Pakistan uses the standard ICAO 35 × 45 mm portrait format for passports, CNIC and visas — not the 2 × 2 inch size that gets quoted online. Head height must be 32–36 mm chin to crown, the background must be plain white, and glasses are not allowed. Full DGIP / NADRA specification below.
Make a Pakistan Passport Photo →Per the Directorate General of Immigration & Passports (DGIP, onlinemrp.dgip.gov.pk) and NADRA. The same 35 × 45 mm specification applies to the passport, NIC/CNIC and visa applications.
| Photo size | 35 × 45 mm portrait (3.5 cm wide × 4.5 cm tall) — not the 2 × 2 inch format |
|---|---|
| Head height | 32 – 36 mm from chin to crown (approximately 70–80% of the photo height) |
| Background | Plain white, uniform, free of shadows — no blue, grey or patterned backgrounds |
| Resolution | Sharp, high-quality colour photo; ~413 × 531 px at 300 DPI for digital uploads |
| Head position | Centered, full face front-facing, eyes level, head straight, hair clear of the eyes |
| Recency | Taken within the last 6 months |
| Glasses | Not allowed — NADRA requires the photo to be taken without glasses |
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed, both eyes open and clearly visible |
| File / editing | Colour only, no filters, no retouching and no cropping down from a larger photo; digital uploads up to 5 MB |
NADRA photographs you on site for the CNIC and passport appointment — a self-made photo is what you upload online and keep as backup.
Stand about 0.5–1 m from a pure white wall with soft, even daylight on your face. No shadow behind your head.
Camera at eye level, about 1.5 m away. Neutral expression, mouth closed, shoulders square to the camera.
Upload to IDPhotoWork — we crop to the 35 × 45 mm portrait format, set the head to 32–36 mm and check the white background and exposure.