Quick summary: Each country has different visa photo standards — for sizes, backgrounds, expressions, and rules about glasses + hair. This article lists details for the 15 most popular countries (accounting for 95% of Vietnamese visa applications). Plus common rejection reasons and how to fix them.
Why Does Each Country Have Different Standards?
Each country has its own biometric identification system used for:
- Passport / residence card management
- AI recognition at customs
- Long-term storage (10 years for US B1/B2 visa)
The AI recognition system is “trained” on a specific dataset — requiring standard sizes, face proportions, and backgrounds to function accurately.
15-Country Table — Full Specifications
The Americas
1. USA — Visa B1/B2, F1 Student, Immigration
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Size | 51 x 51 mm (2 x 2 inch) |
| Face ratio | 25-35 mm from chin to top of head |
| Background | Pure white (RGB 255,255,255) |
| Expression | Stern, no smile, mouth closed |
| Eyes | Look straight at camera, no glasses |
| Outfit | Collared shirt, not white (blends with background) |
| Validity | Taken within last 6 months |
| Format | JPEG, ≥ 600x600 pixels, ≤ 240KB |
2. Canada
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Size | 35 x 45 mm |
| Face ratio | 31-36 mm from chin to top of head |
| Background | White / very light gray |
| Expression | Stern, no smile |
| Eyes | Look straight, no glasses |
| Validity | 6 months |
Europe
3. Schengen (26 EU countries) — Common application
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Size | 35 x 45 mm |
| Face ratio | 32-36 mm from chin to top of head |
| Background | Pure white or uniform light gray |
| Expression | Stern, mouth closed |
| Eyes | Look straight, no glasses, no hair covering eyes |
| Outfit | Contrasts with background (avoid white) |
| Validity | 6 months |
4. United Kingdom (UK)
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Size | 45 x 35 mm |
| Face ratio | 29-34 mm from chin to top of head |
| Background | Light white / cream |
| Expression | Stern or slight closed-mouth smile |
| Eyes | Look straight, no glasses |
| Validity | 6 months |
5. Germany / Schengen specific
Follows standard Schengen (35x45mm), but Germany is stricter on “flat” expression — no lip-stretched smile.
Asia
6. Korea
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Size | 35 x 45 mm |
| Face ratio | 25-35 mm from chin to top of head |
| Background | Pure white |
| Expression | Stern, may have very slight closed-mouth smile |
| Eyes | Look straight, clear glasses allowed |
| Outfit | Dark or neutral shirt |
| Validity | 6 months |
7. Japan
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Size | 45 x 45 mm (tourist visa) or 45 x 35 mm (immigration) |
| Face ratio | 27-32 mm from chin to top of head |
| Background | White / light blue |
| Expression | Stern, no smile |
| Eyes | Look straight, glasses allowed |
| Validity | 6 months |
8. China
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Size | 33 x 48 mm |
| Face ratio | 28-33 mm from chin to top of head |
| Background | Pure white |
| Expression | Absolutely stern, no smile |
| Eyes | Look straight, clear glasses allowed |
| Outfit | Dark, not white |
| Format | JPEG, ≥ 354 x 472 pixels |
| Validity | 6 months |
9. Taiwan
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Size | 35 x 45 mm (same as Schengen) |
| Face ratio | 32-36 mm |
| Background | Uniform white / light blue |
| Expression | Stern |
| Eyes | Look straight |
10. Singapore
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Size | 35 x 45 mm |
| Face ratio | 25-35 mm |
| Background | Pure white |
| Expression | Stern, mouth closed |
| Eyes | Look straight |
| Format | JPEG, ≤ 60KB (especially small) |
| Validity | 3 months (shorter than other countries) |
11. Thailand
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Size | 35 x 45 mm |
| Face ratio | 30-35 mm |
| Background | White / light blue |
| Expression | Stern or slight smile |
| Eyes | Look straight |
12. India
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Size | 51 x 51 mm (same as US) |
| Face ratio | 25-35 mm |
| Background | White |
| Expression | Stern |
| Eyes | Look straight |
| Format | JPEG, 10KB-1MB |
13. UAE / Dubai
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Size | 43 x 55 mm |
| Background | White |
| Expression | Stern |
| Special | Hijab allowed for Muslim women (face still clearly visible) |
Oceania
14. Australia
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Size | 35 x 45 mm |
| Face ratio | 32-36 mm |
| Background | White / very light cream |
| Expression | Stern, mouth closed |
| Eyes | Look straight, no glasses |
| Outfit | Dark, contrasts background |
| Validity | 6 months |
15. New Zealand
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Size | 35 x 45 mm |
| Face ratio | 31-36 mm |
| Background | White |
| Expression | Stern |
| Eyes | Look straight, no glasses |
| Special | Online submission: ≥ 500KB - ≤ 10MB |
Special Rules — Glasses, Hair, Religious Items
Glasses
| Country | Glasses Allowed? |
|---|---|
| US, Schengen, UK, Australia, NZ, Canada | No |
| Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan | Yes (clear glasses, no sunglasses) |
| Thailand, Singapore, UAE | Depends on consulate — best to remove |
Hair Covering Face
All countries require:
- Eyebrows must be clearly visible (not covered by hair)
- Both ears must be clearly visible (not covered by long hair)
- Hair not covering eyes
Tip: Pin eyebrows back with clips or use hair gel to secure.
Religious Hats / Headwear
- Allowed: Hijab, turban (Sikh), monastic attire (monks, nuns)
- NOT allowed: Caps, beanies, regular hats
General requirements when wearing religious headwear:
- Face clearly visible from hairline → chin
- Both ears may be covered (due to religious nature)
- May require religious certification (rare)
Common Reasons Visa Photos Get Rejected and How to Fix Them
Reason 1 — Background not pure white
Symptoms: Background has marks, isn’t uniform, slightly yellowish
Fix:
- Shoot at a specialized studio with professional white paper backdrop
- Avoid photo shops using old fabric backgrounds
- Avoid self-shooting at home with white walls (not truly pure)
Reason 2 — Face too big / too small
Symptoms: Face ratio doesn’t meet 25-35mm (too small or too large)
Fix:
- Ask the studio to measure precisely on-site
- Shoot multiple sizes (US + Schengen + Korea) in the same session
- Don’t crop post-shoot with software — request a reshoot
Reason 3 — Shadows / glare
Symptoms: Bright white area on forehead, nose (due to direct flash)
Fix:
- Specialized studios have even lighting (softbox + reflector)
- Avoid shooting against light / window
- Request a reshoot if you see shadows
Reason 4 — Wrong smile / expression
Symptoms: Open-mouth smile, eyes blinking, mouth not closed
Fix:
- Be serious during the shoot
- Before the shot, take a deep breath, relax your face
- Shoot 5-10 shots to choose the best
Reason 5 — Photo too old (> 6 months)
Symptoms: Photo from 1-2 years ago, invalid
Fix: Take a new photo — not expensive (100-300k VND for 4-8 photos)
Reason 6 — Hair covering eyes / eyebrows
Symptoms: Long hair covering eyebrows, eyes not clearly visible
Fix:
- Pin hair neatly before shooting
- Ask the studio to check before the shot
Reason 7 — Glasses worn against rules
Symptoms: Wearing glasses when applying for US / Schengen visa
Fix: Remove glasses, reshoot
Reason 8 — Outfit matches background
Symptoms: White shirt on white background → shoulder outline lost
Fix: Wear dark clothing (navy, gray, black) — contrasts with background
Self-Shoot at Home — When? When Should You Use a Studio?
Self-shoot at home IS OK when
- You have professional photo experience
- Have a DSLR/mirrorless + studio lights
- Have a professional white background (2x3m paper)
- Have proper cropping software (Photoshop)
Studio is BETTER when
- First time applying for a visa
- Important visa (immigration, study abroad, business)
- No equipment + experience
- Need professional prints + digital files
Failure rate:
- Self-shoot at home: 35-40% rejected on first try
- Regular studio: 5-10% rejected
- Visa-specialized studio (Gạo Nâu): < 2% rejected
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: I need visas for 3 countries simultaneously (US + Schengen + Korea) — how many sessions? A: 1 session is enough. Specialized studios shoot multi-size in the same session — pick 1 outfit, 1 standard expression then crop to 3 different sizes. Total cost 200-400k VND.
Q: Visa rejected with reason “photo doesn’t meet standards” — what to do? A: (1) Read the consulate’s reason carefully, (2) Reshoot at a specialized studio (bring the rejection letter so the studio knows specific requirements), (3) Resubmit within 24-48 hours. Avoid self-editing the photo — risk of second rejection.
Q: How long after dyeing hair can I take a visa photo? A: 7-10 days for color to stabilize. If you shoot immediately after dyeing → color may be too “fresh,” not matching the old passport (if any). Prefer dyeing earlier or keeping hair natural.
Q: I’m pregnant / postpartum — does this affect my visa photo? A: No. The visa only cares about face recognition + passport information. However, if it’s a long-term visa (10-year US), you may look different after 3-5 years — doesn’t affect the still-valid visa.
Q: Should I do makeup for a visa photo? A: Yes, but VERY LIGHT. Natural tone, no heavy lipstick, no thick eyeliner. Purpose: even out skin tone, not “thick coverage.” Men: 1 layer of BB cream + powder is enough.
Conclusion — Investing 200-400k VND in Visa Photos = Saving on Re-application Costs
A US B1/B2 visa takes 3-6 months to reapply if rejected. The cost of time + worry + missed work / trip opportunities = tens of millions or more.
Investing 200-400k VND in one visa photo session at a specialized studio = the cheapest insurance for a first-try visa approval.
Contact — Gạo Nâu Profile
Gạo Nâu Profile offers multi-country Visa Photo packages from 390,000 VND — shoot once, print to standards for 15 countries, with digital files emailed within 30 minutes. First-try pass rate: 98%.
- Hotline: 0938 233 393
- Ho Chi Minh City Studio: 33 Suong Nguyet Anh, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1
- Hanoi Studio: 4th Floor, 32 Le Van Huu, Pham Dinh Ho Ward, Hai Ba Trung District
- Website: gaonauprofile.com