How much is a passport with photo

Published

Table of Contents Show

Use your phone
The dos and don'ts
To smile or not to smile?
The technicalities
How much does Singapore passport cost?
How fast can I get my passport Singapore?
Can I take my own passport photo Singapore?
What is the photo size for Singapore passport?

May 21, 2022 at 5:00 AM

SINGAPORE - The travel bug is back as the world's borders reopen, but those who have to renew or apply for their passports have seen the wait time stretching to six weeks from under a week previously.

Submitting a passport photo that adheres to the guidelines is crucial as a photo rejection would set your application back by another six weeks, said the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority.

Here are some tips on how to take the perfect passport photo:

Use your phone

- Shooting your own passport photo is perfectly doable: just use your mobile phone camera and a passport photo app.

- For mobile phones, download apps like IC Photo Singapore, Passport Size Photo Maker or Passport Photo ID Maker Studio - ID Photo Editor

- For desktops, try IDPhoto4You, which allows you to place your photo over templates according to different countries' requirements.

The dos and don'ts

Lighting

Stand about 30cm away from the wall to avoid casting a shadow on the background. Artificial lighting casts shadows under your eyes and nose, so natural lighting is best.

Do not shoot outdoors under strong sunlight as that will make you squint. Use window lighting for a natural look and a white board to reflect light onto the darker side.

The look

Put on some make-up if you want, even if the photo will appear in black and white in your passport.

A coloured photo is still required because the Singapore passport has a chip that encodes data and stores the passport holder's photo.

Based on the International Standards Organisation (ISO) and International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) guidelines, this photo in the chip has to be coloured.

To smile or not to smile?

- Ensure you are looking straight ahead with a neutral expression and not showing your teeth. These are stipulated in the ISO and ICAO guidelines and adhering to them ensures that the Singapore passport will be accepted by immigration authorities overseas.

- Your fringe should not cover your face. Keep your hair neat and wear it as you normally would. If you wear glasses, be sure that there is no reflection off the glass that might obscure your eyes.

- Shoulders and hair must be fully visible and not cropped off.

The technicalities

- The photo should be cropped to 3.5cm by 4.5cm and saved as a jpg, jpeg or png file extension. The file size should not exceed 2MB.

- Photos should be taken no more than three months before submission. The date is embedded in the file info of the photo and can be ascertained.

- Photos should be sharp and not pixellated.

For more details, go to this website.

Online Application

To avoid the hassle of travelling to the Embassy, Singaporeans are encouraged to apply or renew their passport online via ICA's Application for Passport On-Line Electronic System (APPLES). For online application, a Singpass account (with 2FA token), digital photo image file and a valid credit card for payment are required.

Applicants who apply online may collect their new passports at the Embassy.

For more information on passport application, please visit ICA's website at

https://eservices.ica.gov.sg/esvclandingpage/apples

Application at the Embassy

Applicants applying for a new passport at the Embassy should bring the following:

Duly completed application form
The form can be downloaded at ICA's website: https://www.ica.gov.sg/docs/default-source/ica/forms/forms_form_imme_11_os.pdf
Current passport - original and a photocopy
One passport size photograph
Please refer to ICA's website for the photograph requirements at https://www.ica.gov.sg/photo-guidelines. The application will be delayed if the photograph submitted does not meet ICA's requirements.

Fees (for applications submitted at the Embassy)

Processing fee for first-time application / subsequent application:
S$80 (US$57) for applications made at the counter
If the current passport is lost or damaged, the applicant is required to pay, in addition to the passport fee, either of the following non-refundable fees:

S$50 (US$36) for the first replacement or.
S$100 (US$71) for subsequent replacements.

Only USD (cash) in exact amount is accepted.

Collection of New Passport For identification and security reasons, the applicant must appear in person at least once, either during the submission of application or during the collection of the new passport. The Applicant must bring his/her current passport which will be invalidated and returned to him/her.

Passports which are not collected in 3 months will be cancelled by ICA. The passport fee will not be refunded.

How much does Singapore passport cost?

A S$70 fee is payable if you apply online. A fee of S$80 in foreign currency equivalent is payable if you apply in person at Singapore Overseas Mission.

How fast can I get my passport Singapore?

To renew Singapore Passport, you may either do so online (APPLES system) via http://www.ica.gov.sg/, (passport would be ready in 3-4 weeks, please indicate that the collection point is in HCMC) or apply directly (in person) at our office (passport would be ready in 4-6 weeks, and payment is done at point of application ...