Passport photo DPI explained: 300 vs 600 vs 1200
What DPI means for passport photos, how it relates to pixel dimensions, how to check it, why more DPI is not always better, and the file-size trap.
What DPI actually means
DPI stands for dots per inch: how many printer dots fit in one inch of print. PPI (pixels per inch) is the digital equivalent: how many pixels make up one inch of the image. For passport photos the two mean the same thing, because both measure the same density.
The math is simple: pixel dimensions = physical size in inches x DPI. A 2 x 2 inch US passport photo at 600 DPI is 1200 x 1200 pixels. A 35 x 45 mm photo at 600 DPI is 827 x 1063 pixels.
Pixel sizes at a glance
| Format | DPI | Pixel dimensions |
|---|---|---|
| 35 x 45 mm | 300 DPI | 413 x 531 px |
| 35 x 45 mm | 400 DPI | 551 x 709 px |
| 35 x 45 mm | 600 DPI | 827 x 1063 px |
| 35 x 45 mm | 1200 DPI | 1654 x 2126 px |
| 2 x 2 in (51 x 51 mm) | 300 DPI | 600 x 600 px |
| 2 x 2 in (51 x 51 mm) | 600 DPI | 1200 x 1200 px |
What resolution does an authority want?
That differs per country and per channel. Some authorities set a minimum in pixels for a digital upload, others only describe the printed photo. The US State Department, for example, asks for a digital photo of at least 600 x 600 pixels, which is a 2 x 2 inch photo at 300 DPI. Check the official page for the document you apply for.
When more DPI does not help
Past a certain point, extra DPI only makes the file bigger. A 1200 DPI file has four times the pixels of a 600 DPI file at the same size. Upload portals often limit the file size, and a file that is too big has to be compressed, which can add artefacts. More is not automatically better.
How to check the DPI of your photo
- On Windows:right-click the JPEG, then Properties, Details. Look for “Horizontal resolution” and “Vertical resolution”.
- On macOS: open the photo in Preview, then Tools, Show Inspector.
- On a phone: phones usually do not show DPI. Check the pixel dimensions instead and compare them with the table above.
The DPI and pixel count mix-up
A common mistake: people think raising the DPI of a saved JPEG improves quality. It does not. The DPI value in the metadata only tells the printer how big to print the existing pixels; it does not add new ones. If your photo is 800 x 1000 px, setting it to “1200 DPI” just makes the printer produce a smaller print. For more detail you need a sharper photo from the camera.
What Foto2Pass delivers
Your digital file is made at the exact size and resolution in our specification for your country:
- 300 DPI: Austria, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, United States
- 400 DPI: Netherlands
- 600 DPI: Belgium, Germany, United Kingdom
The 10 x 15 cm print sheet is always 600 DPI.
Want a photo with the size and resolution set correctly for your country? Start your passport photo with Foto2Pass. Our AI checks your photo against your country's rules before you pay.
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