Hong Kong e-Passport Photo

E-passport, electronic passport or biometric passport are synonyms and define the international travel document that can be scanned and read by special devices used by immigration services and not only. Every e-passport contains an electronic chip with encrypted data of the document’s holder, such as their name, surname, nationality, and date of birth.

The passport number and the biodata (such as fingerprints, photo and signature) is also stored in the microprocessor. For this reason, this is crucial to submit a biometric photo applying for the e-passport. This photo must satisfy the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards, in other words: it must be biometric. What are these standards?

Read our article and you will know everything about the requirements for a photo to a Hong Kong e-passport.

Hong Kong e-passport photo guidelines

The exact requirements about the size, crop or validity of the photo are different for different countries. So, even if you may have a photo you used for a visa or other document, in most cases it is not suitable for the passport. Before capturing a picture for a Hong Kong e-passport, learn about the demands in order to upload a correct picture. 

After reading our article you will know:

• what exactly is a biometric photo required for a Hong Kong passport;
• how to take a correct photo to the Hong Kong passport with your phone;
• how to save your time and money creating passport photos.

Hong Kong e-passport photo - take it yourself

There is no requirement of taking a passport photo in a professional photography studio, so you can do it yourself. At home, in the office, in the park or wherever you wish! Just make sure that you know all the requirements and rules such as:

• background (colour and style)
• size and crop
• correct posing
• face expression
• clothing and head coverings
• wearing eyeglasses and other accessories
• technical specification

So, there is no need to drive anywhere, to wait in a queue and waste time. Instead of 2-3 hours spent outside of your place, you can take your picture in a couple of seconds!

Another good news is that you do not need to overpay for your photos! You can create a professional-quality picture for your passport for just a part of the price that you would pay in a photography studio or a photo booth. 

Hong Kong e-passport photo validity and originality

The Hong Kong passport photo must be recent - it means that it must have been taken within the last 6 months. Moreover, it must be original. Are you asking yourself, what exactly does it mean? 

Obviously, the photo must present you. But also that the photo cannot be cut out from the larger picture. The photo must be taken and created intentionally for a passport application.

Refrain from interfering in your photo with any computer software too. Everyday we use special filters, Photoshop and other graphic programs to retouch our pictures and make them more attractive, but this is prohibited when it comes to a document photo. And this is strictly verified by artificial intelligence scanning photos and detecting any alteration. Photos verified as altered in any way are automatically rejected.

HG e-passport photo - background’s requirements

The background in the Hong Kong passport photo must be unique and white. Moreover, it must be plain, free of patterns and shadows. Only your face, neck and the upper part of your shoulders must be visible in the picture - no other people or objects. 

So, how is it possible that you can take your passport picture everywhere? You can do it thanks to an advanced background removing photo tool. This tool removes all the wrong background in one second and exchanges it into a required, white one.

Hong Kong e-passport photo size and crop

The demanded dimensions for a passport photo in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (HKSAR) are 40 mm x 50 mm (width x height). Its digital size must be at least 1200 pixels of width) x 1600 pixels of height). There must be 3-5 mm space left between the top of the head and the edge of the photo.

The head image cannot be too big or too small. The correct size of the head from the chin to the crown is 32 mm minimum and 36 mm maximum. 

Do you feel overwhelmed by all these details?

The great news is that you do not even need to think about them. Just pick up the template for a chosen document (here: Hong Kong Passport) and upload the picture, our App automatically resizes and crops the passport image to the demanded dimensions.

How to pose in a Hong Kong e-passport photo?

The en-face view is mandatory and the head must be positioned in a central spot of the image. Do not tilt your head nor in any other direction, look straight ahead. The camera lens should be on the level of your eyes. Relax your face muscles - the closed mouths are required. You can smile slightly and naturally but without showing the teeth, but the neutral facial expression is a “safer” option for a biometric picture. Your eyes must be open but without an exaggeration.

Clothing and headgears in the Hong Kong e-passport photos

There is no dress-code for Hong Kong passport pictures. Just keep in mind that in this type of photograph you must not have your head covered by a fashion headgear, for example, a cap, a hat or a headband. However, if you wear headgear for religious reasons and you travel internationally with that head covering, you may keep it while capturing a photo to passport. Just make sure that your hijab, headscarf or other head covering does not obscure your face or drop shadows on the skin. Do not wear white headgear in order to not blend into the background.

Eyeglasses, headphones and other accessories in Hong Kong e-passport photos

Eyeglasses are not forbidden in the HK passport photo. It is up to you - you may keep them while capturing a photo or not. If you do, make sure that your pupils are clearly visible and the frames of the glasses do not cover your eyes or give any glare. You must not wear tinted glasses and sunglasses. The same applies to wireless devices, headphones, etc. They are forbidden in the Hong Kong passport photo.

The technical specification for Hong Kong passport pictures

You must submit 3 prints of your photo. But don’t use a home inkjet printer. E-passport digital photos must meet certain technical requirements. It must be:

• saved in JPEG, GIF or TIF (RAW, LZW, JPEG, CCITT-G4) file
• in natural colours
• sharp and clear
• well-focused
• of a digital size 600 Kb maximum
• digital dimensions: 1200x1600 pixels

Some tips before you take a photo

As selfies are not accepted, the best idea is to ask somebody for help or use a tripod. The best option is to stand or sit down facing the window, taking a 1,5-2 m distance. 

Your face must be evenly illuminated, and for this reason, our advice is to use daylight. Do not use a flash lamp because it may cause unnatural effects such as “the red eyes effect” or glares on your skin. Both of them disqualify the picture.

Hong Kong Passport Photo - the disqualifying mistakes

As a Hong Kong citizen, you have the inalienable right to have a Hong Kong passport. So, even if you fulfil your application incorrectly or attach an incorrect photograph, it doesn’t mean that you will be refused to grant a passport. But such a situation will extend the process of issuing your passport and you will wait longer for it.

To avoid this last situation, complete the application form carefully and check it twice before submitting it. Moreover, make sure that your passport photo is 100% correct. As we have been informed in many passport offices in the world, the most often disqualifying mistakes are:

• profile or semi-profile view (only an en-face view is acceptable)
• a selfie (selfies distort facial features, that is why they are unacceptable)
• head tilted
• large simple in the photo (do not show your teeth)
• face obscured (headscarf or hair must not cover any part of the face)
• the head is too small or too big (right cropping is crucial)
• wrong colour of the background or the objects/shadows/spots on the background
• wrong size of the photo
• eyeglasses obscuring eyes or giving a glare

HK e-passport photo near me

Have you just typed the question “where can I take a Hong Kong passport photo near me?” to your browser? Many people do it.

The good news is that you can take the HK passport photo there where you want! 

With our smart Hong Kong passport photo app, you are able to create an absolutely correct photo for the HK passport in 3 seconds. Your photo will be resized, cropped, and adjusted to all the requirements and you will save your money and time for what you want!

Hong Kong E-Passport Photo Generator

If you want to create a perfect photo for official documents, check the online photo tool and have your picture perfectly resized, cropped and adjusted to the requirements. Thanks to artificial intelligence, your photo will be verified immediately and you will have a guarantee of approval. The ordered photo will be sent to your email address in the JPEG file. Don’t risk that the photo in your application will be rejected, use the HK passport photo app!

Last update: 1/10/2023