Sri Lanka Passport Photo Maker
A Sri Lankan passport application can be delayed for weeks over something as small as a photo. The Department of Immigration and Emigration follows ICAO biometric standards and expects a colour photograph measuring 35 × 45 mm on a plain white background, taken within the last three months. Faces that sit too low, backgrounds with a grey tint, hard shadows, or heads sized outside the accepted range are the most common reasons submissions get returned. Our Passport Photo Maker removes that guesswork: it crops your face to the correct proportions, cleans the background, and outputs a print-ready, MRP-compliant image so your Sri Lanka passport photo passes the first time, whether you apply at home or through an overseas mission.
Skip the manual editing and let the tool do the compliance work
Editing a passport photo by hand means guessing at millimetres, fighting with cropping tools and hoping the background reads as pure white. Uploading straight into Passport Photo Maker replaces all of that with an engine tuned to the Sri Lankan 35 × 45 mm specification, so every export is measured, framed and ready to submit.
Automatic crop
Your photo is trimmed to a precise 35 × 45 mm frame without you touching a ruler or grid.
Biometric framing
The face is centred and sized so the head fills the correct 70–80% of the frame height.
Correct dimensions
Width, height and resolution are locked to Department of Immigration and Emigration values.
Correct background
Busy or coloured backgrounds are replaced with the required clean, shadow-free white.
Printable photo sheet
Download a single digital file or a 4×6 sheet of copies ready for a photo lab or home printer.
No Photoshop required
Everything happens in your browser, so there is nothing to install and nothing to learn.
Sri Lanka passport photo requirements
These values follow the Department of Immigration and Emigration and ICAO machine-readable passport (MRP) standards. Match every row before you submit — a single mismatch is enough for a photo to be rejected at the counter or by an online portal.
| Photo size | 35 × 45 mm (3.5 × 4.5 cm) |
|---|---|
| Width | 35 mm |
| Height | 45 mm |
| Background | Plain white, evenly lit, no shadows, textures or borders |
| Head size | Approx. 34–36 mm from chin to crown (around 70–80% of the photo height), with a small even margin above the head |
| Resolution | 600 DPI for print (about 827 × 1063 px); high-resolution, sharp and in focus |
| File format | Colour JPEG or PNG for digital submission; photo-quality paper for printed copies |
| Glasses rules | Not recommended; if worn, no glare, no tinted lenses and eyes fully visible |
| Expression rules | Neutral expression, mouth closed, both eyes open, looking straight at the camera |
| Photo age | Taken within the last 3 months and reflecting your current appearance |
| Digital submission rules | Colour image on a white background, correct 35 × 45 proportions, no filters, beautifying or digital retouching |
Passport authority overview
Sri Lankan passports are issued by the Department of Immigration and Emigration, which operates from its head office, Suhurupaya, in Battaramulla, along with regional offices in cities such as Kandy, Matara and Vavuniya. The department issues the Machine Readable Passport (MRP) and is progressively rolling out chip-based e-passports, all built on the international ICAO Doc 9303 framework.
For citizens applying inside Sri Lanka, the department typically captures the applicant's photograph digitally at the counter during a One Day or Normal Service appointment. Sri Lankans living abroad apply through their nearest High Commission or Embassy, where they must supply their own printed 35 × 45 mm photographs. Understanding which route applies to you decides whether you need a physical print, a digital file, or both.
Country-specific photo rules
Beyond the raw dimensions, the Department of Immigration and Emigration applies the biometric detail rules common to Sri Lankan travel documents:
- The face must be centred, squared to the camera and not tilted or turned.
- The background and your clothing should not be the same colour, so darker tops photograph best against the white backdrop.
- No hair should fall across the eyes, and the full face outline from chin to forehead must be visible.
- Head coverings are only accepted on religious or medical grounds, and even then the full face must remain uncovered.
- Uniforms and sunglasses are not allowed; everyday clothing and clear vision are expected.
- The photograph must be an untouched original — no digital beautifying, filters or composite edits.
Child passport photo requirements
Sri Lankan infants and children need their own passport, and the same 35 × 45 mm white-background rules apply — which makes children the trickiest subjects. The child must be alone in the frame with no toys, hands or supporting adults visible, eyes open where possible and mouth closed.
For babies, lay them on a plain white sheet and photograph from directly above, making sure no shadow falls across the face. There is no expectation of a neutral expression for very young infants, but the head must still be clear, centred and correctly sized. Uploading the shot into Passport Photo Maker lets you recentre and resize a wriggly subject without a reshoot.
Passport renewal photo rules
Renewing or replacing a Sri Lankan passport is not an excuse to reuse an old picture. Every renewal needs a fresh photograph that matches your current appearance and was taken within the last three months. Significant changes — noticeable weight change, a new full beard, or a child who has clearly grown — all call for a new photo.
The specification for a renewal is identical to a first application: 35 × 45 mm, plain white background and neutral expression. If you are renewing through an overseas mission, prepare the same set of identical prints you would need for a new passport and confirm the exact quantity with that mission before your appointment.
National biometric standards
The Sri Lankan MRP and emerging e-passport follow ICAO Doc 9303, the same global standard that governs facial biometrics for machine-readable travel documents worldwide. In practice this means the face has to be usable by facial-recognition systems: sharp focus, natural skin tones, even lighting with no hotspots or red-eye, and a clean edge between the head and the white background.
This is why a casual selfie rarely passes on its own — angle, distance and background all matter to the algorithm, not just to a human reviewer. Passport Photo Maker checks these biometric fundamentals automatically so your Sri Lanka passport photo works for both counter staff and the chip.
Can I take my Sri Lanka passport photo at home?
Yes — you do not need a studio. With a modern phone and a little care you can capture a shot that our tool turns into a compliant 35 × 45 mm photo. Get the capture right and the rest is automatic.
Get these right when you shoot
- Phone camera: use the rear camera, not the selfie lens, for sharper detail and truer proportions.
- Lighting: face a window or soft daylight so the light is even, with no shadow behind you.
- Background: stand about half a metre in front of a plain white wall to avoid casting a shadow onto it.
- Distance: have someone shoot from roughly 1.5 metres away at eye level, then let the tool crop in — never zoom with your feet or the lens.
- Printing: for counter submission, print on photo-quality gloss or matte paper, or use the 4×6 sheet export at a photo lab.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Holding the phone too close, which enlarges the nose and distorts the face.
- Warm indoor bulbs that turn the white background yellow or grey.
- Shooting at an angle so the face is not squared to the camera.
- Wearing a white or very light top that blends into the background.
- Cropping too tightly and cutting into the required margin above the head.
Sri Lanka passport photo vs US passport photo
Travellers often assume one passport photo fits every country. It does not. The Sri Lankan format is rectangular and metric, while the United States uses a square, inch-based photo — so the two are not interchangeable.
| Attribute | Sri Lanka | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 35 × 45 mm (rectangular) | 51 × 51 mm / 2 × 2 in (square) |
| Head size | Approx. 34–36 mm, chin to crown | 25–35 mm (1–1⅜ in), chin to crown |
| Background | Plain white | Plain white or off-white |
| Submission format | Printed prints for missions; digital for online/visa portals | Printed 2×2 in, plus digital upload for online renewals |
| Photo age | Within the last 3 months | Within the last 6 months |
| Key compliance difference | Metric, taller-than-wide frame with a tightly framed head | Square frame with more space around a proportionally smaller head |
How to create a Sri Lanka passport photo with the Passport Photo Maker
Upload
Drop in any clear phone or camera photo taken against a light wall. JPEG, PNG or WebP all work.
Crop
The tool auto-detects your face and crops to the exact 35 × 45 mm frame with correct head placement.
Background
Any background is replaced with clean, shadow-free white that meets the department's rule.
Verify
A compliance check flags issues such as tilt, shadows or an oversized head before you export.
Download
Save a single digital file for online use or a printable 4×6 sheet for counter submission.
Common reasons Sri Lanka passport photos get rejected
Most rejections come down to a handful of repeat offenders. Check your photo against each before you submit.
Compliance notice
Passport photo requirements may change, and individual offices or overseas missions can apply additional rules. Always verify the current specification with the official passport authority — the Department of Immigration and Emigration — or your nearest Sri Lankan High Commission or Embassy before you submit.
Passport Photo Maker helps you create a photo that meets the published dimensions and biometric guidelines, but final approval always rests with the issuing authority.
Sri Lanka passport photo questions, answered
Can I use a smartphone photo for a Sri Lanka passport application?General
Yes. A modern phone camera is fine as long as the shot is sharp, evenly lit with no shadows, taken against a plain white wall and the head fills the correct portion of the frame. Our Passport Photo Maker then crops it to 35 × 45 mm and cleans the background so it meets biometric standards.
How recent does my passport photo need to be?General
Your photograph must reflect your current appearance and be taken within the last three months. An old photo, or one that no longer matches your look, is a common reason applications are returned.
Can I wear glasses in a biometric passport photo?General
Glasses are discouraged under modern ICAO biometric rules. If you must keep them on for medical reasons, the frames cannot cover your eyes and there must be no glare or tint. Removing glasses is the safest option.
What file format should a digital passport photo be?General
For online and visa portal submissions use a colour JPEG or PNG with a white background at the correct proportions. For counter submissions, print the same image on photo-quality paper at 600 DPI.
What is the official Sri Lanka passport photo size?Sri Lanka
The Department of Immigration and Emigration requires a colour photograph measuring 35 mm wide by 45 mm high (3.5 cm × 4.5 cm) on a plain white background, following ICAO machine-readable passport standards.
Does the Department of Immigration and Emigration take my photo at the office?Sri Lanka
For in-person applications at Suhurupaya and regional offices, staff usually capture your image digitally at the counter. Applications lodged through overseas High Commissions and Embassies, however, require you to submit printed 35 × 45 mm photographs yourself.
How many photos do I need for a Sri Lanka passport application through an embassy?Sri Lanka
Overseas missions typically ask for three identical colour photographs of 3.5 cm × 4.5 cm on a white background, taken within the last three months. Always confirm the exact count with your specific mission.
Is the same photo accepted for a Sri Lankan visa or NIC application?Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan visa applications and the National Identity Card both use the same 35 × 45 mm white-background format, so a compliant passport photo generally works across all three. Confirm any service-specific rule before you submit.
Create your Sri Lanka passport photo now
Stop worrying about millimetres and grey backgrounds. Upload your photo below and walk away with a 35 × 45 mm, white-background image built for the Department of Immigration and Emigration — ready to print or submit online.