South Africa passport photo: size and how to print it at home
Everything you need to make your own South Africa passport photo: the official measurements, and how to print several copies on one sheet of ordinary photo paper.
The official measurements
Taken from dirco.gov.za (checked on October 30, 2026): https://dirco.gov.za/toronto/maxi-passports/. Rules change, so have a look before you apply.
| Document | Photo | Head (chin to crown) | Background |
|---|---|---|---|
| passport | 35 × 45 mm | 31.5–36 mm | plain white |
Printing it at home
Copy cat lays out 8 copies of the 35 × 45 mm photo on a 10×15 cm sheet, with cut marks and a 10 mm ruler. Print it at 100 % (“actual size”, never “fit to page”) on photo paper, check that the ruler measures 10 mm, and cut along the marks.
No printer? Order the JPG at any photo lab or print kiosk as a normal 10×15 cm print: the file is already 300 dpi.
Taking the photo
Stand about 1.5 m from the camera, in front of a plain light wall, facing soft light from a window so there are no shadows.
Hold the phone at eye level and look straight at it with a neutral face, mouth closed and eyes open.
Take off glasses and hats unless the rules allow them, and keep hair away from your face. Take a few and keep the sharpest.