Malaysia Passport Photo
Convert your image into a compliant photo for a Malaysian passport [manual verification included].
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Sylwia is a skilled writer with a BA in English Studies and an active SPJ member. For nearly three years now, she's been writing captivating articles for international companies, turning her lifelong passion into a career.
Jess is a specialist in passport photography and a recognized member of the British Institute of Professional Photography (BIPP) and the Guild of Photographers. She has reviewed over 400,000 passport photos, ensuring they meet strict global standards. With a keen eye for detail and in-depth knowledge of international photo regulations, Jess helps clients get compliant photos every time.
Malaysian Passport Photo Requirements
What are the size and background requirements for a Malaysian passport photo? Can you wear a hijab? Discover answers to these—and more—questions in this section.
All applicants for a Malaysian passport must submit one color 35 x 50 mm (1.38 x 1.97 inches) picture with a plain white background. The photo must accurately reflect your appearance and thus should be taken no later than six months before applying.
Additionally, mind the following requirements:
- Head dimensions: 25–30 mm in height
- White spaces: 10 mm between the top of your head and the upper edge of the picture; 10 mm between the bottom edge and the base of your chin.
- Subject’s position: Face the camera directly and maintain a neutral facial expression. Don’t smile; keep your eyes open and mouth closed.
- Quality: The picture mustn’t be grainy, blurry, or pixelated.
- Lighting: Your face must be evenly lit. Under or overexposed images will be rejected.
- Resolution: 600 DPI
Look at these two examples of good and bad Malaysian passport photos.
Good Malaysian Passport Photo
Bad Malaysian Passport Photo
Good Malaysian Passport Photo
Bad Malaysian Passport Photo
Additional guidelines
Malaysian passport photos must also meet requirements other than the technical specifications discussed above.
They are as follows:
Attire
According to the Malaysian passport photo dress code, you must wear dark-colored clothing that covers your shoulders and chest. If you wear a hijab or veil (tudung), it mustn’t obscure any parts of your face or cast shadows on it.
Glasses
Remove prescription glasses even if worn daily, and don’t use contact lenses—passport agents in Malaysia will reject both if present in the picture.
Hair
Your hair mustn’t cover your eyes or forehead or obscure the oval of your face. Both your ears must also be clearly visible. It’s best to tuck the hair behind your ears or tie it in a ponytail or a bun.
Jewelry
Remove your earrings. The official requirements are vague about whether you can wear other types of jewelry, so it’s best to remove all pieces.
Makeup
You’re allowed to wear makeup for the Malaysian passport photo, but it mustn’t alter your natural appearance. Your skin tone, birthmarks, moles, and blemishes must be fully visible. Opt for light makeup that enhances your beauty, such as neutral-colored lipstick and mascara.
Malaysia passport renewal online: Photo requirements
It’s possible to renew your travel document online—all you need is a digital passport photo. From the information we could gather online, Malaysian passport photos for online applications should be uploaded as follows:
- In a JPG, JPEG, PNG, or BITMAP format
- File size should be 50–300KB
How to Make Your Own Malaysian Passport Photo
Instead of wasting time in traffic and lines, create your Malaysia passport-size photo online with our tool: PhotoAiD® for iOS or PhotoAiD® for Android. Simply type “Malaysian passport” in the app’s search bar and select the correct document.
How to Take a Malaysia Passport Photo at Home
Here’s how to use our app to take photos for a Malaysian passport:
1. Upload a picture
Select an existing self-portrait from your device and upload it to the app. Alternatively, send it in using the button below:
Don’t have a picture? Take one following these tips:
- Ensure your hairstyle, makeup, attire, etc, meet the requirements mentioned at the top of this page.
- Stand at least 20 inches (50 cm) away from the camera.
- Take a photo in daylight by a window.
- Keep your eyes at the same height as the camera lens; don’t tilt your head.
- Ensure your face is evenly lit and there are no shadows on your face or the background.
Don’t worry if you can’t get the photo right in one go. We won’t approve a photo that doesn’t meet the official Malaysian passport photo requirements, but we’ll talk about it more below.
2. Wait for the conversion
Our artificial intelligence algorithms will replace the background with a solid white color and convert your photo to the required Malaysian passport photo size—all within seconds.
3. Order a human expert check
In this step, one of our experienced photographers will verify your picture against all official guidelines. If anything is wrong, we’ll email you instructions on how to take a new photo and where to upload it again for free.
4. Download your digital passport photo
We’ll email your digital photo after you finalize the order. If you paid for printed copies, they’ll be delivered to your address within an average of 2–3 business days.
Want to print your photos yourself? We’ll send you a free Malaysian passport-size photo template. It’s easy to print at a local print shop or at home—just remember to use high-quality photographic paper.
Why Take Passport Photos with PhotoAiD?
Check out PhotoAiD®’s Trustpilot page to see what customers love about our app. Here are a few examples of what they’re saying:
Quick & Easy
It was quick and easy to get the appropriate photo for my passport. I used the renew online option, which immediately accepted the photo. I finished the online passport renewal process in 10 minutes!
SteveHibshman (US)
Convenient
Probably the easiest way to get passport photos. Don’t have to travel anywhere to photos to be taken. Can do it from home and just wait to get them in mail. Won’t get any easier
Customer (AU)
Reliable
I used it for my passport photo. It certainly did everything correctly as directed for a passport photo. My first photo was accepted immeditely.
Diana Hewitt (US)
Helpful customer service
Great customer service. I have used them a couple of times for passport issues and the images are accepted without issue. I trust them and recommend them.
Dori Mci (US)
Malaysia Passport Photo Doesn’t Meet Specifications
When submitting a non-verified passport photo online, you might encounter several issues with the upload wizard. Here are several reasons why your photo might get rejected:
- Wrong size: The file is too big or too small.
- Wrong format: You submitted the image using the wrong file format.
- Lighting issues: The photo might be too bright or too dark for crucial facial features to be visible.
- Ears not visible: The wizard doesn’t detect ears in the photo.
How can you fix these issues? Start here:
- Try redoing the process in a different browser; your browser may not support the application portal. Hint: Users online reported issues using Firefox and Edge.
- After you upload a photo, you must adjust the blue circle on the screen (scroll down for an image example). Use the sliders to fit your head inside the circle. You may need to try a few times before the wizard accepts the photo. Hint: Your ears must be inside the blue circle.
- If your image is too big, use our Malaysia passport photo editor to ensure the file size and format are correct.
Related articles:
- South Korean Passport Photo
- Chinese Passport Photo
- Japanese Passport Photo
- Vietnam Passport Photo
- Taiwan Passport Photo
Sources:
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Frequently asked questions
Malaysia passport photo dimensions are 35 x 50 mm.
A photo for a Malaysian passport should be around 1.38 x 1.97 inches (35 x 50 mm).
For your Malaysian passport picture, you must maintain a neutral facial expression. Smiling with your teeth isn’t allowed.
According to the official requirements for passport photos in Malaysia, you should wear dark-colored clothes that cover your shoulders and chest, such as a collared shirt or blouse.
You must meet each and every Malaysian passport photo specification to avoid rejection and processing delays.
To ensure your picture meets all guidelines, try our Malaysian passport photo app, PhotoAiD®. Our photography experts will verify your self-portrait within a few minutes and guarantee acceptance (or a 200% refund).
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