Passport Photo Paper Requirements – Full Guide (2024)

Among the official specifications for passport photos, we often find a separate line referring in detail to the passport photo paper requirements. Not all countries require the exact same kind of paper, however, in most cases, we find a few options.

If you are having your photos printed by a professional photographer or in a photo booth, you should have nothing to worry about; the printouts you are going to get are most likely going to be of the right quality. On the contrary, if you wish to print the pictures yourself, you should make sure that you are using the correct kind of paper, to avoid any risk of your passport photos getting rejected.

So, here at Passport Photo Online, we decided to provide you with a guide that will tell you everything you need to know about passport photo paper.

Passport photo paper types

Many passport offices only state that the photos need to be printed on “photo quality paper”, without going into further detail. On the other hand, sometimes the passport photo paper requirements indicate specific kinds of printing surfaces, usually “matte”, “glossy”, or both.

If you are wondering why they would have such specific rules on a simple matter, the answer is quite simple: these kinds of paper are designed to enhance the quality of the photograph, printing on any regular sheet would result in dimmer colors and a lower definition of the image. Like most of the other passport photo requirements, the idea behind this is to represent the individual in detail, showing their natural colors and features truthfully.

What characterizes these kinds of paper and how can we tell them apart?

The two main features that make photo quality paper stand out are paper thickness and coating.

The higher thickness ensures that the paper does not deform while printing, the way that regular printer paper does when larger amounts of ink are used. The coating is designed to absorb the colors properly and show them better. This, of course, is just an oversimplification of the whole matter, there are other factors at play and to different degrees. When you look for different passport photo paper types, you often find definitions and measurements that might not make much sense to someone who has no previous experience in photography or printing.

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To help you find the right passport photo printing paper, we will walk you through some of the useful terms that you might come across:

Weight: the paper’s “weight” refers to the density of the material, while sheets of high weight tend to be thicker, this unit does not indicate the thickness itself. The unit of measurement for paper weight is grams per square meter (GSM).

Point size: this unit specifically refers to the thickness of the paper, one point equals one-thousandth of an inch. While you might not find this specific unit if you buy paper in large stores, it’s still better to be aware of it, in case you find yourself in front of a more specialized retailer.

Brightness: this specific term indicates how much light gets reflected off a sheet. While it may not sound important, the right brightness is the key to higher contrast and better colors.

Whiteness: this characteristic refers to the specific shift in hue of a sheet. Even if most of us would just call it “white”, a sheet of paper can slightly lean towards other colors, having an impact on the look of the final product.

Stock: paper stock is a definition that indicates many different qualities of the paper, including point size and weight. The different kinds are indicated by names that usually refer to the purpose of the paper.

Matte: matte paper is regular-based paper, covered with an inkjet receiving coating. It is accepted as a viable passport photo paper by most authorities in the world.

Glossy: glossy paper has a thicker, shiny finish that allows the colors to stand out better. Usually, this is the go-to printing paper for photographers and is a good option for passport photos.

What kind of paper should I use for my passport photo?

After going through some of the characteristics of photo paper, you might be asking yourself which kind will be better suited for your passport photo. First of all, I think it’s important to remember that you don’t necessarily need to print the photos, many passport authorities around the world give you the possibility to use digital pictures when you apply for your document. Whatever the country, you can be sure that plain paper is never a viable option.

In most cases, the requirements will just say “photo quality paper” or “glossy or matte”.

In both eventualities, you’ll be free to choose which finish better suits your needs. Glossy paper is generally of a higher quality and allows for brighter, more defined colors. On the other hand, matte paper is usually cheaper and will still give you a more than acceptable result.

The only other passport photo paper requirement, that applies almost universally, is weight. To print acceptable passport photos, you should pick a paper with at least 200 GSM. As always, to be sure, check if your Government requires a specific paper weight. It’s almost never the case, but, as the saying goes, better safe than sorry.

Where to get passport photo paper

If you intend to print your passport photos at home, you’ll need to buy the right kind of paper. If you live in a city, finding the appropriate store will be rather easy.

Any photo store will have a vast assortment of photo paper, you will just need to ask for the desired weight and finish.

Large tech stores that sell printers and photo supplies will also be able to provide you with all the passport photo paper you’ll need. If you can’t find any photo stores near you, you can simply get all the necessary supplies on the Internet; on Amazon and other e-commerce sites, you can easily find reams of photo paper for sale, with details about both the finish and the weight.

Passport Photo Online

Before starting to arrange the right layouts, you are going to need a photo that follows the requirements established by your country, regarding both the size and the aspect of the picture.

Usually, to get our passport photo taken, we go to a photobooth or a professional photographer, spending a lot of time and money. In some cases, we might not even have a guarantee that our pictures will be accepted by the authorities, since the rules are usually quite strict. Luckily, Passport Photo Online can take care of everything for you!

With our app (available on iOS and Android) you can very easily take photos fit for your passport right at home. Our AI will scan the picture according to your country’s requirements and you’ll immediately know if you can use it.

In no time at all, you’ll have a perfect picture for any document you might need! But that’s not all: with Passport Photo Online you can also pick the layout you prefer and print it wherever you want!

If you just want a digital picture you can download the file right away and send it with your application. If you need the printouts, you can either choose the right layout and have it printed or we can do it for you and ship it to your address. Either way, you’ll get the photos you need in a short time and for a very cheap price!

Thanks to PPO’s AI, you can be sure that your passport pictures will be accepted, without any delays to your application. Passport Photo Online will make everything quicker and easier!

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Passport photo paper requirements: conclusions

As you now know, with the right tools, getting the appropriate paper and layouts for a passport photo can be simple. If you possess the right professional equipment, you can print the pictures right at home, without going to a store. However, if you only have a regular printer, it’s best to have it printed professionally. With Passport Photo Online you can get the layout you need and have it printed for a very low price. So, the next time you need a photo for an official document, don’t worry, we can help you take it and print it very easily!

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