Philippines Passport
Last verified 2026-10-17 against Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Republic of the PhilippinesPhoto taken at your appointment
For Philippine ePassport applications, staff take your photo during your appointment. You do not need to upload or print one. Check your chosen office’s instructions for special cases.
Official passport instructionsDimensions
The reviewed ePassport routes take your photo during enrollment. Do not prepare a home upload or a set of passport prints. SpecSnap provides appointment guidance without generation, edited previews, printing or application export. Existing saved images retain their file dimensions; those dimensions are not current submission requirements.
Head position
Face the camera straight on and follow the encoder’s positioning instructions. The New York FAQ advises a frontal pose without head tilt. SpecSnap does not validate an appointment photo or publish a self-upload head-height/eye-line band for this route.
Background
The office controls the capture setup. There is no universal royal-blue home-photo requirement in the reviewed guidance. San Francisco describes a light-blue capture background, illustrating why you should follow the chosen office rather than a generic colour code.
Expression
Follow the staff’s instructions. New York permits a moderate smile without visible teeth; do not assume one facial-expression rule covers every office or age group.
Accessories
The New York FAQ excludes eyeglasses/shades and coloured contact lenses that disguise eye colour. Head-covering and jewellery guidance can differ by office; consult the chosen office for religious, medical, cultural and accessibility needs. Do not rely on an app to verify these exceptions.
Other rules
Attend in person with the documents required for your application type. Washington’s new-adult checklist says no photos to bring; New York and San Francisco also capture photos on-site. Consular applications and outreach do not automatically create a self-supplied-photo route. Confirm special cases directly with the office.
Notes
An original upload, a professional studio print or an edited preview cannot substitute for the appointment capture in these reviewed routes. SpecSnap keeps the guide accessible and older edited photos viewable/deletable, but blocks new processing, payment, export, printing and source reuse for this passport. Philippine visas, general IDs, NBI and other services follow separate workflows. Check the instructions for your specific service.
Sources
Can I wear glasses during passport photo capture?
New York’s passport FAQ excludes eyeglasses and shades. Follow the appearance instructions of the office where you will attend, including any exceptional needs.
Can I wear a head covering?
Official consular guidance allows certain religious, medical or cultural coverings when the face remains visible. Check your chosen office; SpecSnap cannot assess an exception.
Can I smile for the appointment photo?
Follow the encoder’s directions. The New York FAQ permits a moderate smile without teeth. Do not treat this as a universal rule for every office or child.
Do I need a recent photo from a studio?
The reviewed ePassport routes take a new photo at your appointment. Washington says no photos to bring; New York and San Francisco likewise capture on-site. A studio print is not a substitute.
What background, upload format or print size should I prepare?
For these appointment routes, you do not prepare a photo file or print. Staff control the capture setup. The former universal royal-blue and four-print claims were unsupported. Follow the office’s specific checklist for special cases.