1. The photograph must be less than 6 months old.
2. The photograph must measure 45 x 35 mm in size (1.77 inches long x 1.38 inches wide) and show a close-up of the head and top of the shoulders. The chin to crown (crown is the position of the top of the head if there were no hair) must be between 32 mm and 36 mm (70 to 80 per cent of the vertical height of the picture). Head or any part of hair must not touch the frame of the photograph (female applicant's hair is permitted to touch the bottom frame of the photograph).
3. The photograph must be color neutral, with no ink marks or creases.
4. The photograph must show the subject facing square on and looking directly at the camera, with eyes open and clearly visible. A neutral expression (no smiling, mouth closed) and a natural skin tone are required. The photograph must have appropriate brightness and contrast.
5. There must be no hair across the eyes. Both edges of the face must be clearly visible. The photograph must not show the subject looking over one shoulder (portrait style) or with head tilted to one side or backwards or forwards. Ears, moles, birthmarks or scars must not be covered. An applicant with microtia is allowed to conceal the ears, but both edges of the face must be clearly visible.
6. The photograph must have a plain white background. The lighting must be uniform with no shadows or reflections on the face or in the background. The subject's eyes must not show red eye.
7. The photographs must be at high resolution and printed on plain, high quality photographic paper. The image must be clear, sharp and in focus. Resampling of the original image or alteration of the image's size before printing is not permitted.
8. Photographs taken with a digital camera must be high quality color and printed on photo-quality paper. The camera must be with at least 3 million pixels and set to "the highest quality and high saturation". Alteration of the digital image is not permitted.
9. If the subject wears glasses:
1) The photograph must show the eyes clearly with no reflection or glare in the glasses. Avoid tinted lenses (with the exception of the visually disabled).
2) Avoid heavy frames and make sure that the frames do not cover any part of the eyes.
10. Head coverings are not permitted except for religious or medical reasons, but facial features from bottom of chin to top of forehead and both edges of the face must be clearly shown.
11. Photographs must show the child's head and shoulders only (no chair backs, toys, pacifiers or other people visible).
