Free tool · Photo ID

South Africa Passport Photo Maker

A South African passport photo is 35 × 45 mm with the head 32-36 mm from chin to crown. The background must be plain light — white or off-white accepted. JPG for digital, six-month freshness window. Same photo works for the Smart ID Card and driving licence.

R600is the 2026 fee for a South African 10-year adult passport —·Department of Home Affairs

Updated May 22, 2026·Verified against South Africa official passport spec · headshot research team

Privacy first — your photo is never saved.

Passport country

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Selfie or head-and-shoulders photo · processed in your browser

South Africa passport photo at a glance

Physical size	35 × 45 mm
Pixels @ 300 DPI	413 × 531
Head height	32 - 36 mm
Background	Plain, light background
Accepted formats	JPG
Passport fee (2026)	R600 (10-year adult) / R400 (child, 5-year)
Processing time	13 working days standard / 24 hours emergency
Studio cost	R50 to R150 at any photographer
Official source	dha.gov.za

What the rules actually say

South Africa's passport photo specification is fully ICAO-compliant at 35 × 45 mm. The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) modernised the application process in 2018 with eHomeAffairs — online applications combined with biometric capture at participating bank branches (Standard Bank, ABSA, FNB, Nedbank) instead of traditional DHA office queues.

The same 35 × 45 mm photo works for the Smart ID Card (which replaced the green ID book in 2013) and the driving licence. One R50-R150 photo session every 5-10 years covers all three documents.

Pure white and light-cream backgrounds are both accepted. The DHA biometric scanner is forgiving on background colour compared to Germany or France — the key requirement is uniformity (no patterns, no shadows on the wall).

From abroad, South African embassies process applications through the same DHA digital systems. Major missions in London, Washington, Sydney, Toronto, and Dubai have established photographer partnerships for £8-£15 / $10-$20 / equivalent.

Top reasons South Africa passport photos get rejected

Background coloured or patterned
Head height outside 32-36 mm range
Hair covering ears
Wearing glasses with reflection or thick frames
Smile or non-neutral expression

Where to apply for your South Africa passport

Apply at a DHA office or Home Affairs bank branch. https://www.dha.gov.za/ →

Studio alternative: R50 to R150 at any photographer. The photo from this tool meets the same published spec — print on photo paper at home or at a drugstore for the same compliance result.

Related countries

If you also need a passport photo for a neighbouring or related country, the spec usually differs slightly. Here are the closest matches:

Nigeria passport photo — 51 × 51 mm, plain white background
Australia passport photo — 35 × 45 mm, plain light background
United Kingdom passport photo — 35 × 45 mm, light-coloured

Privacy: what we do with your photo

The South Africa passport photo maker runs entirely in your browser. Cropping, scaling, and background colour replacement happen on your device using the Canvas API. The background-removal step uses our private worker server, processes the image in memory only, and deletes it immediately after returning the cutout — no logs, no storage, no training data.

Page URL: https://freeheadshot.org/tools/passport-photo/south-africa. Spec verified against dha.gov.za on 2026-05-22.

Questions, answered

South Africa Passport Photo Maker — frequently asked questions

What's the eHomeAffairs system?

DHA's online application platform — submit the application and pay online, then visit a participating Standard Bank, ABSA, FNB, or Nedbank branch for biometric capture instead of a DHA office. Faster and more reliable than traditional DHA queues.

Can I use one photo for my Smart ID and passport?

Yes — identical 35 × 45 mm specification. The Smart ID Card and passport share photo specs, allowing one photo session to cover both documents.

Where do I apply if I'm a South African abroad?

At any South African embassy or high commission. Same photo specification. Major missions in London, Washington, Sydney, Toronto, and Dubai handle applications routinely.

Are smiles allowed?

No. 'Neutral expression, closed mouth' — DHA biometric scanner requires consistent facial landmarks.

Is the 24-hour emergency passport real?

Yes — for genuine emergencies (medical, death of family abroad). Requires documentation of the emergency and is processed at major DHA offices in Pretoria, Cape Town, and Durban. Standard photo applies.

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