height percentage on the cited page.

Background

  • Plain white, without shadows or distracting objects.

Expression

  • Face the camera with both eyes clearly visible and a neutral expression.

Accessories

  • Glasses must not hide the eyes or show flash reflections.
  • Avoid hair over the eyes or eyebrows, head dress, and heavy make-up.

Other rules

  • Keep facial features clear with even lighting; avoid images that are too light or too dark.
  • Successful upload does not confirm acceptance. Immigration may request another photo.

Notes

  • The 1200 x 1600 px output meets the digital-camera minimum. It is a chosen output size, not an official requirement for an exact 3:4 aspect ratio.
  • For paper applications, choose Passport (Print), with a 40 x 50 mm frame and 472 x 591 px print tile.
  • The separate scanner route requires a 40 x 50 mm photograph scanned at 600 DPI. This preset does not produce or certify a scanned photograph.
  • Do not resize this 3:4 crop directly to a 4:5 print: it would distort the face. Prepare a new print crop from the source photo.

Sources

Can I wear glasses?

Your eyes must remain visible, without a frame across them or flash reflections.

Can I wear head dress?

Immigration instructs applicants not to wear head dress. Check with the authority if you need an exception.

What expression should I use?

Face the camera directly with clear eyes, a neutral expression, and even lighting.

How recent should the photo be?

Use a recent photograph that reflects your current appearance. The cited photo-requirements page does not specify a fixed month limit. Immigration may request a replacement after reviewing your submission.

What file should I upload?

Use JPEG, no more than 5 MB, with at least 1200 x 1600 px for a digital-camera image. This preset outputs 1200 x 1600 px. It is separate from the paper and scanner routes.

03 — Compliance engine

Live validation
against the actual rulebook.

Every crop is measured against the published tolerance ranges for the selected document. Pass or warn, in real time — no "submit and hope."

VALIDATOR · HK_PASSPORT_DIGITALALL CHECKS PASS
Dimensions
1200 × 1600 px
exact
1200×1600
Face height
64% – 72%
target 68%
68%
Eye line
54% – 66%
target 60%
60%
Background
white
ΔE < 3
#FFFFFF
File size
5 MB
JPEG q=92
5 MB
Sharpness
no motion blur
Laplacian var
1,284

The same checks the authority will run — before you submit.

  • Face height & eye line measured from the pupil midpoint with sub-pixel accuracy, clamped to the tolerance range your authority publishes.
  • Background colour checked across a sampled grid — catches gradients and fringe from poor segmentation (ΔE < 3 against spec).
  • File-size ceiling enforced per-spec — recompressed silently for sub-60 KB e-visa portals, lossless for print.
  • Sharpness & expression guards warn on blur, closed eyes, or non-neutral expressions before you export.

Process this in your browser

No install. Photos stay on your device. $2.99 per photo, watermark-free.

Open in browser

Shoot once. Ship anywhere around the world.

SpecSnap is free to download. Try it on the next passport renewal, visa application, or driving-licence form sitting in your inbox.