ICA Photo Size: Passport, IC, PR and Visa Compared

Short answer: The ICA photo size for online applications is 400 x 514 pixels. For a Singapore passport or IC, ICA's photo guidelines accept JPG, JPEG, HEIC, HEIF and PNG files up to 8 MB. Visa applications are stricter: ICA says the photo must be a JPEG of no more than 60 KB. A printed photo is 35 mm wide by 45 mm high.

People get this wrong because the numbers differ by application, and many older web pages still repeat limits that ICA no longer lists. This guide puts the figures ICA publishes side by side, says plainly where ICA doesn't publish a figure, and shows how to resize a photo without breaking the rules. Every figure was checked on ICA and Ask.gov pages in October 2026.

What size is an ICA photo for online upload?

An ICA photo for online upload is 400 pixels wide by 514 pixels high. ICA's photo guidelines say: "Your photograph must be 400 x 514 pixels when you upload it via our e-Services." The same page lists the file rules for online submissions:

Specification	ICA requirement
Dimensions	400 x 514 pixels
Accepted file formats	JPG, JPEG, HEIC, HEIF and PNG
Maximum file size	8 MB
Colour	A new, coloured photograph

Source: ICA photo guidelines, page last updated 30 October 2026.

ICA says its photo requirements follow International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) specifications. Pixel size is only one part of that; your face, background and expression also have to meet the rules. Our guide to Singapore IC photo requirements covers those.

ICA photo size by application

The 400 x 514 pixel size is the same across ICA applications we checked. What changes is the file limit, and ICA doesn't publish a separate file limit on every page.

Application	Size ICA states	File rule ICA states	Where it's written
Passport (online)	400 x 514 px	JPG, JPEG, HEIC, HEIF, PNG; up to 8 MB	Photo guidelines
IC registration and re-registration	Refers to photo guidelines	Refers to photo guidelines	IC registration page
Permanent Residence (PR) application	400 x 514 px, white background	No file size on the checklist	PR document checklist
Visa	400 x 514 px	JPEG only; no more than 60 KB	ICA on Ask.gov
Student's Pass (institutes of higher learning)	Refers to photo guidelines	Refers to photo guidelines	Student's Pass page
Printed photo (paper forms)	35 x 45 mm, no border	Matte or semi-matte print	Form IMME 11 OS

A few points from this table:

• IC and passport share the same photo. ICA confirms on Ask.gov that you can use the same photo for your IC and passport if it was taken within 3 months of the date of application.
• Visa photos are the exception. A visa photo has to be a JPEG of no more than 60 KB, so a HEIC or PNG file that works for a passport won't do. The answer also asks for a white background and a photo taken within the last 3 months.
• Where ICA lists no file size, we don't give one. The PR checklist asks for a coloured digital photo of 400 x 514 pixels with a white background, and says nothing about megabytes. If the e-Service rejects your upload, its error message is the rule that applies.

What size is a printed Singapore passport photo?

A printed Singapore passport photo is 35 mm wide by 45 mm high without a border. ICA's overseas passport form, IMME 11 OS, also says your face should measure between 25 mm and 35 mm from chin to crown, and the photo must be taken within the last 3 months. ICA's photo guidelines add that a printed photo should be on a matte or semi-matte, non-reflective finish.

Most Singaporeans applying in Singapore upload a digital photo through MyICA, so the printed size matters mainly for paper forms, such as the overseas passport application at a Singapore Overseas Mission.

Is the ICA photo limit 2MB?

No. ICA's photo guidelines list a maximum file size of 8 MB for online submissions, not 2 MB. You may still see a 2MB figure on older websites, including some older pages that are now out of date. Check the current guidelines rather than relying on a copied number.

The opposite problem also happens. A photo that's fine for a passport can be too large for a visa application, because the visa limit is 60 KB. If you're applying for a visa on someone's behalf, save the photo as a JPEG and check the file size before you upload.

How do you resize a photo to Singapore passport size?

ICA allows resizing. The photo guidelines say you can use the image editing software on your computer to resize your digital photograph, but you must not alter or enhance it in any other way, including changing facial features or using photo filters.

To resize a photo to 400 x 514 pixels:

1. Start with a sharp photo taken by someone else. ICA says selfies usually don't meet its requirements, and on Ask.gov it adds that a selfie image will be flipped.
2. Crop to the right shape first. 400 x 514 is a portrait ratio, so crop around your head and the top of your shoulders before you change the pixel size. Keep both edges of your face and the top of your shoulders in the frame.
3. Set the size to 400 x 514 pixels. Keep the aspect ratio locked so your face isn't stretched.
4. Save in an accepted format. For a passport or IC, JPG, JPEG, HEIC, HEIF and PNG are accepted up to 8 MB. For a visa, save as JPEG and lower the quality setting until the file is 60 KB or less.
5. Don't retouch. Skin smoothing, beauty filters and background edits count as altering the photo. Resizing and cropping are the only edits ICA describes as allowed.

If you'd rather not crop by hand, ICA recommends mobile apps designed for Singapore passport or IC photos, and says the photograph will be accepted if it complies with its photo guidelines. For lighting and background set-up, see our guide to taking a passport photo at home.

What happens if your photo is the wrong size?

A wrong-sized or rejected photo slows your application down. ICA's Apply for Passport page says passport processing takes around 1 to 2 weeks after ICA receives the application, and may take up to 4 weeks if your photograph doesn't meet the requirements. Getting the size, format and file limit right before you upload is the easiest part to control.

Size isn't the only reason ICA turns a photo down. Glasses glare, a smile or hair over your eyes can fail a photo of the right size, and our guide on glasses and smiling in an IC photo covers those rules.

How IC Photo Singapore can help

IC Photo Singapore (icphotosingapore.com) outputs photos sized to ICA's published spec of 400 x 514 px for online submission. You upload a phone photo on the make-photo page, from a phone or computer with no studio visit, and see a watermarked preview before checkout. You get the digital file after checkout. ICA still assesses every photo against its guidelines. IC Photo Singapore is an independent service and is not affiliated with ICA.

Frequently asked questions

What is the ICA photo size in pixels?

400 x 514 pixels. ICA's photo guidelines say your photograph must be 400 x 514 pixels when you upload it through ICA's e-Services. The same pixel size appears in ICA's visa photo answer and its PR document checklist.

What is the maximum file size for a Singapore passport photo?

8 MB for online passport and IC submissions, in JPG, JPEG, HEIC, HEIF or PNG format, according to ICA's photo guidelines. Visa applications are different: the photo must be a JPEG of no more than 60 KB.

What is the Singapore passport photo size in mm?

35 mm wide by 45 mm high, without a border, for printed photos on paper forms. Your face should measure between 25 mm and 35 mm from chin to crown, according to ICA's overseas passport application form.

Can I resize my photo to 400 x 514 myself?

Yes. ICA says you can resize your digital photograph with image editing software on your computer. You must not alter or enhance it in any other way, such as changing facial features or using filters.

Is the PR photo size different from the passport photo size?

The pixel size is the same. ICA's PR document checklist asks for a coloured digital photo of 400 x 514 pixels with a white background. The checklist doesn't state a file size limit, so follow the e-Service if it asks for a smaller file.

Sizes and file limits were checked against ICA and Ask.gov pages in October 2026. Check ICA's photo guidelines before you submit, because ICA decides whether your photo is accepted. More guides are on the IC Photo Singapore blog.