South Africa · passport
South African passport photo: grey, not white
The South African passport photo is 35×45 mm with the head measuring 29–34 mm, but two rules surprise almost everyone: the official DHA leaflet asks for a light grey or plain cream background, not white, and the photos must be taken within ONE month of application, the shortest validity window of any major country.
- Size
- 35×45 mm
- Digital file
- 413×531 px JPEG
- Background
- light grey
- Head height
- 64.4–75.6%
- 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: Photos older than a month, fine everywhere else, fail South African intake. Print your sheet in the same week you apply, and keep the background grey or cream: a bright white wall is the other classic rejection.
How our South Africa Passport photo tool works
Add a photo you already have and we measure it against the official South Africa Passport specification (35×45 mm, 413×531 px, light grey 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 South Africa Passport photo?
A South African passport photo is a 35×45 mm print with the head at 29–34 mm, on a light grey or plain cream background; the official DHA leaflet steers away from white. It must be taken within one month of the application, the shortest validity window of any major country.
Two identical prints go with applications at traditional offices and most foreign missions, while Smart ID card sites (banks, eHomeAffairs) capture the photo live. Untinted glasses are acceptable without heavy frames or reflections.
Two identical prints are required at traditional offices; Smart ID card sites take the photo on the spot instead. Check your photo against the DHA geometry and background rules, then print the sheet fresh.
South Africa Passport photo requirements
| Size | 35×45 mm · 413×531 px @300 DPI |
|---|---|
| Digital file | 413×531px JPEG |
| Background | light grey |
| Head height | 64.4–75.6% of frame height |
| Digital upload | not accepted (printed photos only) |
| Background editing | permitted (uniform backgrounds only) |
- Two identical 35×45 mm photos, head 29–34 mm, taken within ONE MONTH. That is the shortest validity window of any major country.
- Official DHA leaflet specifies a light grey or plain cream background, not white; Smart ID offices capture the photo live instead.
Source: official requirements · verified 2026-07
South Africa 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
South Africa 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 grey
one-time payment, no subscription
Photos that pass
- Exact dimensions: 413×531px
- Plain light grey background, evenly lit
- Head filling 64.4–75.6% 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 South Africa 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 print-ready sheet cut to the exact size, plus a digital copy to keep.
- Built from the official specification
- Every measurement on this page comes from the official South Africa 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 does a South African passport photo need?
Light grey or plain cream per the official DHA leaflet, not pure white. Our background check measures the shade against that expectation and warns you before you pay.
How recent must the photos be?
Taken within one month of the application. Two identical 35×45 mm prints on photographic paper; black-and-white is acceptable for some ID uses, colour is the safe default.
What are the size rules?
35×45 mm with the head 29–34 mm chin to crown (roughly 64–76% of the frame), eyes open looking directly at the camera, no hair across the eyes, neutral expression.
What about Smart ID offices?
Bank branches and eHomeAffairs Smart ID sites photograph you on the spot, so no prints are needed there. Printed photos remain required at traditional DHA offices and most foreign missions.
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