Hong Kong e-Passport Photo

How does it work?

Perfect biometric photo within 3 minutes.

Check how simple and smart is it!

Take or upload a photo

That's the only thing you need to do. Take or upload a photo - we will take care of the rest.

AI prepares the photo

Artificial Intelligence will check your photo, crop it to the right size and remove the background.

Expert verification

Our Photo Expert will make additional verification to check if your photo meets the official requirements.

Digital or printed photos

You can download a digital version and order a printout which we will send within 2-3 days. Delivery is free!

Why?

Take a biometric photo conveniently without leaving home

You save time and money

Convenience

Don't waste time, effort or money. You can take your passport photo without leaving home.

Professional service

Over 1 million people have used our services within the past 11 years. Our Photo Experts are available 24/7.

Money-back guarantee

We give you a guarantee of acceptance by authorities or otherwise we will refund you double the price!

Satisfaction guarantee

Take as many photo shots as you want - you pay only when you are satisfied.

How to take a photo?

Taking a photo for your ID has never been so easy.

Follow simple instruction to take a perfect ID photo.

Body-camera distance

The distance between the face and the camera should be about 40 cm. Ideally the photo should be taken by the other person.

Posture: Straight ahead

Place your face in front of the lens. Hold the camera at eye level and keep neutral face expression.

Lighting

Stand facing the light source, for example an exposed window. The background will be cut out, don't worry about it.

Hong Konh e-Passport Photo Guidelines

Size

Width: 1200 px

Height: 1600 px

Resolution

600 dpi

Is it suitable for online submission?

Yes

Image definition parameters

Head height: 70 %

Top of the Photo to Top of the Hair: 10 %

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More about Hong Kong e-Passport Photo - Requirements

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: 7/6/2023

About the document

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) is a metropolitan area belonging administratively to the People’s Republic of China. This special administrative region is bordering the South China Sea and this is known for its first place in the ranking of the most densely populated countries of the world and iconical skyscrapers.

It is a sovereign state of the People’s Republic of China but Chinese law does not apply in Hong Kong - all the region is treated as a separate jurisdiction. That means, inter alia, that HSKAR issues its passports to its permanent residents but only under the condition that they hold Chinese citizenship too.

The Hong Kong passport has a navy-blue cover, whereas a Chinese passport is red. Hong Kong passport is printed bilingually in both official languages of HKSAR: Chinese (traditional characters) and English.

Hong Kong Electronic passport - what does it mean?

All currently issued passports are biometric passports, called also e-passports, digital passports or electronic passports. It does not mean that this type of document is only digital. No, it has a paper form of a booklet, but it is machine-readable. In order to facilitate immigration services scanning and reading passengers’ data, e-passports are equipped with contactless chips. The chip in a Hong Kong passport contains the following data:

Name (written in 2 languages: Chinese and English)
Nationality
Sex
Date of birth
Place of birth
Permanent Hong Kong ID card number
Biometric photo
Passport number
Date of issue
Date of expiry
Issuing authority (i.e. Immigration Department, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region)

Currently, fingerprints and iris scans are not included. The holder’s signature is visible on the personal data page.

Eligibility

The passport of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is issued only to people who satisfy 3 conditions at the same time. The candidates must:

hold Chinese citizenship,
have a permanent residency in the HKSAR,
hold a valid Hong Kong permanent identity card.

The important thing is that Hong Kong permanent residents who do not have Chinese citizenship cannot get a Hong Kong passport. They must travel internationally with the passport issued by their country of origin. If they are stateless, they can apply for a Hong Kong Document of Identify for Visa Purposes, but not for a passport.

The same document might be issued to the people who are Chinese nationals and reside in Hong Kong but are not yet permanent residents.

Application for HKSAR e-passport

If you want to get your first Hong Kong passport or replacement (except for the replacement of a passport that has been lost/damaged/defaced), you can apply for this document online.

However, in any case, you must collect your new passport in person.

You have another option too. You can schedule an appointment at the Immigration Headquarters or any of the Immigration Branch Offices. You may do it via the Internet or by phone.

Required documents

If you are an adult (18+), in order to apply for your passport online, you need to complete an application form, and upload your recent colour photograph meeting the requirements.

If you apply for the Hong Kong passport for your underage child aged 11+, you need to satisfy the same requirements as for adults and, additionally, upload a copy of the consenting parent or legal guardian's valid travel document (if they are not a Hong Kong resident).

Moreover, if your child was not born in Hong Kong, you are obliged to upload a copy of their birth certificate in order to prove the relationship between you and your consenting parent. It might also be a copy of the court order, if appropriate, to prove that the consenting legal guardian has custodial rights in respect of the child.

Parental or legal guardian's consent and items are not required only if the underage citizen is married. In such a case a copy of your marriage certificate must be attached to the documentary.

If you - as the consenting parent or legal guardian - apply for an HK passport for a child aged below 11 with and the child holds a Hong Kong permanent identity card, upload all documents needed for an underaged person and additionally a copy of the child’s latest school document bearing the child’s photograph authenticated by the school (e.g. student’s handbook or school record, bearing the child’s name, date of birth and photograph) or other proof of identity of your son or daughter. If you are not able to obtain this proof of identity from the school, submit the Form for Countersignature together with a photocopy of an identity document of the person countersigning the form.

Processing time and passport collection

Usually, the passport application is being processed within 5 working days, but only in cases when all the required documentary was submitted. Application via the Internet is a bit longer - the application process takes 7-8 working days in order to handle formalities.

Collecting the passport in-person is mandatory. In order to collect your passport, you must present your Hong Kong permanent identity card and the original supporting documents, the copy of which you have submitted in the application.

Documents accepted to verify your identity are:

Hong Kong permanent identity card
your existing HKSAR Passport
HKSAR Document of Identity for Visa Purposes (it will be cancelled after collecting the passport)

Rules for children (below 16 and unmarried persons aged 16 or 17)

The child must be accompanied by a consenting parent or legal guardian at the moment of the collection of passport in person, for appending their signature on the application form.

During the collection meeting in the office, the child’s consenting parent or legal guardian is obliged to confirm the correctness of information furnished upon application submitted online.

The period of the collection will be specified in a “collection notice” sent to you. Wait for it and give the office 1 or 2 extra days because in some specific periods and situations the applicants must wait a bit more than indicated above time.

Frequently Asked Questions FAQ

What is the demanded background in the picture for the HK e-passport?

The background in the Hong Kong passport must be clear white, solid and free of shadows and spots.

What is the acceptable file size of a digital photograph for a Hong Kong passport application through the Internet?

The photo must captured by digital camera must measure at least 1200 pixels of width) x 1600 pixels of weight).

What is the acceptable file format of a digital photo for a HK passport application through the Internet?

The photo must be saved as a JPEG, GIF or TIF (RAW, LZW, JPEG, CCITT-G4) file.

Can I apply online for my Hong Kong e-passport?

Yes, this is possible. You can fulfil the e-passport application online and submit your photo or you can make an appointment in Passport at the Immigration Headquarters or any of the Immigration Branch Office.

Can I Photoshop my photo for the Hong Kong e-passport?

No, any alteration in the picture by computer software is forbidden and will cause the rejection of the photo.

Where can I take an HK e-passport photo near me?

Everywhere you want, thanks to the Smart Hong Kong passport photo Maker.

What if I make a mistake or attach the wrong photo to my Hong Kong e-passport application?

In such a case, the time of processing your application will be longer and you will get your passport later.

What do I need to get my Hong Kong e-passport?

To get it you must submit the application form and provide the Passport Office with your biometric photo and data (fingerprints, signature).

What to dress for the photo for a Hong Kong e-passport photo?

You can dress like you wish, as there is no such thing as “the Hong Kong passport photo dress-code”. We just recommend you to dress smartly and not to wear a white top or a hijab, if you wear it.

What is the Hong Kong passport e-photo size?

Requirements for the size of the passport photo in Hong Kong are 40 x 50 mm (width x height).

Can I attach a black and white photo to my Hong Kong e-passport application?

No. Only color pictures will be accepted. Moreover, colors must be real and represent your natural skin tone. No filters are allowed.

Can I have a beard on the Hong Kong e-passport photo?

Yes, the beard is allowed in the passport photo.

Can I have a head covering in my Hong Kong e-passport photo?

Headgears worn for religious purposes are allowed but make sure that your hijab or hat do not block, obscure or cover in any way your face.

Are glasses allowed on the Hong Kong e-passport photo?

You do not need to take off your prescription glasses if you wear them every day and their frames do not cover your eyes. Glasses with tinted lenses (and sunglasses too) are not allowed.

Can I take a Hong Kong e-passport photo by phone?

Of course. Just choose the right place and moment, download Photo AiD mobile app for iOS or Android or go on the Passport Photo Online website. You will be able to get your Hong Kong passport photo in less than 1 minute!

Can I smile in my Hong Kong e-passport photo?

A natural, slight smile is allowed, just do not open your mouths and do not show the teeth. Your eyes must be open and mouth shut but not tighten.

What is the required crop for the Hong Kong e-passport image?

The correct size of the head from the chin to the top is 32-36 mm. To obtain this effect, do not use zoom in your camera and don’t take a selfie, just keep the distance between 1,20 and 2 metres between you and a photographer (or tripod if you are taking the photo on your own) or use the smart Passport Photo Cropping App.