Singapore Visa

Last verified 2026-04-25 against Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA)Standards: ISO/IEC 19794-5 · ICAO Doc 9303

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

Pixel size
400 × 514 px
Print size
35 × 45 mm · 290 DPI
Background
white#FFFFFF
Face height
70–80% · target 75%
Eye line
50%–60% from bottom
File size limit
60 KB
35 mm · 400 px45 mm · 514 px
Face height: 70%–80% (target 75%)Eye line: 50%–60% (target 55%)

Note: Max 60 KB file size

Dimensions

  • Print size: 35 x 45 mm (aspect ratio 7:9)
  • Pixel size: 400 x 514 px
  • DPI: 600 DPI minimum (for prints)
  • File format / max file size: JPEG only; max 60 KB (stricter than passport / NRIC, which allow 8 MB)

Head position

  • Head height (chin to crown): 25–35 mm, ~70–80% of frame height
  • Eye line from bottom: 50–60% from bottom of frame
  • Shoulders square to camera; head centred horizontally

Background

  • Color: pure white (#FFFFFF), plain and uniform — no patterns, objects, or other people
  • No shadows on face or background

Expression

  • Neutral, natural expression; mouth closed
  • Eyes open, looking directly at the camera lens
  • Head upright, level, facing camera (no tilt)
  • Hair neatly combed; must not cover face or forehead
  • Bright, even illumination; no harsh shadows or red-eye

Accessories

  • Religious headgear: permitted, but forehead, eyes, nose, mouth, and chin must be clearly visible
  • Non-religious head coverings: not permitted
  • Prescription glasses: generally permitted; clear lenses, no glare, frames must not cover the eyes
  • Sunglasses, tinted lenses, decorative contact lenses, face masks: prohibited

Other rules

  • Photo must be taken within the last 3 months
  • No digital alteration or enhancement of facial features
  • Full colour (sRGB recommended)
  • JPEG-only submission (HEIC / HEIF / PNG accepted for passport / IC are not accepted for visa)

Notes

  • The 60 KB cap is the only material runtime difference between sg_visa and sg_passport; all other dimensions and ratios are identical.
  • Achieving 60 KB at 400 × 514 px typically requires JPEG quality around 70–80; the encoder must target this budget.

Sources

Can I wear glasses in my Singapore visa photo?

Prescription glasses are permitted, provided the lenses are clear with no glare or reflections and the frames do not cover your eyes. ICA prohibits sunglasses, tinted lenses, decorative contact lenses, and face masks.

Can I wear a head covering in the visa photo?

Religious headgear is permitted as long as your forehead, eyes, nose, mouth, and chin remain clearly visible. Non-religious head coverings are not permitted by ICA.

Can I smile in a Singapore visa photo?

ICA requires a neutral, natural expression with your mouth closed. Eyes must be open and looking directly at the camera lens, with your head upright and level — no tilt or smile.

How recent does the Singapore visa photo need to be?

The photo must have been taken within the last three months. ICA rejects older photos even when they otherwise meet the dimensional and background requirements.

What file format and size does ICA accept for visa photos?

Visa applications are stricter than passport / IC: ICA accepts JPEG only, with a maximum file size of 60 KB. The image must be 400 × 514 px on a pure white (#FFFFFF) background. HEIC, HEIF, and PNG — accepted for passport and IC — are not accepted for visa.

Credit card · 85.6 × 54 mmPrint · 35 x 45 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 · SG_VISAALL CHECKS PASS
Dimensions
400 × 514 px
exact
400×514
Face height
70% – 80%
target 75%
75%
Eye line
50% – 60%
target 55%
55%
Background
white
ΔE < 3
#FFFFFF
File size
60 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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