Philippines General ID (2×2 in)

Last verified 2026-04-25 against De-facto Philippine national standard — used by NBI, SSS, GSIS, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG (HDMF), consular and school/employment IDsStandards: Common Philippine 2 × 2 in ID photo convention

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

Pixel size
600 × 600 px
Print size
51 × 51 mm · 299 DPI
Background
white#FFFFFF
Face height
50–69% · target 60%
Eye line
55%–63% from bottom
File size limit
240 KB
51 mm · 600 px51 mm · 600 px
Face height: 50%–69% (target 60%)Eye line: 55%–63% (target 59%)

Note: Standard for NBI, SSS, GSIS, PhilHealth

Why this spec exists. The 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm) square photo is the de-facto Philippine standard for most government documents — unlike the 35 × 45 mm format common elsewhere in Asia. Per-agency rules (NBI, PRC, etc.) refine this baseline; this entry is the shared baseline.

Dimensions

  • Print size: 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm / 5.1 × 5.1 cm)
  • Pixel size: 600 × 600 px at 300 DPI
  • DPI: 300 minimum
  • File format: JPEG / JPG
  • File size (digital): 0–240 KB (max 240 KB)

Head position

  • Face proportion: 50–69% of photo height (25–35 mm chin to crown) — narrower than passport-style 70–80%
  • Head height (to top of hair): ~1.29 in (~33 mm)
  • Eye line from bottom: ~1.18 in (~30 mm), i.e. ~59% of photo height
  • Head centered, fully visible, both ears exposed
  • Full frontal view, no rotation or tilt

Background

  • Color: White (#FFFFFF)
  • Plain, uniform, no patterns, textures, or shadows

Expression

  • Expression: neutral; no visible teeth; no frowning or exaggerated expressions
  • Eyes: open, clearly visible, looking directly at the camera
  • Lighting: even illumination; no harsh shadows
  • No filters, retouching, or digital alterations

Accessories

  • Glasses: not recommended; if worn, must not obstruct the eyes or cause glare. (Note: per-agency rules can be stricter — NBI bans glasses entirely; see ph_nbi.)
  • Head coverings: only for documented religious or medical reasons; both ears should otherwise be exposed
  • Hair must not cover the face; eyebrows must be visible

Other rules

  • Recency: within the last 6 months (some specific documents — e.g. NBI — require within 3 months)
  • Quality: high-resolution, printed on photo paper for in-person submission; no scanned, blurred, or low-quality photos
  • Attire: proper and decent

Notes

  • This spec is a shared baseline across multiple agencies; a given agency (NBI, SSS, GSIS, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG, PRC, etc.) may layer stricter requirements on top — for instance NBI requires recency within 3 months and prohibits glasses (see ph_nbi), while PRC uses a 1 × 1 in square instead (see ph_prc).
  • The 50–69% face-height range is deliberately wider and lower than passport-style specs, because the 2 × 2 in format leaves more headroom and shoulder room around the head.

Sources

Can I wear glasses in my Philippine 2 × 2 ID photo?

Glasses are not recommended. If worn, frames must not obstruct the eyes and there must be no glare on the lenses. Note that individual agencies may apply stricter rules — NBI bans glasses entirely (see `ph_nbi`).

Can I wear a head covering for the 2 × 2 photo?

Only for documented religious or medical reasons, and even then both ears should otherwise be exposed.

Can I smile in a Philippine 2 × 2 photo?

No — neutral expression, no visible teeth, no frowning or exaggerated expressions. Eyes must be open and looking directly at the camera.

How recent does the 2 × 2 photo need to be?

Within the last six months for most agencies. NBI requires within three months — see `ph_nbi`. Filters, retouching, and digital alterations are not permitted.

What size and file format does the 2 × 2 photo use?

Print size 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm); pixel target 600 × 600 px at 300 DPI; JPEG / JPG up to 240 KB; plain white (#FFFFFF) background. The 50–69% face-height range is deliberately wider and lower than passport-style specs because the 2 × 2 in format leaves more headroom around the head.

Credit card · 85.6 × 54 mmPrint · 51 x 51 mm
Visual proportions, not actual size — depends on viewport DPI.
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 · PH_2X2ALL CHECKS PASS
Dimensions
600 × 600 px
exact
600×600
Face height
50% – 69%
target 60%
60%
Eye line
55% – 63%
target 59%
59%
Background
white
ΔE < 3
#FFFFFF
File size
240 KB
JPEG q=92
182 KB
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.

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