Passport Photo Singapore: How to Take One at Home

Short answer: You can take a passport photo for Singapore at home with a phone, as long as it follows ICA's photo guidelines: a colour photo taken within the last three months, a plain white background, a neutral expression with your mouth closed, and a digital file of 400 x 514 pixels in jpg, jpeg, heic, heif or png format up to 8MB. Ask someone else to take it, because ICA says a selfie comes out flipped.

This guide puts ICA's rules for the Singapore passport photo in one place and turns them into a step-by-step home routine. Every rule below comes from ICA's own pages and its answers on Ask.gov, checked in October 2026.

What does ICA require for a Singapore passport photo?

ICA says its passport photo requirements are based on specifications from the International Standards Organisation (ISO) and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The Apply for Passport page asks for "a passport-sized, digital, colour photograph taken within the last three months".

Sources: ICA Photo Guidelines (last updated 28 April 2026, including its Dos and Don'ts chart) and ICA Apply for Passport (last updated 30 June 2026).

For the pixel size, ICA's answer is short: "The dimension is 400X514 pixels for upload of photos via e-Services." If your phone gives you a larger image, it has to be resized to that dimension, not cropped in a way that cuts off your hair or shoulders.

How do you take a passport photo at home in Singapore?

ICA's own advice on using a mobile phone photo is to use an app built for Singapore passport or IC photos, and it says the photo "will be accepted if it complies with our photo guidelines". Here is a routine that follows those guidelines step by step.

1. Find a white wall. ICA's chart shows the background must be white in colour. A wall with posters, a door frame or a coloured curtain will not pass.
2. Light your face evenly. Stand facing a window or a soft light so both sides of your face are equally bright. ICA asks for even brightness, and its media release lists shadows on the face as a reason for rejection.
3. Get someone to hold the phone. ICA does not recommend selfies and asks you to have someone help you. Its Ask.gov answer on selfies explains why: "the photo image will be flipped."
4. Face the camera squarely. Keep your head straight, look directly into the lens and keep both shoulders and your hair in the frame.
5. Keep a neutral face. Close your mouth and don't smile. ICA's chart marks an open-mouthed smile as wrong.
6. Check your glasses and eyes. If you wear spectacles, the lenses must be clear and untinted, with your eyes clearly visible. Remove coloured contact lenses. Make sure hair or a head covering doesn't hide your eyes.
7. Take several shots. Practical tip: take five or six photos and pick the sharpest one. ICA requires the photo to be clear, in sharp focus and not pixelated.
8. Resize without editing. Crop and resize the photo to 400 x 514 pixels. Don't use beauty filters, skin smoothing or face reshaping: ICA says the photo "must not be altered or enhanced in any way".
9. Save in an accepted format. Use jpg, jpeg, heic, heif or png, and keep the file at 8MB or less.

You then upload the photo when you log in to ICA's e-Service with Singpass to complete the passport application form, as described on the Apply for Passport page.

Why do Singapore passport photos get rejected?

ICA doesn't publish rejection statistics. Its media release on applying for passports early (18 August 2022) names the common reasons, and the photo guidelines explain the rest.

ICA explains why lighting matters: shadows and glare "can create inconsistent patches on the facial image eventually laser-engraved on the passport".

A rejected photo costs you time. ICA says it will notify you if your photo is rejected, and the Apply for Passport page says processing is around one to two weeks, but may be up to four weeks if your photograph does not meet the requirements. Applicants whose photo fails "will be required to resubmit a new photo", according to the media release.

Check before you submit

Run through this list with the final file open on your screen:

• The background is white, with no shadow behind your head.
• Your face is evenly lit, sharp and not pixelated.
• You're looking straight at the camera with a neutral expression and mouth closed.
• Your shoulders and hair are fully visible.
• Spectacles have clear lenses with no glare; no coloured contact lenses; no red eye.
• The photo is not flipped: your parting and any moles are on the same side as in real life.
• No filters, retouching or face edits.
• The file is 400 x 514 pixels, in jpg, jpeg, heic, heif or png, and no more than 8MB.
• The photo was taken within the last three months.

Where to take a passport photo in Singapore if you'd rather not do it at home

If you prefer a studio or photo booth, ICA's rules are the same, so bring the checklist above. Note that you can't get your photo taken at ICA itself: ICA's Ask.gov answer on photo services says, "There are no photo-taking services at ICA Services Centre."

One photo can cover more than one application. ICA's Ask.gov answer on using the same photo says you may use the same photo for your IC and passport "if the photo is taken within 3 months from the date of application". If you're also due for IC registration or re-registration, see our IC registration at 15, 30 and 55 photo guide.

How IC Photo Singapore can help

If you already have a phone photo against a white wall, IC Photo Singapore (icphotosingapore.com) outputs photos sized to ICA's published spec of 400 x 514 px for online submission. You upload your photo and choose Singapore Passport Photo, and it works from a phone or computer with no studio visit. You see a watermarked preview before checkout. It doesn't replace ICA's own checks: ICA assesses your photo against its guidelines. IC Photo Singapore is an independent service and is not affiliated with ICA.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Singapore passport photo size?

For online applications, ICA's photo guidelines give the dimension as 400 x 514 pixels for photos uploaded via e-Services. The file must be jpg, jpeg, heic, heif or png, with a maximum file size of 8MB. Printed photos for hardcopy submission must have a matte or semi-matte finish.

Can I smile in my Singapore passport photo?

No. ICA's Dos and Don'ts chart on the photo guidelines page says the facial expression should be neutral with the mouth closed, and it shows an open-mouthed smile as a photo that doesn't meet the rules. Keep a relaxed, closed-mouth expression and look straight at the camera.

Can I wear glasses in a Singapore passport photo?

Yes, if the spectacles have clear and untinted lenses and your eyes are clearly visible, according to ICA's photo guidelines. ICA's media release also lists reflection or glare on spectacles as a reason photos may be rejected, so check the lenses for white spots before you submit.

Can I take my passport photo as a selfie?

ICA advises against it. Its Ask.gov answer on selfies says the photo image will be flipped, and ICA's guidelines say a flipped photo doesn't meet the requirements. Ask a family member or friend to take the photo with your phone instead.

Can I use the same photo for my IC and passport?

Yes, ICA says you may use the same photo if it was taken within 3 months from the date of application. That is in ICA's Ask.gov answer on using one photo for both. The photo still has to meet the same photo guidelines for each application.

How much does a Singapore passport cost?

According to ICA's Apply for Passport page, the fee is S$70 if you apply online and S$80 if you apply over the counter at ICA Services Centre or a Singapore Overseas Mission. The photo itself isn't part of this fee.

Requirements 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.