Passport Photo for India, China, Thailand & Japan: All Requirements

Asia is one of the most popular travel destinations for European tourists — but when it comes to passport photo requirements, every country has its own rules. India requires a square format, China has a unique custom size, and Thailand and Japan follow the ICAO standard with subtle differences. To make sure your visa application doesn’t get rejected over a photo, here’s everything you need to know.

Requirements at a Glance

India: Square Format Like the USA

India uses the same square format as the United States — 51 x 51 mm (2 x 2 inches). This size is uncommon in Europe, which means standard passport photos from a local photographer typically won’t work.

Detailed Requirements

• Dimensions: 51 x 51 mm (printed) or 600 x 600 px (digital)
• Background: Pure white — no grey, no cream
• Expression: Neutral, mouth closed
• Head covering: Only for religious reasons
• Glasses: Allowed, but no reflections on the lenses
• Digital e-Visa: JPEG, between 10 KB and 1 MB

Common Mistakes with Indian Photos

Many applicants try to crop a European 35x45mm photo to fit the square format. This almost always results in rejection because the proportions are wrong. Always create the photo in the correct format from the start.

China: Unique Format 33 x 48 mm

China has a globally unique photo format that matches neither the European nor the American standard. The requirements are strict, and even small deviations lead to rejection.

Detailed Requirements

• Dimensions: 33 x 48 mm (printed) or 354 x 472 px (digital)
• Background: Pure white, evenly lit
• Ears: Both ears must be fully visible
• Glasses: Not allowed — must be removed
• Jewellery: No conspicuous jewellery (earrings, necklaces)
• Digital format: JPEG, 40–120 KB file size

Key Rule: Ears Must Be Visible

The requirement to show both ears is the most common stumbling block for Chinese visa photos. Hair must be tucked behind the ears. Head coverings are prohibited without exception — even for religious reasons, strict limitations apply.

Thailand: ICAO Standard with Strict Enforcement

Thailand generally follows the international ICAO standard but enforces it more strictly than many European countries.

Detailed Requirements

• Dimensions: 35 x 45 mm
• Background: Pure white
• Glasses: Not allowed since 2020
• Expression: Neutral, no smiling
• Head covering: Only for religious reasons
• Digital resolution: Minimum 600 x 600 px

Visa on Arrival vs. e-Visa

For a visa on arrival at the airport, you need a printed photo. For an e-Visa, a digital JPEG is sufficient. In both cases, the same requirements apply — the digital photo must be just as compliant as the printed version.

Japan: Moderate Requirements, High Quality

Japan follows the ICAO standard and demands high quality but is less restrictive than China or Thailand.

Detailed Requirements

• Dimensions: 35 x 45 mm (visa) or 45 x 45 mm (some applications)
• Background: White or light grey, solid colour
• Glasses: Allowed, but no reflections
• Face height: Head occupies approximately 70–80% of the photo
• Recency: Maximum 6 months old

Watch Out: Different Formats

Japan uses 35 x 45 mm for visa applications but 45 x 45 mm for some other documents. Check exactly which format you need before creating your photo.

Common Mistakes with Asian Visa Applications

1. Using the Wrong Format

Standard European photos (35 x 45 mm) don’t work for India (51 x 51 mm) or China (33 x 48 mm). Simply cropping an existing photo risks incorrect proportions.

2. Not Removing Glasses

China and Thailand explicitly require photos without glasses. Even if you normally wear them — for these visas, you must take them off.

3. Ears Covered

For Chinese photos, both ears must be visible. Long hair, head coverings, or voluminous hairstyles lead to rejection.

4. Wrong Background

All four countries require a white or very light background. Grey, blue, or patterned backgrounds are not accepted.

5. Poor Lighting

Shadows on the face or background are a common reason for rejection, especially under China’s strict controls.

How PassphotoLabs Covers All Formats

PassphotoLabs supports the passport photo formats for all four countries — India, China, Thailand, and Japan. The AI-powered processing ensures your photo meets the exact requirements of each country:

• Automatic background replacement: Whatever background your original photo has, the AI replaces it with compliant pure white
• Format adjustment: Select the destination country and your photo is automatically cropped to the correct dimensions (51x51mm, 33x48mm, or 35x45mm)
• Biometric check: Face height, eye position, and head angle are verified automatically
• Instantly available: Digital photo ready in minutes — perfect for e-Visa applications

For just €4, you get a print-ready passport photo in the correct format. If you’re unsure whether your photo meets the requirements, use the validation for just €1 — so you know before submitting your application.

Create your passport photo now →