Digital passport photo for online renewal — pixel-perfect, no printing
Why online renewal needs a different photo than printed
Online passport renewal portals — the State Department's MyTravelGov, UK gov.uk, Canada IRCC's PR Portal, India's indianvisaonline.gov.in, Korea's k-eta.go.kr, Australia's myGov passport renewal — accept only digital JPEG uploads. They do not accept scanned printed photos or PDF uploads.
Each portal has its own exact pixel spec. The US wants 600×600 to 1200×1200 px square at under 240 KB. The UK wants 600×750 px portrait. Canada PR Portal wants 420×540 px. The K-ETA wants 600×600 px square. Schengen visa portals via BLS or VFS want 413×531 px at 300 DPI.
Submitting the wrong pixel spec — even a perfectly-cropped photo at the wrong dimensions — is the most common upload rejection in 2026. The portals do not auto-resize; they reject and ask you to upload again at the correct spec.
The digital-only spec by destination
United States (MyTravelGov, DS-82, DS-11, DS-160, DV Lottery): 600×600 to 1200×1200 px JPEG, under 240 KB, plain white background.
United Kingdom (gov.uk passport renewal): 600×750 px JPEG, portrait, 50 KB to 10 MB, light grey or cream background.
Canada (IRCC PR Portal, citizenship online, passport): 420×540 px JPEG minimum, plain white background. Print spec is 50×70 mm.
Schengen visa (via BLS, VFS, ANTS): 413×531 px at 300 DPI JPEG, light grey background.
India (Indian eVisa, passport seva): 350×350 px to 1200×1200 px JPEG, 10 KB to 1 MB, plain white background, square.
China (CVASC, visa application): 354×472 px or 600×600 px JPEG, 40 KB to 120 KB, light blue or white background.
Korea (K-ETA): 600×600 px square JPEG, 100 KB to 1 MB, plain white background.
Australia (myGov passport renewal): 600×900 px JPEG, plain background.
New Zealand (RealMe passport): 500×500 to 1200×1200 px JPEG, 250 KB to 10 MB, light grey background.
Why you don't need a print or a scan
Online renewal portals are digital-first. The State Department's DS-82 form's web version uploads the JPEG directly; the printed-photo path is for paper applications only.
Scanning a printed photo introduces lossy artifacts (scanner noise, color shift, slight rotation) that the biometric check sometimes flags. The recommended path is to start with a digital photo and never print it for a digital application.
Exception: if you're applying via the paper DS-11 or for an in-person renewal at a passport agency, you need a printed 2×2" photo. complypic includes the printable 4×6" sheet in every purchase at no extra cost — you can use either the digital or the printed version as your application requires.
Common online-renewal upload rejections
Wrong dimensions: by far the most common cause. The portal expects 600×600 px and you upload 1200×1500 px — rejected. Use complypic's destination-specific template, not a generic 'passport photo' template.
File too large: the US accepts up to 240 KB; many phone uploads are 2–5 MB. Re-export at JPEG quality 85.
File too small: the K-ETA needs 100 KB minimum; heavily compressed selfies under that floor are rejected as 'insufficient resolution.'
Wrong format: JPEG only on most portals. HEIF, PNG and HEIC are rejected at upload. The State Department, UK, IRCC and India all require JPEG.
Background wrong color: white for US/UK/IRCC/India/Korea, light grey for Schengen/NZ, light blue for some China specs. Cross-spec uploads fail.
Using complypic for online-only renewal
Upload any selfie. Choose your destination spec from the country list. complypic crops, sizes, and exports at the exact pixel dimensions and file-size range the destination portal accepts.
Preview before paying. The preview shows the final JPEG at its target dimensions with the destination's background color applied.
US$4.99 per generated photo, digital-only or digital + printable 4×6" sheet (same price — sheet is included). PayPal payment.
If the destination portal rejects the upload, the refund guarantee applies. Send the rejection screenshot to refund@complypic.com within the photo's 6-month validity window for a full US$4.99 refund.
FAQ
Can I use the same digital photo for multiple online renewals?
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Do I need to print the photo?
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What if I have a printed photo from CVS — can I scan it?
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Which destination has the strictest pixel spec?
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Is the State Department's free photo tool the same as complypic for online renewal?
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US Passport
Exactly 2x2 inches, plain white background, head 1 to 1⅜ inches. Validated against State Department specs before you pay. Works for new passport, renewal, and minors.
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