Singapore Passport / IC
Last verified 2026-10-17 against Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA)Standards: ISO · ICAOOriginal photo required
ICA requires an original, unaltered photo. Resizing is permitted, but background replacement and enhancements are unavailable here. Use a recent photo taken against a white background.
- Pixel size
- 400 × 514 px
- Background
- white#FFFFFF
- File size limit
- 8 MB
Dimensions
ICA recommends 400 × 514 px for online photo submissions. Its general photo page lists JPG/JPEG, HEIC, HEIF and PNG, up to 8 MB. Follow the current passport or IC application instructions. Overseas paper applications follow the selected mission’s instructions; printed photos should have a matte or semi-matte finish. No universal print DPI is established by the reviewed guidance.
Head position
Face the camera directly with the full face, shoulders and hair visible. The reviewed ICA guidance does not establish the former head-height percentages, eye-line percentages or pixel-clearance values as authority requirements.
Background
Use a plain white background (#FFFFFF) at capture, with even lighting. Retake a photo with unsuitable shadows or background rather than replacing the background digitally.
Expression
Use a neutral expression with the mouth closed and eyes open, looking at the camera. The illustrated guidance rejects smiling examples; no slight-smile permission is inferred.
Accessories
Glasses must have clear, untinted lenses with the eyes clearly visible. Use non-coloured contact lenses. Headgear or attire should be dark against the white background; religious or racial headgear must not obscure facial features. Do not flip or distort the image.
Other rules
Use a colour photo taken within the last 3 months. ICA requires the digital photo to be original, without software or mobile-app alterations. It explicitly permits resizing; this does not establish permission for background replacement, filters or enhancement. Mobile-phone capture is possible; ICA recommends asking someone to take the photo rather than taking a selfie.
Notes
SpecSnap provides original-photo guidance for this document. Edited generation, edited previews, payment, printing and application export are unavailable, including for previously saved edited results. An original-preserving checker is not yet implemented; no automated acceptance claim is made.
Sources
Can I wear glasses?
Glasses must have clear, untinted lenses with the eyes clearly visible. Use non-coloured contact lenses. Headgear or attire should be dark against the white background; religious or racial headgear must not obscure facial features. Do not flip or distort the image.
Can I wear a head covering?
Glasses must have clear, untinted lenses with the eyes clearly visible. Use non-coloured contact lenses. Headgear or attire should be dark against the white background; religious or racial headgear must not obscure facial features. Do not flip or distort the image.
Can I smile?
Use a neutral expression with the mouth closed and eyes open, looking at the camera. The illustrated guidance rejects smiling examples; no slight-smile permission is inferred.
How recent must the photo be?
Use a colour photo taken within the last 3 months. ICA requires the digital photo to be original, without software or mobile-app alterations. It explicitly permits resizing; this does not establish permission for background replacement, filters or enhancement. Mobile-phone capture is possible; ICA recommends asking someone to take the photo rather than taking a selfie.
What file format and size should I use?
ICA recommends 400 × 514 px for online photo submissions. Its general photo page lists JPG/JPEG, HEIC, HEIF and PNG, up to 8 MB. Follow the current passport or IC application instructions. Overseas paper applications follow the selected mission’s instructions; printed photos should have a matte or semi-matte finish. No universal print DPI is established by the reviewed guidance. SpecSnap provides original-photo guidance for this document. Edited generation, edited previews, payment, printing and application export are unavailable, including for previously saved edited results. An original-preserving checker is not yet implemented; no automated acceptance claim is made.