Independent reference to official photo rules

Not affiliated with any government. Always confirm with the issuing authority before you apply.

WorldPhotoSpecsOfficial photo rules for every country

Student cards

Singapore student card photo requirements

The 35 × 45 mm photo rules set by Universities, polytechnics and ITE (each institution sets its own photo rules) for the Singapore student card, with the official wording and sources.

Based on 6 official sources · last checked Official sources Page history

5.0 (1 rating)

Quick answer

What size is the Singapore student card photo?

It depends on the institution: NUS asks for 340 x 453 pixels, NTU for 354 x 472 pixels (35 x 45 mm), SMU for at least 354 x 472 pixels, and ITE and student concession cards for 240 x 320 pixels. Almost all want a recent colour photo on a white background, but SMU allows any plain colour except black.

There is no single student card photo size in Singapore. Each university, polytechnic and ITE sets its own, from 340 x 453 px for NUS to 354 x 472 px for NTU and 240 x 320 px for concession cards. Almost all ask for a recent colour photo on a white background.

Student card sizes use a 3:4 ratio. Polytechnics publish their own instructions during enrolment. Students in MOE schools receive a School Smart Card through their school; follow your school's instructions if a photo is needed. International students also need a separate Student's Pass photo for ICA.

Singapore student card photo size and specifications

The requirements as published by Universities, polytechnics and ITE (each institution sets its own photo rules):[1]

Print sizeSet by each institution: NUS 340 x 453 px; NTU 354 x 472 px (35 x 45 mm); SMU at least 354 x 472 px; ITE and concession cards 240 x 320 px
Digital sizeNUS 340 x 453 px; NTU 354 x 472 px; SMU at least 354 x 472 px; ITE 240 x 320 px
Head heightNTU: face 25 to 35 mm from chin to crown
BackgroundWhite (NUS white only; SMU any plain colour except black)
ColourColour
Photo ageTaken within the last 3 months (NUS, NTU, home-schooler concession card)
File sizeNUS under 2 MB; SMU up to 4 MB; ITE about 150 KB; home-schooler concession card up to 150 KB
File formatJPEG (NUS, SMU); ITE file named with NRIC number, e.g. NRIC.jpg
Print qualityNTU: matt or semi-matt finish
Pixels when printed413 × 531 px at 300 dpi · 827 × 1063 px at 600 dpi (calculated)
35 mm45 mm25–35 mm
35 × 45 mm photo drawn to scale, with the 25–35 mm head height from chin to crown. Background: white.

Key requirements

  • NUS

    Colour JPEG of 340 x 453 pixels (aspect ratio 0.75), smaller than 2 MB, on a white background only, taken within the last three months. NUS rejects photos with borders, heavy editing, a uniform from another organisation, a tilted or turned head, or shadows. It does not recommend smartphone photos and suggests a studio or self-service photo kiosk that provides a digital copy. The same photo appears on the Undergraduate Concession Card.

  • NTU

    NTU's matriculation card is digital, in the NTU Pass app. The photo should be 354 x 472 pixels (35 x 45 mm) with no border, taken within the last three months, with the face 25 to 35 mm from chin to crown, on a white background with a matt or semi-matt finish and no shadows.

  • SMU

    Colour JPEG of at least 354 x 472 pixels and up to 4 MB. SMU allows any plain background colour except black. Wear glasses if you normally do, with no reflection. Changing your photo after your card is issued incurs a fee.

  • ITE and polytechnics

    ITE's student concession card needs a 240 x 320 pixel photo of about 150 KB on a white background, with no headgear or visible jewellery and hair neat in its natural colour; name the file with your NRIC number. Ngee Ann Polytechnic asks for a full-face photo on a white background for its concession card.

  • Home-schooled students

    Home-schooled students applying for a SimplyGo concession card need a 240 x 320 pixel colour photo up to 150 KB on a plain white background with no shadows, taken within three months.

Do's and don'ts

Do

  • Use a white background (SMU allows any plain colour except black)
  • Keep your head straight, with no shadows and no border
  • Crop to a 3:4 ratio and resize to the pixel size your institution asks for
  • Stay within your institution's file-size limit

Don't

  • Do not use heavily edited photos (NUS rejects them)
  • Do not wear a uniform from another organisation (NUS)
  • Do not tilt or turn your head
  • Do not use headgear or visible jewellery for the ITE concession card

Sample photos

How a Singapore student card photo should look, and the mistakes that most often get photos rejected. Each example is drawn to this document's 35 × 45 mm, head height and background colour.

Correct
Open-mouth smile
Head tilted
Too close: head too big
Too far: head too small
Busy background
Shadows on face or background
Glare on glasses

Illustrations, not real photos. The official rules above always take priority; some documents do not allow glasses at all.

Glasses

SMU: wear glasses if you normally do, with no reflection.

Headwear and religious dress

ITE: no headgear or visible jewellery.

Photos are submitted as digital files at the pixel size set by the institution. NTU also states a 35 x 45 mm equivalent with a matt or semi-matt finish.

Where to submit the photo

Each institution collects the photo during enrolment, usually by online upload; follow your institution's instructions.

How to get your Singapore student card photo

  1. Check the official requirements. Read the official specification for the Singapore student card: 35 × 45 mm print, 340 × 453 px digital file, white background. Check the rules on pose, expression, glasses and headwear below.
  2. Take the photo. Follow the key requirements: nUS; nTU; sMU; iTE and polytechnics.
  3. Prepare a print or digital file. Photos are submitted as digital files at the pixel size set by the institution. NTU also states a 35 x 45 mm equivalent with a matt or semi-matt finish.
  4. Submit the photo with your application. Each institution collects the photo during enrolment, usually by online upload; follow your institution's instructions.

Singapore student card photo FAQ

NUS asks for a colour JPEG photo of 340 x 453 pixels (aspect ratio 0.75), under 2 MB, on a white background, taken within the last three months.

NTU asks for a 354 x 472 pixel photo (equivalent to 35 x 45 mm) with no border, taken within the last three months, on a white background with a matt or semi-matt finish.

Often yes, if it is recent and on a white background, but resize it to the pixel size your institution asks for. Student card sizes use a 3:4 ratio, so trim a little from the top and bottom of a 400 x 514 px ICA photo before scaling it down.

Related photo specifications

Other Singapore documents

Also 35 × 45 mm

Was this page helpful?

5.0 out of 5 from 1 rating

Official sources

  1. NUS Registrar. Requirements of photograph for online submission (PDF) nus.edu.sg. Checked 28 October 2026.
  2. Nanyang Technological University (NTU). Student matriculation card ntu.edu.sg. Checked 28 October 2026.
  3. Singapore Management University (SMU). Guidelines on taking photograph (PDF) matriculation.smu.edu.sg. Checked 28 October 2026.
  4. Institute of Technical Education (ITE). Apply for student concession card ite.edu.sg. Checked 28 October 2026.
  5. Ngee Ann Polytechnic. Concession card application np.edu.sg. Checked 28 October 2026.
  6. SimplyGo. School smart card simplygo.com.sg. Checked 28 October 2026.

Requirements can change, so always confirm with Universities, polytechnics and ITE (each institution sets its own photo rules) before you apply. WorldPhotoSpecs is independent and not affiliated with any government.

Cite this page

"Singapore student card photo". WorldPhotoSpecs. Last updated 4 November 2026. https://worldphotospecs.org/singapore/student-card-photo

Categories: