Philippines Passport Photo Requirements
Philippine passport photos are governed by the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) rules on capturing your photo. The official guidance is unusually specific about pose, expression and infants — and the classic failures are easy to avoid once you know them. Verified against the DFA photo-capturing guidelines, September 2026.
What the DFA officially specifies
| Pose | Frontal, looking directly at the camera lens with your full face shown |
| Head position | No rotation or tilting, up/down or left/right; the mid points of the mouth and the bridge of the nose lie on an imaginary vertical line in the centre of the image |
| Expression | Neutral, both eyes open, mouth closed; no hair covering the eyes; no contrived expressions such as raised eyebrows, squinting or frowning |
| Smiling | Allowed, but without showing teeth or gums — the official guidance recommends a "Mona Lisa" smile |
| Ears | As much as possible, both ears should be visible |
| Glasses | Eyeglasses should always be removed before the photo is captured |
| Accessories | Earrings and hair accessories must be removed; wearing earrings is not allowed |
| Infants / small children | Those who cannot support themselves are assisted by a parent or guardian, but the supporting hands and arms must not be visible; a high chair may be used if needed |
The DFA page we verified sets out pose, expression, glasses, accessories and the infant rules, but does not publish the millimetre size or the background colour for the passport photo. Rather than assert a figure, this page states only what is officially published; confirm the size and background on the DFA's own photo-requirements page or the ePassport guidance before you submit.
Pose: straight on, nothing tilted
The rule most often broken is the head position. The DFA wants a frontal pose looking directly at the lens with your full face shown, and it bans rotation or tilting of the head in any direction — up, down, left or right. It also pins the alignment: the mid point of your mouth and the bridge of your nose must sit on an imaginary vertical line down the centre of the image. In practice that means a helper or a tripod holding the camera at eye level, and no "three-quarter" angle.
Expression: neutral — and the "Mona Lisa" smile
The default is a neutral expression, both eyes open, mouth closed, with no hair across the eyes. Contrived expressions — raised eyebrows, squinting, frowning — are not accepted. The DFA does allow a smile, but with a hard limit: no teeth and no gums. Its own wording recommends the "Mona Lisa" smile. If you are unsure, a closed-mouth neutral look is always safe.
Glasses, accessories and hair
- Glasses come off. The DFA states eyeglasses should always be removed before capturing the photo. (For medical contact lenses, the rule is that they must not change your true eye colour — but the default is to remove eyewear.)
- Accessories come off. Earrings and hair accessories must be removed before the photo, and wearing earrings is not allowed at all.
- Hair must clear the face. Frizzy or afro hairstyles should be arranged neatly to show the full frontal facial image, and no hair should cover the eyes.
The glasses rule is stricter than most countries — see the glasses guide for how the various national rules compare.
Babies and small children
An infant or very small child who cannot support themselves is assisted by a parent or guardian, but there is a firm condition: the hands and arms supporting the child must not appear in the photo. A high chair may be used if needed. The photo must show only the child — no supporting hand, and no helper in frame. The baby & toddler photo guide covers the general technique.
Frequently asked questions
What is the size of a Philippine passport photo?
The DFA photo-capturing guidance we verified defines pose, expression, glasses and infant rules but does not publish the millimetre size. Confirm the current size on the DFA's own photo-requirements or ePassport page before you submit — this page states only what the official guidance actually specifies.
Can I smile in a Philippines passport photo?
Yes, but without showing your teeth or gums. The DFA recommends the "Mona Lisa" smile; a neutral closed-mouth expression with both eyes open is always safe.
Can I wear glasses in a Philippine passport photo?
No. The DFA states eyeglasses should always be removed before capturing the photo. For medical contact lenses, they must not change your true eye colour.
How should I hold my head?
Straight on. The DFA requires a frontal pose looking directly at the lens with your full face shown, bans any rotation or tilting of the head, and asks that the mid point of your mouth and the bridge of your nose lie on a vertical line down the centre of the image.
Can I wear earrings or leave my hair down?
No earrings, and hair accessories must be removed — wearing earrings is not allowed. Frizzy or afro hairstyles should be arranged neatly so the full frontal face is shown, and no hair should cover the eyes.
What are the rules for a baby's passport photo?
A child who cannot support themselves is held by a parent or guardian, but the supporting hands and arms must not be visible in the photo, and a high chair may be used if needed. Only the child should appear in the frame.
Take the shot straight-on against a plain backdrop, then check the frame against the size chart, verify the file with the passport photo checker, and lay out prints with the print sheet. Shooting at home? Start with the at-home photo guide, and review the top rejection reasons first.