Singapore passport (ICA) photo requirements

ICA applications are lodged online through MyICA with an uploaded photo of exactly 400×514 pixels, up to 8 MB, in JPG, JPEG, HEIC, HEIF or PNG. The photo must be in colour against a white background, taken within the last three months, and must not be altered or enhanced beyond resizing. Hardcopy prints, when needed, are 35×45 mm with a matte or semi-matte finish.

Make and check a SG passport photo Free checker; files from A$6.99.

Can I take it myself? Yes

Yes, with ICA's caveat that it does not recommend selfies and suggests having someone else take the photo. ICA's rules are based on the ISO/ICAO passport photo standard, so the usual framing applies. Because the e-Service wants a fixed 400×514 pixel image, the main value of this tool for Singapore is producing exactly that file from a high-resolution original without guessing at the crop.

How to take the photo

1. Stand in front of a plain white wall, half a metre away, so that no shadow falls on it. White is the required colour, not light grey or cream.
2. Light from a window in front of you. Avoid the flash, which creates a bright spot on the wall and red-eye.
3. Someone else takes the photo from about 1.5 metres at eye level. Head and shoulders in frame with space above the hair.
4. Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open and looking at the camera. Hair must not cover the eyes or eyebrows; both ears need not show.
5. Glasses are allowed if there is no glare and the eyes are clearly visible; tinted lenses are not. No hats or head coverings except religious ones showing the full face.
6. Wear a coloured top. White clothing on a white background is a frequent reason the e-Service photo is queried.

Why SG passport photos get rejected

1. Background not white. Retake against a white wall. ICA does not accept edited backgrounds, so the tool keeps this option off.
2. Wrong pixel dimensions. The e-Service expects 400×514 px. Download the ICA preset here rather than resizing by hand.
3. Photo altered or enhanced. No filters or smoothing; only resizing is allowed.
4. Selfie distortion. Have someone else take it from 1.5 metres.
5. Shadow behind the head. Stand away from the wall; light from the front.
6. Glossy hardcopy. Prints must be matte or semi-matte.
7. Photo older than three months. A new colour photo is required for every new application.

Infants and children

Lay the baby on a plain white sheet and photograph from above so the face is level and fully visible. Eyes open where possible; ICA applies the rules leniently for infants but nobody else and no objects may appear. The uploaded file must still be 400×514 px, which the tool produces from the crop.

Step by step: MyICA e-Services

1. Log in to MyICA with Singpass and start the passport application or renewal.
2. At the photo step upload the 400×514 px file from this tool. Accepted formats are jpg, jpeg, heic, heif and png up to 8 MB.
3. Review the preview, confirm the declaration that the photo is unaltered and taken within three months, and submit.

Open MyICA e-Services

What it costs

A studio or neighbourhood photo shop in Singapore charges S$8–15 for a set with a digital copy. Our Single licence is A$6.99 (charged in your currency) for the ICA file and print sheets for 30 days.