Tips
Why passport photos get rejected
Shadows, wrong size, smiling and low resolution top the rejection list — and how to avoid them.
5 min read
RejectionChecksMistakes
Top 5 reasons
Shadows on face or background; size mismatch; smiling or open mouth; closed eyes / off-camera gaze; compressed or blurry files.
Use our AI-powered South Africa Passport Photo Tool to auto-crop your image in 3 seconds.
Official photo requirements
35 × 45 mm
- Document size applied
- Face alignment checked
- Background prepared
Size
35 × 45 mm
Background
Light grey
Digital photo
413 × 531 px
How to prevent it
Pick the correct document, shoot in daylight and use a frame that passes AI checks. When in doubt, retake — it’s usually the fastest fix.
