Do you need a photo for a Singapore Work Permit?
MOM photographs the worker at a Services Centre when the Work Permit card is registered, alongside fingerprints and Singpass. No photograph is submitted with the application.
So there is nothing to buy for the application itself. People do still make one of these for an employer's HR record or their own file, and the specification below is the one to match if you want that. If you only need the pass, you are done — close this page.
TL;DR You probably do not need to submit a photo for this document — the authority does not ask you for one. If you want one anyway: A Singapore work permit photo is 35 × 45 mm on a pure featureless white background, supplied at 400 × 514 px (290 DPI). The expression must be neutral, mouth closed, looking directly at camera, and the photo must have been taken within the last 3 months.
Specification at a glance
| Print size | 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Digital size | 400 × 514 px at 290 DPI |
| Background | pure featureless white (#FFFFFF) |
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed |
| Gaze | Directly at camera |
| Maximum age of photo | 3 months |
Rules that apply to this document
- MOM captures the official pass-card photo on-site
- This template is for employer record or personal use
Can I wear a head covering?
A habitually worn religious or cultural head covering — a tudung, hijab, turban, kippah or songkok — is generally permitted, provided your face stays visible: forehead edge, both cheeks, jaw line and chin.
Where these figures come from
Checked on 2026-09-02 against the issuing authority's own page — what was confirmed there is that no photograph is submitted. The measurements below were not separately verified, and matter only if you want a photo for your own purposes. Published by the issuing authority: www.mom.gov.sg. SGfoto is independent, not affiliated with or endorsed by any government or issuing authority, and does not guarantee acceptance. Final acceptance is always decided by the issuing authority.
Common questions
- What size is a Singapore work permit photo?
- A Singapore work permit photo is 35 × 45 mm, printed or supplied digitally at 400 × 514 pixels (290 DPI), on a pure featureless white background.
- Can I take a Singapore work permit photo with my phone?
- Yes. Take a plain, front-facing photo in even light and SGfoto reformats it to 35 × 45 mm on a pure featureless white background. Hold the phone at eye level — a shot from above or below looks less like you.
- How recent must a Singapore work permit photo be?
- It must have been taken within the last 3 months.
- Can I wear a head covering in a Singapore work permit photo?
- A habitually worn religious or cultural head covering — a tudung, hijab, turban, kippah or songkok — is generally permitted, provided your face stays visible: forehead edge, both cheeks, jaw line and chin.
- How much does a Singapore work permit photo cost on SGfoto?
- The watermarked preview is free, so you see the result before paying. The full-resolution file is S$1.99.
Make one anyway, for your own file →
Free watermarked preview. S$1.99 for the full-resolution file.