Nigeria Passport Photo Requirements — What the NIS Publishes
Nigerian passports are issued by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), and the passport photo is captured as part of the digital application. The published image rules are given in pixels rather than millimetres — roughly 600 × 800 px, under 2 MB, white background. Crucially, the widely-quoted 35 × 45 mm figure is not confirmed by an official Nigerian source, so treat it as unverified. Verified against NIS sources, September 2026.
What is officially published
| Digital size | About 600 × 800 px (published on the NIS passport portal; reported at source level rather than as a formal spec sheet) |
| File size | Under 2 MB |
| Background | White |
| Composition | Hair must not cover the face or ears; no head wear (apparel, headphones, mask); even lighting |
| Children | ICAO relaxations apply for children under 5 |
⚠ Unverified: the millimetre size for a printed Nigerian passport photo (commonly quoted as 35 × 45 mm) is not confirmed by an official Nigerian source. Do not rely on that figure — check the current requirement on the NIS portal for your application.
Pixel-based, not millimetre-based
Because the passport photo is captured digitally through the NIS process, the figure it publishes is a pixel size (about 600 × 800) with a file-size cap under 2 MB and a white background, rather than a print dimension. If you are preparing a file for the portal, work to those three numbers first and let the on-site capture handle the rest. See the digital file requirements guide for how pixel floors and file caps interact, and crop the frame precisely with the image cropper.
Composition and appearance rules
- Hair clear of the face and ears — nothing across the eyes or covering an ear.
- No head wear — the published rule bars apparel, headphones and masks in the photo.
- Even, moderate lighting — avoid a hard shadow or a hot flash reflection.
- Children under 5 get ICAO-style relaxations, because a very young child cannot hold a fixed pose.
Frequently asked questions
What is the size of a Nigerian passport photo?
The NIS publishes a digital figure of about 600 × 800 px. The commonly quoted 35 × 45 mm print size is not confirmed by an official Nigerian source.
What is the file size limit?
Under 2 MB for the digital photo.
What background do I need?
A white background, with even lighting.
Can I wear headgear in the photo?
The published rules bar head wear in the photo, including apparel, headphones and masks.
Is there an exception for young children?
ICAO relaxations apply for children under 5.
Is 35 × 45 mm the official print size?
Not confirmed. No official Nigerian source was found for that figure, so treat it as unverified and check the current requirement on the NIS portal.
Related: check a prepared file with the passport photo checker, compress it under the size cap with the image compressor, and read the general pixel rules in the digital file requirements guide. Browse all formats in the size chart.