Where to Take a Passport Photo in Singapore: 3 Options

Short answer: You can't take your passport photo at ICA. ICA says on Ask.gov that there are no photo-taking services at ICA Services Centre. That leaves three options: a photo studio, a self-service photo booth, or a phone photo taken at home with an app designed for Singapore passport photos, which is the route ICA itself recommends for phone photos. Whichever you choose, the photo must meet the ICA photo guidelines. For an online application, that means a digital colour photo of 400 x 514 pixels in jpg, jpeg, heic, heif or png format, up to 8MB.

This guide is for Singapore citizens and permanent residents renewing a passport, applying for a first passport or re-registering an IC online. It compares the three places you can get a photo, lists what to check before you pay anyone, and explains when you need a print instead of a file. Every rule here comes from ICA's own pages and its answers on Ask.gov, checked in October 2026. We don't quote studio or booth prices, because they vary by shop and we couldn't verify them.

Can you take a passport photo at ICA Services Centre?

No. ICA's answer on Ask.gov is short: "There are no photo-taking services at ICA Services Centre." You need to bring or upload a photo that's already ready.

For most people this doesn't matter, because passport applications in Singapore are done online. The Apply for Passport page asks Singapore citizens living in Singapore to log in to ICA's e-Service with Singpass and upload "a passport-sized, digital, colour photograph taken within the last three months". You don't need to visit ICA to hand in a photo.

Where to take a passport photo in Singapore: the three options compared

Prices aren't in this table on purpose. They differ between shops and change over time, so check with the studio or booth operator before you go.

What should you ask for at a photo studio or booth?

A studio or booth can produce a good photo, but nothing makes it acceptable to ICA except meeting the guidelines. Before you pay, check these points:

1. A digital file, not only prints. Online applications need a file. ICA's photo guidelines recommend 400 x 514 pixels for upload through e-Services, in jpg, jpeg, heic, heif or png format, with a maximum size of 8MB.
2. No retouching. ICA says your photograph "must not be altered or enhanced in any way. This includes the modification of facial features". Ask the studio not to smooth your skin, reshape your face or brighten your eyes.
3. A plain white background. ICA's Dos and Don'ts chart asks for a white background. ICA's overseas passport form adds that if your hair is white, the background must be light grey.
4. A neutral expression with your mouth closed. Look straight at the camera with your head straight and your eyes fully visible.
5. A recent photo. The photo must be taken within the last three months.
6. Matte paper for prints. If you need prints, ICA says they must be on a matte or semi-matte, non-reflective finish.

How to take a passport photo at home in Singapore

ICA's answer on using a mobile phone photo recommends downloading an app "specifically designed to take photographs for Singapore passport or identity card applications", and adds that "the photograph will be accepted if it complies with our photo guidelines." ICA suggests searching the app stores for "Singapore Passport", "Singapore IC" and "Photo".

1. Get someone to take it. ICA asks you not to take a selfie, because the image will be flipped. Ask a friend or family member to hold the phone.
2. Stand in front of a plain white wall or a white sheet, a short step away from it so your shadow doesn't fall on it.
3. Face a window or a soft light. Light should fall evenly on both sides of your face, with no hard shadows and no glare on glasses.
4. Keep the phone at eye level, about an arm's length or more away, and include your head, hair and the top of your shoulders.
5. Use a neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open and looking at the camera.
6. Take several shots and pick the sharpest one. Don't use beauty filters or editing apps that change your face.
7. Crop and resize the photo to 400 x 514 pixels with an app or tool built for Singapore passport photos, then save it as jpg, jpeg, heic, heif or png under 8MB.

We cover the home setup in more detail in how to take a passport photo at home. If the photo is for a baby, see our baby passport photo guide.

Do you need a digital or a printed passport photo?

It depends on how you apply.

• Online through MyICA: you need a digital file. This covers passport applications by citizens in Singapore, and also IC registration and IC re-registration at 30 and 55, which ask for a "recent passport-sized, digital, coloured photograph taken within the last three months". Our IC registration photo guide covers the IC side.
• On paper overseas: citizens living abroad can apply online or hand in the overseas application form at a Singapore Overseas Mission. That form asks for a colour photo "35 mm wide by 45 mm high without border", with the face measuring between 25 mm and 35 mm from chin to crown.

You may use the same photo for your IC and your passport, according to ICA's answer on Ask.gov, as long as it was taken within three months of the date of application.

What happens if your photo doesn't meet ICA's requirements?

ICA's Apply for Passport page warns that "your application will be delayed if your photograph does not meet our requirements" and that ICA will notify you if your photo is rejected. Processing normally takes around one to two weeks after ICA receives the application, but it "may be up to four weeks if your photograph does not meet the requirements". The passport fee is S$70 online and S$80 over the counter, so a delay costs you time rather than a second fee, but it can still upset travel plans. Check the photo against the guidelines before you submit, wherever you took it.

How IC Photo Singapore can help

If you choose the at-home route, 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, and it works from a phone or computer with no studio visit. You see a watermarked preview before checkout and 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

Where can I take a passport photo in Singapore?

You can use a photo studio, a self-service photo booth, or take one at home with your phone and an app designed for Singapore passport photos. ICA Services Centre does not offer photo-taking, so you need the photo before you apply.

Can I take my passport photo at home in Singapore?

Yes. ICA recommends apps designed for Singapore passport or IC photos and says the photo will be accepted if it complies with its photo guidelines. Ask someone else to take it, because ICA doesn't recommend selfies.

What size is a Singapore passport photo?

For online upload through ICA's e-Services, the recommended size is 400 x 514 pixels, in jpg, jpeg, heic, heif or png format up to 8MB. Printed photos for the overseas paper form are 35 mm x 45 mm without border.

Can a studio retouch my passport photo?

No. ICA's guidelines say the photo must not be altered or enhanced in any way, including changes to facial features or the use of photo editing software. Ask the studio for an unedited photo.

How recent does my passport photo need to be?

It must be taken within the last three months. You can use the same photo for your IC and passport if it was taken within three months of the date of application.

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.