SnapIDs

🇿🇦 South Africa Passport Photo Online

The Department of Home Affairs publishes a genuine measured template for South African passport and ID photographs, which makes this one of the easier specifications to hit exactly. The print is 35 mm wide by 45 mm high, the head measures at least 29 mm and no more than 34 mm from chin to crown, and the head with the top of the shoulders fills 70 to 80 percent of the frame.

Two parts of the South African rules surprise people used to other countries. The background is not white. Home Affairs asks for light grey or plain cream, and a white backdrop is a real reason for a photograph to come back. Glasses are also still allowed, provided your eyes are clearly visible, nothing reflects off the lenses, the lenses are not tinted and the frames do not cross your eyes. Passport photographs must be in colour, you need two identical copies, and they cannot be older than one month.

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South Africa Passport Photo Online requirements

Official specification: 35 x 45 mm

Dimensions35 x 45 mm
Head height29 to 34 mm (chin to crown)
BackgroundLight grey or plain cream, not white
Issuing authorityDepartment of Home Affairs (DHA)
GlassesPermitted if no glare

Photo rules

Common reasons photos get rejected

How SnapIDs gets it right

Most rejections come from the wrong head size, a bad background, or glare. SnapIDs solves this before you even take the shot. A live coach checks your distance, centering, head angle, eyes, expression and lighting in real time, and only captures when every check passes. The photo is then framed mathematically to the exact 35 x 45 mm specification, and the background is cleaned to a compliant white, while your face is never altered.

Frequently asked questions

What background colour does a South African passport photo need?

Light grey or plain cream. The Department of Home Affairs photograph specification does not ask for white, and a white backdrop is one of the more common reasons a South African photo gets sent back.

Can I wear glasses in a South African passport photo?

Yes, which puts South Africa in a small minority. Home Affairs allows glasses as long as your eyes are clearly visible, there is no flash reflecting off the lenses, the lenses are not dark tinted and the frames do not cover any part of your eyes.

What size is a South African passport photo and how big should the head be?

35 x 45 mm, with the head measuring at least 29 mm and no more than 34 mm from the bottom of the chin to the crown. You need two identical colour prints taken within the last month.

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