Singapore Work Pass
Last verified 2026-04-25 against Ministry of Manpower (MOM); photo guidelines aligned with ICAStandards: ISO/IEC 19794-5 · ICAO Doc 9303Government-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
- 8 MB
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, HEIC, HEIF, PNG; up to 8 MB
Head position
- Head height (chin to crown): ~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)
- Biometric photos and fingerprints are also captured at the Employment Pass Services Centre (EPSC) within 2 weeks of pass issuance for new candidates — this app's output covers the online-application photo only
Notes
- MOM does not publish a separate photo guideline; work-pass applications follow ICA passport guidelines for the uploaded photo. Treat any divergence on MOM's portal as authoritative for that specific portal.
Sources
Can I wear glasses in my Singapore work pass photo?
Prescription glasses are permitted, provided the lenses are clear with no glare or reflections and the frames do not cover your eyes. Sunglasses, tinted lenses, decorative contact lenses, and face masks are prohibited.
Can I wear a head covering for the work pass 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 under the ICA-aligned MOM guideline.
Can I smile in a Singapore work pass photo?
The guideline requires a neutral, natural expression with your mouth closed. Eyes must be open and looking directly at the camera, with your head upright and level — no tilt or smile.
How recent does the work pass photo need to be?
The photo must have been taken within the last three months. Note that biometric photos and fingerprints are also captured at the Employment Pass Services Centre within two weeks of pass issuance for new candidates — this app's output covers the online-application photo only.
What file format and size does MOM accept for work pass photos?
MOM follows ICA's passport guideline for work-pass uploads: JPEG (.jpg, .jpeg), HEIC, HEIF, and PNG, up to 8 MB. The image must be 400 × 514 px on a pure white (#FFFFFF) background.
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."
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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