🇸🇬🇸🇬 Immigration & Checkpoints Authority · Photo Guidelines

ICA Photo Requirements for Singapore Passports, NRIC & Passes

Every rule ICA checks, in one place, with links to the official source.

ICA uses one photo standard across its e-Services. Here is what it states officially, the ICAO-based rules behind it, and the mistakes that most often get a photo rejected.

Check My Photo →Read the Rules

4.9 · Trusted by 17,000+ applicants

🔒Secure & Private

⚡Results in 30s

🇸🇬Money-back Guarantee

🆓Free Validation

Interactive Before / After Preview

Photo meeting ICA requirements: plain white background, neutral expression, face centred

✓ 35 × 45 mm · White background

Original photo before checking against ICA photo requirements

Original Selfie

↔

Drag slider left or right to compare transformation

Quick Answer: What Does ICA Require?

ICA asks for a colour photo taken within the last three months. For online applications it recommends 400 × 514 pixels, in JPG, JPEG, HEIC, HEIF or PNG format, no larger than 8 MB. The photo must not be edited or enhanced. ICA bases the rest of its rules, such as the plain background, neutral expression and even lighting, on ISO and ICAO specifications.

Stated by ICA

Official ICA Photo Rules

Each rule below is taken from ica.gov.sg. Follow the source link to check the current wording.

Photo rules published by Singapore's Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
Rule	ICA requirement	Source
Digital size for e-Service uploads	400 × 514 pixels (recommended)	ica.gov.sg
Accepted file types	JPG, JPEG, HEIC, HEIF or PNG	ica.gov.sg
Maximum file size	8 MB	ica.gov.sg
Recency	Colour photo taken within the last three months	ica.gov.sg
Printed photos	matte or semi-matte (non-reflective) paper	ica.gov.sg
Editing	Must not be altered or enhanced in any way, including changing facial features or using photo editing software	ica.gov.sg
Selfies	Not recommended by ICA, as the result is usually not ideal	ica.gov.sg

ISO / ICAO Standard

The Photo Standard Behind ICA's Rules

ICA says its requirements are based on ISO and ICAO specifications. In practice that means:

Plain white background

No patterns, objects, or shadows behind you.

35 × 45 mm print

The standard passport photo size used for printed copies.

Face the camera

Head straight and centred, both eyes open, mouth closed, neutral expression.

Even lighting

No shadows across the face, and no glare or reflections on glasses.

Face fully visible

Hair away from the eyes; religious headwear must not hide the face.

True skin tone

Colour photo with no filters, beauty modes, or skin smoothing.

Avoid a Delay

Why ICA Rejects Photos

A rejected photo delays your application until you send a new one. These are the usual causes.

Retouched or filtered photo

Beauty filters and face-smoothing apps count as altering the photo, which ICA does not allow.

Old photo reused

A photo from your previous passport or IC is usually older than three months.

Selfie distortion

Arm's-length selfies enlarge the nose and shrink the ears. Ask someone else to take the photo.

Shadows or a grey wall

A shadow behind your head or an off-white wall makes the background uneven.

Glare on glasses

Reflections that hide your eyes are a common reason for a retake. Removing glasses avoids the problem.

Glossy print

For hardcopy submissions ICA asks for matte or semi-matte, non-reflective paper.

Check My Photo Against These Rules →

ICA e-Services

Applications That Use the ICA Photo Standard

The same photo rules apply across ICA's documents and passes.

Singapore passport

First-time applications and renewals through ICA's e-Service with Singpass.

NRIC registration

Identity card registration and re-registration for citizens and permanent residents.

Permanent Residence (e-PR)

Photo upload as part of an online PR application.

Student's Pass

Passes for international students studying in Singapore.

Long-Term Visit Pass

LTVP applications for spouses, children and other family members.

Entry visa (SAVE)

Visa applications for visitors who need one to enter Singapore.

Making a passport photo? Use the Singapore passport photo maker. Applying for a visa to visit Singapore? See the Singapore visa photo tool.

Common Questions

ICA Photo Requirements FAQ

For uploads through ICA's e-Services, ICA recommends a photo of 400 × 514 pixels. It accepts JPG, JPEG, HEIC, HEIF or PNG files up to 8 MB. The photo must be in colour and taken within the last three months.

ICA publishes them at ica.gov.sg/photo-guidelines. ICA says its passport photo requirements are based on specifications from the International Standards Organisation (ISO) and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

No. ICA states that your photograph must not be altered or enhanced in any way, including modifying facial features or using photo editing software. Avoid beauty filters, skin smoothing, and face-reshaping apps.

ICA does not recommend selfies, because the result is usually not ideal. A photo taken by someone else at eye level, about 1.5 metres away, gives a more accurate likeness.

ICA asks for a colour photograph taken within the last three months, so a photo reused from an older passport or identity card will normally not qualify.

Yes. ICA lists JPG, JPEG, HEIC, HEIF and PNG as accepted file types for e-Service uploads, with a maximum size of 8 MB.

ICA says your application will be delayed if the photo does not meet its requirements, and that it will notify you if the photo is rejected. You will then need to submit a new photo.

🇸🇬 Singapore Photo Resources