Malaysian passport photo size: the official 35mm × 50mm
This is the official passport photo size used in Malaysia. Below is a tool that crops your photo to that size and lays it out on a 4R sheet, so printing 6 copies at the shop is easy.
| Photo size | 35mm × 50mm (3.5cm wide × 5.0cm tall) |
| Background | White, no shadow |
| File format (upload) | .jpg, 100KB – 300KB This is Immigration's requirement for MyOnline Passport |
| Type of photo | Not a selfie, not a polaroid |
| Ears | Left and right must be visible (if not wearing a headscarf) |
| Clothing | Dark clothing covering the shoulders and chest |
| Glasses | Not allowed. Contact lenses are not allowed either |
| Face | Look straight at the camera, eyes open, mouth closed, neutral expression |
| Headscarf | Allowed, but the forehead must be visible and hair must not cover the face |
| Hats | Not allowed |
Source: myOnline Passport Guide, Immigration Department of Malaysia (updated 1 September 2023). Checked by us on 29 August 2026.
A note on “head height 25mm–30mm”: that figure is quoted all over the internet, but on Immigration's own page it is listed under the photo specification for children under 4 years old and for Facial Live Capture photos taken at the counter. Immigration does not publish a specific head height for an adult photo that you upload. This tool still frames your head to the 50%-60% ratio because that is how studios do it and it is the safest choice, but we will not call it the law.
In the MyOnline Passportsystem there is a step called “Muatnaik Gambar” (Upload Photo) — you submit your own photo as a softcopy. If the photo does not meet the specification, your application changes to the status “PERMOHONAN DITANGGUHKAN, FOTO TIDAK MEMUASKAN” (application deferred, photo unsatisfactory) and you have to upload again. That is a delay rather than a permanent rejection - but it holds up your passport.
If you go straight to an Immigration counter in Malaysia instead, your photo is taken there using Facial Live Capture and you do not need to bring one.
This 35mm x 50mm photo is also needed for job applications, university and school applications, government forms, and passport applications at a Malaysian embassy if you are abroad.
Make your passport photo
FREECropping and sheet layout run entirely inside your browser. Your photo is not sent anywhere for this free part.
Drag the photo to move it. Use the slider to zoom. Put the top of your head near the top line of the orange box, and your chin near the bottom line.
The 4R sheet is for taking to a photo shop or kiosk. It has cut lines and a 35mm ruler so you can check the print came out at the right size.
Your photo is ready.
If that button does nothing, press and hold on the photo above, then choose “Save to Photos” or “Download image”.
Uploading from a computer later? Email this photo to yourself.
To send it, this photo has to pass through our email provider. We do not store your photo, only the email address so we can send it. Maximum 5 emails a day.
Background not white?
We remove the original background and replace it with the white the specification requires. Your face is not altered at all; we only take away what is behind you.
For this, your photo has to be sent to our processing server once. We do not keep your photo.
One-off payment. Card, FPX online banking or GrabPay.
Guarantee: not happy with the result? Email hello@rojak.app within 7 days with your receipt and we refund the full RM9.90. No reason needed.
One payment, every form.
Your background has been removed, so you can use the same photo for other forms without paying again. Pick one, then press “Prepare” as usual.
How to get a photo that passes
- Light. Stand facing a window during the day. Avoid a lamp directly overhead, because it casts shadows under the eyes.
- Background. Stand in front of a white wall, a little away from it so your shadow does not fall on the wall.
- Clothing. Dark colours. A white shirt blends into the white background.
- Camera. Ask someone else to take it from about a metre away. A selfie taken too close makes the nose look big and distorts the face.
- Face. Look straight at the camera, mouth closed, no wide smile.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a Malaysian passport photo?
35mm wide x 50mm tall, that is 3.5cm x 5.0cm, with a plain white background and no shadow. If you want to upload it to MyOnline Passport, the file must be a .jpg between 100KB and 300KB.
Do I need to bring a photo when applying for a passport at Immigration?
It depends how you apply. Renewing online through MyOnline Passport: yes, you upload the photo yourself. Applying in person at an Immigration counter in Malaysia: no, the photo is taken there with Facial Live Capture. Applying at a Malaysian embassy abroad: yes, bring your own photo.
What background colour does a passport photo need?
White, with no shadow. For a Malaysian passport do not use a blue or red background.
Can I wear glasses?
No. Glasses and contact lenses are not allowed.
How much does a passport photo cost?
A photo shop usually charges RM15 to RM25 for a set. With this tool the crop and the 4R sheet are free; you only pay the shop's printing cost, around RM1 to RM2 for one 4R print. If your background is not white and you want us to replace it, that is RM9.90, paid once.
What if the white background does not come out right?
Email hello@rojak.app within 7 days with your receipt and we refund the full RM9.90, no reason needed. The crop and the 4R sheet are free anyway, so the only thing you paid for is the background.
How do I resize a photo to passport size?
Upload your photo above, drag and zoom until your face sits inside the guides, then download. The tool crops your photo to 35mm × 50mm and can lay it out as a 4R sheet so you print 6 copies at once.
Is my photo safe?
Yes. This tool does all the work inside your own browser. Your photo is never uploaded to our servers, and we store nothing.
How many copies should I print?
Most forms ask for 1 to 2 copies, but people usually print 6 at once because the cost is almost the same. The 4R sheet above gives you 6.