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2x2 cm Photo that is Perfect for Your Official Papers

Written by Olia Potiagaeva, Managing Editor Reviewed by the PhotoGov Editorial Team ★ 4.8 / 5.0 GoogleChecked against International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO Doc 9303) requirements

A lot of official papers, such some ID cards, visas, and other sorts of identification, need a 2x2 centimeter photo. It's important to make sure your photo satisfies the official requirements so that you don't have to wait or get rejected. We make it easier to take a 2x2 centimeter photo that meets the rules at PhotoGov. Just submit a selfie or a high-quality picture, and we'll resize, crop, and optimize it to the right size so you can send it in digitally or physically. Square formats vary by country: our 1x1 picture size requirements page describes the 2.54 x 2.54 cm version used for IDs.

Auto-crop the photo to fit the Others photo size (two free ID photos per day, depending on your location)

Full document requirements for photos

How to get a photo - tutorial

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Get photo for: Photo 2x2 cm

Step 2/4

Instructions:

How to take a good photo?

1/7 Image format

Photo must be in color. Taken within the last 6 months.

How to take a good photo?

1/7 Image format

Photo must be in color. Taken within the last 6 months.

ID & Passport Photo Tool. Your personal data is processed in accordance with security and privacy standards.

The 2x2 cm Photo editor crops your image to the selected format and positions the head within the frame. It sizes the picture you upload without changing your facial features, and the built-in photo checker tests the file against the selected format. The selected format is 2 x 2 cm. Before you submit the photo, check the photo instructions for the application you are completing.

Why Should You Use Our 2x2 cm Photo Service?

Exact 2x2 cm Size

Your photo is automatically resized to the right size of 2x2 cm

Background Correction

This feature gets rid of shadows and makes sure the background is clear and white or light-colored

Image Enhancements

Makes the picture clearer by changing the brightness, sharpness, and contrast

Digital and print versions

Get both a digital and a print-ready version of your photo to send in

Compliance Guarantee

Meets all the official standards for 2x2 cm pictures for a variety of documents

Requirements for 2x2 cm photos

To make sure your 2x2 cm photo is accepted, it needs to follow certain rules for how it looks and how it works The page on the biometric passport photo meaning explains why the framing, background, and expression rules exist.

20mm

70%

Size	2 x 2 cm (20 x 20 mm)
Minimum DPI	300
Image Format	JPEG or PNG
File Size	Usually less than 1 MB
Background	Plain white or light-colored (no patterns or shadows)
Can be printed	Yes

*Data from government agencies

Rules for how to look

Requirement for Aspect

Expression on the face

Neutral: mouth closed, no smile or frown

Eyes

Open and easy to see

Head Position

Centered and facing forward, with no tilting

Covering the Face

Should take up 70 to 80 percent of the height of the picture

Clothing

Solid colors preferred

Eyeglasses

Not allowed unless it's for medical reasons

Hats and Scarves

Allowed solely for medical or religious reasons and must not cover up facial features

Lighting

The face and background should be evenly lit, with no shadows or reflections

How to Make Your 2x2 cm Picture in Steps

Choose a Type of Document
From the selection of document formats on PhotoGov.net, pick "2x2 cm Photo"
Take a picture of yourself
Use a smartphone or digital camera that works well. Stand 1.5 to 2 meters away from a white or light-colored background. Make sure the lighting is even and right
Send the Picture
Send your picture to PhotoGov. Make sure your face is plainly seen and has a neutral look
Automatically resize and optimize
Our system will automatically resize the picture to 2x2 cm, clean up the background, and change the lighting and contrast
Get it and send it in
You can either download your finished photo file and get it ready to send in, or you can print it out to use in person

How to Take Your Own 2 × 2 cm Photo

You can take a job application photo yourself with this setup, though the size and format come from the employer.

A 2 × 2 cm photo is a compact 20 × 20 mm square (about 0.79 × 0.79 inches) required for certain ID cards and application forms. Do not confuse it with the standard U.S. 2 × 2 inch passport photo, which measures 51 × 51 mm — more than two and a half times larger on each side. Because your face is scaled down to just 14–16 mm in a 2 × 2 cm print, starting with a sharp, well-lit image is essential.

1. Have someone photograph you from 3 to 6 feet (1–2 meters) away.

Arm's-length selfies distort facial proportions, which becomes especially noticeable in a small 20 × 20 mm square. Have someone else take a photo of you with the camera at eye level about 3–6 feet (1–2 meters) away while you stand in front of a plain white or light-colored wall. Remove your glasses unless you wear them for medical reasons.

Watch "How to take a photo" (00:46)

2. Let the tool crop it to an exact 20 × 20 mm square

Once you upload your photo, our tool automatically centers your head and crops the image to exact 20 × 20 mm (2 × 2 cm) dimensions.

3. Print at 100% scale and check the dimensions

Many printers automatically stretch a small digital photo to fill the sheet. Disable "Fit to Page" and select "Actual Size" (100% scale) when printing on glossy photo paper, then check and confirm that each side measures exactly 2 cm (20 mm).

Best Ways to Take a 2x2 cm Photo

Lighting: To keep harsh shadows off your face or background, use natural light or gentle artificial light

Background: Stand in front of a wall that is simple white or light-colored. Don't let any patterns or things get in the way

Positioning: Your head should be in the middle and pointing straight ahead. Your face should take up roughly 70 to 80 percent of the height of the picture

Wear dark, solid-colored clothes to stand out against the background. Don't wear tops that are white or shiny

Things to Avoid Making Mistakes

Using the wrong size (such passport size instead of 2x2 cm)

Putting on glasses or hats that hide your face

Using photographs that are fuzzy, low-resolution, or too bright

Background with shadows, textures, or things

Smiling or moving your head

PhotoGov automatically finds and fixes these problems while processing photos

How to Take a 2 × 2 cm Photo of a Baby or Child

Children's 2 × 2 cm photos require the same 20 × 20 mm square dimensions as adult photos, whether for an ID card, visa, or school badge. A child's face measures only around 15 mm in the final print — clear lighting and sharp focus are critical.

Frame the shot close enough (around 3 to 5 feet / 1–1.5 meters away) so your child's head and upper shoulders fill most of the frame — photos taken from across the room lose too much detail when cropped to 2 × 2 cm.
Take several shots in good natural light so you can pick a crisp, blur-free frame where your child is looking straight at the camera with both eyes open.

More tips for being compliant

No retouching: Don't use digital filters or programs that change the way your face looks

Sharpness: Make sure the picture is clean and in focus, with no pixelation or blurriness

Face Coverage: Your face should take up 70–80% of the height of the picture

File Size and Type: JPEG or PNG, and less than 1 MB for digital submission

Submission and Printing Guidelines

For Physical Submission: Make sure the size is exactly 2x2 cm and print your picture on high-quality matte or glossy photo paper

To submit digitally, upload your photo to the right gateway and make sure it satisfies the size and resolution requirements US federal forms ask for the larger inch square, and our 2x2 photo guide describes that 51 x 51 mm format.

Frequently Asked Questions

How big should my 2x2 centimeter picture be?

The size you need is 2 x 2 cm (20 × 20 mm).

Is it okay to take the picture with my phone?

Yes! You can use your phone as long as the picture satisfies the requirements. Send it to PhotoGov to get it fixed automatically.

Is it okay to wear spectacles in the picture?

No. You can't wear glasses unless you need them for medical reasons. Check to see whether there is any glare.

How old does the picture have to be?

Your photo should have been taken in the last six months to show how you look now.

What will happen if my photo is turned down?

You can change and reprocess your photo with PhotoGov until it is accepted.

Is it okay to use my 2x2 cm picture for other things?

Yes, as long as the other documents have identical standards.

Can I Use the 2x2 cm Photo Editor on an iPhone or Android Phone?

Yes. Open photogov.net in the phone browser, upload a picture and download the finished file. No app is required; the PhotoGov app for iOS and Android does the same job if you prefer it.

Do I Need to Create a Size Template for the 2x2 cm Photo?

No. PhotoGov applies the selected format automatically: the tool sets the frame and the head position for you. Before you submit the photo, check the photo instructions for the application you are completing.

Official Government Sources

Checked against the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO Doc 9303) photo requirements: https://www.icao.int/publications/doc-series/doc-9303 · Last checked: 08.10.2026