South Africa passport photo size & rules
South Africa uses the 35x45mm passport photo format, equal to 413x531 pixels at 300 dpi. The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) requires a recent, front-facing colour photo with the face centred and the head occupying most of the frame, roughly 32-36mm from chin to crown. Many South African passport applications are now captured live at Home Affairs offices or eHomeAffairs-enabled banks, but printed photos following these specifications are still used for various supporting documents and consular applications abroad.
The background should be plain white or light grey, evenly lit with no shadow behind the head. Face the camera directly with a neutral expression and mouth closed, both eyes open and clearly visible, and the whole face uncovered. Glasses are best removed to avoid glare, and if worn the eyes must remain clearly visible. Head coverings are only accepted for religious reasons, provided the full face is shown from the chin to the top of the forehead. The photo must reflect your current appearance and be sharp, in focus, and free of red-eye.
Pixohub formats your South African passport photo to 413x531 pixels directly in your browser, so your image is never uploaded and stays private on your device, and the tool is free. Requirements from the Department of Home Affairs and South African missions abroad are updated over time and the live-capture process can differ from printed-photo submissions. Always confirm the current official requirements on the DHA website or with your nearest office before printing or submitting your photo.