Jamaica · passport
Jamaican passport photo: the complexion rule
Jamaica has the most distinctive background rule in the world: PICA matches it to the applicant, with white backgrounds for darker complexions, pastel shades for lighter complexions, and pale blue or pastel for grey or white hair, so the head always contrasts with the backdrop. The photo itself is 35×45 mm with the chin-to-crown at 25–35 mm and the face filling 65–75% of the frame.
- Size
- 35×45 mm
- Digital file
- 413×531 px JPEG
- Background
- light
- Head height
- 55.6–77.8%
- Price
- €5.99 · once
Select country and document
Step 1/3
Popular: · ·
- Head size62.4% · 50–69%
- Eye line61.2% · 56–69%
- Backgroundwhite · σ 6
- Lightingeven
- Resolution1832px
MEETS SPEC · ESTIMATED
Checked against the official specification, with the source cited on every document.
Worth knowing: One photo's reverse must carry a handwritten certification by a JP, notary public, medical doctor or attorney who has known you for at least a year, so arrange the signature before submitting. Adult renewals through the PICA online portal accept an uploaded photo instead.
How our Jamaica Passport photo tool works
Add a photo you already have and we measure it against the official Jamaica Passport specification (35×45 mm, 413×531 px, light background), then produce the exact files you need. Checking is free; you pay €5.99 only if you want the files.
Add your photo
A selfie or any recent photo of yourself, straight from your phone.
See every measurement
Ten checks run against the official spec and show you the numbers.
Fix what's off
Drag to reposition and zoom to resize, or retake the photo if something can't be fixed.
Download your files
Exact digital file, print-ready sheet and compliance report.
What is a Jamaica Passport photo?
A Jamaican passport photo is 35×45 mm with the chin-to-crown at 25–35 mm and the face filling 65–75% of the frame. The background is matched to the applicant's complexion: white for darker complexions, pastel for lighter ones, pale blue or pastel for grey or white hair. No other country writes contrast into the rules this way.
Two identical matte prints are required, one certified on the reverse by a JP, notary, doctor or lawyer who has known the applicant for a year. Adult renewals through PICA's online portal accept an uploaded photo instead of prints.
Two identical matte prints are required, one certified on the reverse by a Justice of the Peace, notary, doctor or lawyer. This page checks your framing and background contrast, then prints the matte-ready sheet.
Jamaica Passport photo requirements
| Size | 35×45 mm · 413×531 px @300 DPI |
|---|---|
| Digital file | 413×531px JPEG |
| Background | light |
| Head height | 55.6–77.8% of frame height |
| Digital upload | accepted |
| Background editing | permitted (uniform backgrounds only) |
- Background depends on complexion, which is near-unique worldwide: white for darker complexions, pastel for lighter complexions, pale blue or pastel for grey or white hair.
- Chin-to-crown 25–35 mm (face 65–75% of photo, ≥2 mm above the head); two identical matte prints, one certified on the reverse by a JP, notary, doctor or lawyer.
- Adult online renewals via the PICA portal accept a photo upload (no px spec published).
Source: official requirements · verified 2026-07
Jamaica Passport photos that pass the checks
Thin frames, no glare, eyes fully visible 
Even light, plain background, neutral expression 
Infant alone in frame, eyes open, plain sheet 
Religious head covering with the full face visible 
Hair back, forehead and both ears clear
Jamaica Passport photos that don't pass
Head tilted, hard shadow on the background 
Taken too far away, head too small in the frame 
Someone else's hand in the frame 
Patterned wall and furniture behind
Illustrative examples created for this guide. They are not customer photos, and not decisions by any authority.
What you get for €5.99
- High-resolution file in the exact spec (413×531px)
- Printable compliance report with everything we measured
- Print-ready 10×15 cm sheet with 4 copies and cut lines
- Background cleanup to plain light
one-time payment, no subscription
Photos that pass
- Exact dimensions: 413×531px
- Plain light background, evenly lit
- Head filling 55.6–77.8% of the frame
- Taken in the last 6 months, neutral expression
Photos that get rejected
- Edited, filtered or AI-retouched photos
- Shadows on the face or background
- Busy walls, gradients or the wrong background colour
- Head too large, too small, or off-centre
- Glare on glasses or tinted lenses
- Old photos, or photos of printed photos
Why use PassportClerk for your Jamaica Passport photo
- Convenience
- Make it at home from a photo you already have, without booking a studio or queueing for a booth. You get a file sized for the official upload and a print sheet for the times you need paper.
- Built from the official specification
- Every measurement on this page comes from the official Jamaica Passport requirements, and the source is linked, dated and re-checked.
- Works from any phone
- Nothing to install. A recent phone camera and a plain wall are enough.
- You see the numbers
- Head height, eye line, background and resolution are all measured and shown to you before you pay.
- Private, then deleted
- We only receive your photo if you buy, and everything is deleted within 48 hours.
If the files we produce don't match the specification on this page, we'll fix them or refund you. The decision on any application always rests with the issuing authority.
Frequently asked questions
What background should I use?
It depends on you: white for darker complexions, a pastel shade for lighter complexions, pale blue or pastel if your hair is grey or white. The goal is contrast between your head and the backdrop, which is what our background check measures.
What are the size rules?
35×45 mm, chin-to-crown 25–35 mm, face 65–75% of the photo, at least 2 mm of space above the head, matte finish, no smiling, eyes open.
Are glasses allowed?
No tinted lenses, and thin frames only with the eyes fully visible. PICA strongly recommends removing glasses entirely.
Who can certify the photo?
A Justice of the Peace, notary public, medical doctor, attorney-at-law or similar professional who has known you for at least 12 months signs the back of one photo confirming it's a true likeness.
How we handle compliance
- We check your photo against the official rules. We never retouch your face, and we only normalize the background where the destination country permits it.
- Every requirement is cited from official government sources, with the verification date shown on the page.
- What you get is a report of measurements, not a guarantee. Final acceptance always rests with the issuing authority.
official requirements · verified 2026-07