A correct digital ICA passport photo is 400×514 pixels with a #FFFFFF background. Printing is a second step: the physical print must read 35 mm × 45 mm on the paper, or counters and photo shops may reject it. This guide covers chain stores, neighbourhood labs, and home printers in Singapore.

[Table of Contents]

What you need before you walk into a shop
Table: print channel vs what to ask for
Popular and Challenger: kiosk vs counter
Neighbourhood print shops
Home printer: margins and scaling
Glossy vs matte
FAQ
Start from a file that already matches ICA

What You Need Before You Walk Into a Shop

Item	Detail
File	JPEG, 400×514 px (or vector instructions from the shop)
Target size on paper	35 mm wide × 45 mm tall
Finish	Glossy photo paper is the usual ask for passport-style prints
Backup	Keep the file on your phone and in email

Tell staff millimetres, not “passport size strip.” Some presets resize to a generic booth layout that is not exactly ICA.

Print Channel vs What to Ask For

Channel	What to say	Risk
Major retailer photo counter	“One image, 35 by 45 millimetres, glossy, no border”	Low if they confirm mm on screen
Self-service kiosk	Choose custom size if available; verify preview ruler	Medium: default templates vary
Neighbourhood lab	Show ICA sample dimensions on your phone	Low with experienced staff
Home inkjet	Set custom paper size or print at 100% scale from a calibrated layout	High if “fit to page” is left on

Popular and Challenger: Kiosk vs Counter

Both chains appear across Singapore (including malls near MRT). Kiosk flows optimise for common snapshot strips; look for custom dimension or ID photo modes. If the machine only offers fixed layouts, use the staff counter and hand them your JPEG with written dimensions: 35 × 45 mm.

Before you pay, check the preview: your head should fill the frame the same way it did on screen at 400×514. If the preview shrinks your face into a tiny box, cancel and ask for a re-output.

Neighbourhood Print Shops

HDB void deck and shophouse labs often understand ICA passport dimensions if you say the millimetres clearly. Tip: open ICA’s public guidance on your phone so the assistant sees 35×45 in writing. Pay in cash or PayNow depending on the shop.

Home Printer: Margins and Scaling

If you print at home:

Disable fit to page and shrink to printable area.
In your editor or PDF, place the 400×514 image in a 35×45 mm box at 300 DPI (413×531 px is sometimes used for print pipelines—confirm your tool maps correctly to 35×45 mm output).
Use borderless only if it does not crop the photo.
Let the print dry before cutting.

Home printing fails most often because the driver silently scales the image. When in doubt, pay under a dollar at a shop for a known-good size.

Glossy vs Matte

ICA and most Singapore counters expect a glossy passport-style finish unless the form states otherwise. Matte can look dull under office light; if the officer cannot see facial detail clearly, they may ask for a reprint.

FAQ

Is 400×514 the same as 35×45 mm on paper?
They are paired in ICA’s guidance: the digital file maps to that print size at standard resolution. The shop must not stretch to a different aspect ratio.

Can I print from a phone screenshot?
Avoid it. Screenshots recompress and may change colours. Use the original JPEG.

How many copies should I print?
ICA digital flows often need zero prints. If a form asks for two photos, print two exact copies from the same file.

Will GetVisaPic’s file print correctly?
Yes, when the printer is set to 35×45 mm without extra scaling. GetVisaPic outputs 400×514 and #FFFFFF for the digital side; printing is your second step.

What if the shop says “we only do US 2×2”?
Ask for custom 35×45 mm or try another outlet. US 2×2 is a different spec.

Need the digital file first? Create your ICA-sized photo with GetVisaPic, then print at 35×45 mm anywhere in Singapore.