Digital Photo Specifications

• Photo type: Passport-sized digital colour photograph

• Photo dimensions: 400 × 514 pixels

• Photo age: Taken within the last three months

• Accepted file formats: JPG, JPEG, HEIC, HEIF or PNG

• Maximum file size: 8 MB

Image Quality

• Use a recent, clear and sharp colour photograph that accurately reflects your current appearance.

• The image must not be blurred, pixelated or low-resolution.

• Your facial features must appear natural and must not be altered or enhanced.

Pose and Framing

• Face the camera directly.

• Keep your head straight, upright and centred.

• Do not tilt, turn, rotate or lower your head.

• Your full face, both edges of your face and the top of your shoulders must be clearly visible.

• Both eyes must be open and clearly visible.

• Keep your hair away from your eyes.

• Maintain a natural, neutral expression with your mouth closed.

• Avoid exaggerated smiles, frowning, raised eyebrows or other unusual expressions.

Background

• Use a plain white background without patterns, furniture or other objects.

• The background must be free from shadows.

• Ensure there is sufficient contrast between your face, hair and the background.

• Use a light-grey background if white hair or a white religious head covering would blend into a white background.

Lighting

• Use even lighting across your entire face.

• Avoid direct flash, glare, reflections, red-eye, uneven bright spots and shadows.

• There must be no shadows on your face or behind your head.

Glasses

• Your eyes must be clearly visible through your glasses.

• Spectacle frames must not cover any part of your eyes.

• The lenses must not show glare, flash reflections or other reflections.

• Sunglasses and tinted glasses are not permitted.

• Removing ordinary glasses may help prevent rejection caused by glare or reflections.

Hats and Head Coverings

• Do not wear a hat, cap or other head covering unless it is normally worn in accordance with religious or racial customs.

• A permitted head covering must not obscure your facial features, eyes or the edges of your face.

• Your full face must remain clearly visible.

Photo Editing and Alteration

• Cropping, resizing and preparing the background are acceptable provided they do not change your natural appearance.

• Do not use skin smoothing, face reshaping, eye enlargement, beauty filters or artificial-intelligence edits that alter your facial features.

• Do not digitally enhance or modify your appearance.

How to Create a Singapore IC/NRIC Photo Online in 400 × 514 Pixels

Create your Singapore Identity Card photo online using a picture taken with your smartphone or digital camera.

Upload your image to the IDPhotoDIY passport photo maker. The tool will prepare a 400 × 514 pixel digital passport size photo for your Singapore IC or NRIC application.

You can use the photo when registering for your first Identity Card, re-registering at age 30 or 55, or applying for a replacement IC.

Follow these steps to prepare your Identity Card photo with the IDPhotoDIY passport photo maker.

Step 1: Take a photo

Ask another person to take a clear photo of you using a smartphone or digital camera.

Face the camera directly and leave enough space around your head and shoulders for cropping. Avoid a handheld selfie because the close camera distance may distort your facial proportions.

Step 2: Upload the original image

Choose the photo from your phone, tablet or computer.

Step 3: Process the photo

The passport photo maker will prepare the background, crop the image and resize it to the recommended Singapore IC photo dimensions.

Step 4: Review and download

Download the 400 × 514 pixel digital photo and upload it through the ICA e-Service for your Identity Card application.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the Singapore IC photo size for online submission?

ICA recommends a digital image measuring 400 pixels wide by 514 pixels high for photos uploaded through its e-Services.

How recent must my IC photo be?

The photograph must have been taken within the last three months.

Can I make a Singapore IC/NRIC photo online?

Yes. Upload a clear smartphone or camera image to the IDPhotoDIY passport photo maker to crop and resize it to 400 × 514 pixels.

Can I take the photo with a smartphone?

Yes. ICA allows photos taken with a mobile phone, provided the completed image meets its requirements.

Can I submit a selfie?

Selfies are not recommended because the camera angle and short distance may distort your face. Ask another person to take the picture or use a stable tripod.

What file formats does ICA accept?

ICA accepts JPG, JPEG, HEIC, HEIF and PNG files for online photo submissions.

What is the maximum file size?

The maximum file size is 8 MB.