Singapore Passport Renewal Photo Requirements, Step by Step

Short answer: The Singapore passport renewal photo requirements are the same as for a new passport: a digital, colour photo taken within the last 3 months, 400 x 514 pixels, with a white background, uploaded with your online application (ICA passport application page). You can't simply reuse the photo from your old passport, because ICA officers check your face against the new photo when you collect the passport.

This guide is for adults renewing their own Singapore passport. It covers the photo rules, the online renewal steps, what happens if the photo is rejected and how to time the renewal before a trip. Every rule below comes from ICA's own pages and its answers on Ask.gov, checked on 11 November 2026. If you are renewing for a child, read our child passport renewal photo guide instead.

Do you need a new photo to renew your Singapore passport?

Yes. ICA's passport application page lists one document you need: "a passport-sized, digital, colour photograph taken within the last 3 months" (ICA). In the FAQ on the same page, ICA answers the question "Can I reuse my old photograph?" by asking for a recent photo taken within the last 3 months, and adds that officers will do facial verification against that photo at collection.

A photo from your last passport, which may be up to 10 years old, will not meet the 3-month rule. A photo you took recently for your IC is a different case. ICA says you may use the same photo for your IC and passport applications if it was taken within 3 months of the application date (Ask.gov answer from ICA).

Singapore passport renewal photo requirements at a glance

ICA's Photo Guidelines (last updated 30 October 2026) set the file specification and a list of Dos and Don'ts. These are the points that apply to an online renewal:

Requirement	What ICA asks for
Age of photo	Taken within the last 3 months
Colour	Colour photo
Size for online upload	400 x 514 pixels
File formats	JPG, JPEG, HEIC, HEIF or PNG
Maximum file size	8 MB
Background	White
Expression	Neutral, mouth closed
Lighting	Even brightness across the face
Framing	Full frontal view, eyes looking at the camera, shoulders and hair fully visible
Glasses	Clear, untinted lenses with eyes clearly visible
Contact lenses	Non-coloured; no red eye
Head gear	Dark in colour against the white background
Editing	Resizing only; no filters, no changes to facial features, not flipped or distorted

Sources: ICA Photo Guidelines (file rules and the Dos and Don'ts chart on that page); ICA passport application page (3-month rule).

For how these numbers compare with IC, PR and visa photos, see our ICA photo size comparison.

What you need before you start the renewal

You can apply online when your passport has expired or is expiring within 9 months, is running out of pages, or is lost or damaged (ICA). A new passport for a citizen aged 16 or above is valid for 10 years.

Have these ready:

• Your Singpass login, because the online form is completed after logging in with Singpass.
• The new photo as a digital file that meets the table above.
• A payment method. ICA accepts Visa or Mastercard credit/debit cards, American Express credit cards, Internet Direct Debit from DBS/POSB, OCBC, UOB and Standard Chartered accounts in Singapore, and PayNow.
• The fee: S$70 if you apply online, or S$80 over the counter at ICA Services Centre or a Singapore Overseas Mission (ICA fees).

How to renew your passport online with a new photo

1. Take or get a new photo that meets the photo rules (see the next section if you are taking it yourself).
2. Resize it to 400 x 514 pixels and save it as JPG, JPEG, HEIC, HEIF or PNG, no larger than 8 MB.
3. Open "Apply Online" on the ICA passport application page and log in with Singpass.
4. Fill in the form and choose the reason for your application that matches your case. ICA says it will verify the reason you select.
5. Upload the photo when the form asks for it. Our MyICA digital upload guide walks through the upload step in more detail.
6. Pay the S$70 online fee.
7. Wait for the outcome. ICA gives a local processing time of around 1 to 2 weeks, which may stretch to 4 weeks if the photo does not meet the requirements (Ask.gov answer from ICA).
8. When ICA tells you by SMS or email that the passport is approved, book a collection appointment within 1 month of approval (ICA passport collection page).

Can you take the renewal photo yourself?

Yes, as long as the photo meets the guidelines. ICA says a photo taken with a mobile phone will be accepted if it complies with the photo guidelines (Ask.gov answer from ICA). You may resize it on a computer, but ICA asks you not to alter or enhance it in any other way, which includes filters and changes to facial features.

Ask someone else to take it. ICA's Photo Guidelines say selfies taken with a mobile phone usually do not meet the requirements and could delay your application. ICA also notes that a selfie image is flipped (Ask.gov answer from ICA), and a flipped photo is one of the Don'ts.

Don't plan to have the photo taken during an ICA visit: there are no photo-taking services at ICA Services Centre (Ask.gov answer from ICA). For a home setup with a white wall, even light and a helper, follow our guide to taking a passport photo at home. If you are unsure about clothing or head gear, see what to wear for a Singapore passport or IC photo.

Check your photo before you submit

Run through this list before you upload. Each item is a rule from the ICA Photo Guidelines chart:

• [ ] Taken within the last 3 months
• [ ] White background
• [ ] Even light on both sides of the face
• [ ] Face straight to the camera, eyes fully visible, mouth closed
• [ ] Shoulders and hair fully in the frame
• [ ] Glasses, if worn, have clear lenses and no glare over the eyes
• [ ] Not a mirror image (selfie camera) and not stretched
• [ ] No beauty filter or retouching; only resized
• [ ] Exactly 400 x 514 pixels, an accepted format, 8 MB or less

In a media release dated 18 August 2022, ICA listed common reasons for photo rejection: non-white backgrounds, laterally inverted images, photos that are not current, uneven brightness or shadows on the face, and glare on spectacles (ICA media release). The release explains that these problems can create inconsistent patches on the facial image that is laser-engraved on the passport.

What happens if ICA rejects your renewal photo?

ICA will notify you by post or email if you need to submit a new photo. The fix is to resubmit a new photograph via e-Services (ICA passport FAQ). Expect the application to take longer: ICA says processing may take up to 4 weeks when the photo doesn't meet the requirements, instead of around 1 to 2 weeks.

Before you retake it, compare the old photo against the checklist above to find the cause. Our ICA photo troubleshooting guide goes through rejection causes one by one.

When to renew before a trip, and how collection works

Your current passport stays usable while ICA processes the new one. According to the ICA passport collection page, you may travel with it during this period provided it is not damaged and has more than 6 months of validity remaining. It stays valid until ICA issues the new passport.

Allow for the full process: around 1 to 2 weeks of processing, up to 4 weeks if the photo has to be redone, and then a collection appointment. ICA's 2022 media release warned that people who apply late risk not being able to collect their passport in time for travel.

For collection:

• Collect in person at a participating SingPost outlet (if offered) or at ICA Services Centre.
• Bring your current passport (if any) and your digital or physical IC.
• Book within 1 month of approval. ICA cancels uncollected passports after 3 months, and the fee is not refunded.

How IC Photo Singapore can help

If you don't have a recent photo in the right size, IC Photo Singapore (icphotosingapore.com) can turn a phone photo into a digital file sized to ICA's published spec of 400 x 514 px for online submission. You upload a photo on the make-photo page from your phone or computer, check a watermarked preview, and download the digital file after checkout. It doesn't replace ICA's own checks: ICA still reviews every photo and does facial verification at collection. IC Photo Singapore is an independent service and is not affiliated with ICA.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use the photo in my old passport for the renewal?

No. ICA asks for a photograph taken within the last 3 months, even when you are renewing, and its officers check your face against that photo when you collect the new passport. A photo from a passport issued years ago does not meet that rule, so take a new one before you start the online application.

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

Yes, if it is recent enough. ICA says you may use the same photo for IC and passport applications if the photo was taken within 3 months of the date of application. If you re-registered your IC or changed your IC photo more than 3 months ago, take a new photo for the passport.

How long does a Singapore passport renewal take?

ICA gives a local processing time of around 1 to 2 weeks from receipt of the application. It may take up to 4 weeks if your photo does not meet the requirements or if your application involves a change to your principal name or surname. After approval you still need to book a collection appointment.

How much does it cost to renew a Singapore passport?

The fee is S$70 if you apply online and S$80 if you submit the application over the counter at ICA Services Centre or at a Singapore Overseas Mission. Penalty fees are added on top when you replace a lost or damaged passport, as listed in the ICA passport fees section.

Can I renew my Singapore passport from overseas?

Yes. Singapore citizens living overseas can log in with Singpass and apply online, or submit the overseas application form in person at a Singapore Overseas Mission. ICA gives an overseas processing time of around 4 to 6 weeks, and the passport is sent to the overseas mission you select.

Requirements were checked against ICA's passport application, passport collection and photo guidelines pages and ICA's answers on Ask.gov on 11 November 2026. Check the ICA passport application page before you submit, as rules and fees can change.