PADI certification card photo: size and rules
| Size | 700×900 pixels |
|---|
| File size | 50 KB to 4.5 MB |
|---|
| Background | white, off-white or light grey |
|---|
| Glasses | Clear glasses only, no glare |
|---|
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open |
|---|
- Head and shoulders only, on a blank background
- No sunglasses, hat or anything covering the face
- JPG or PNG, 4.5 MB or smaller; PADI staff check every photo
Note on the sources: PADI gives no pixel size; this uses a passport-style 700×900 px photo.
Official rules: PADI: certification card FAQs. Rules checked on 26 October 2026.
Who needs it
Divers who certify with PADI get a certification card (an eCard or a plastic card) with their photo, and can add or replace the photo on their diver record.
How to apply
- Crop the photo to your head and shoulders on a blank background, with no dark glasses or hat. (PADI: certification card FAQs)
- Save it as a JPG or PNG of 4.5 MB or smaller and upload it; PADI staff review every photo, which can take up to two days. (PADI: certification card FAQs)
How to take the PADI certification card photo on your phone
- Stand about an arm's length from a plain white, off-white or light grey wall, facing a window or other soft light, so there are no shadows on your face or behind you.
- Tilt clear glasses so they don't reflect the light, push your hair away from your eyes and eyebrows, and keep a neutral face with your mouth closed.
- Hold the phone at eye level, or ask someone to take it. Picproved's camera tells you when your head is straight, centred and the right size.
- Picproved crops the photo to 700×900 pixels, evens out the white background and checks every rule before you save.
- Save the file and upload it with the online application: it comes out 50 KB to 4.5 MB. There is no printed photo to send.
Why photos like this get rejected
If the office rejects it
| Picproved | Other big passport photo apps |
|---|
| Which photos are covered | Every photo you save | Two of the four pay out only for photos that passed their own expert check or a paid human check |
|---|
| Proof of the rejection | None. Tell us it was rejected | Three of the four ask for proof of the rejection or a reason for the claim |
|---|
| Time to tell us | 90 days from your order | 14 days from getting the photo at one, 30 days from the rejection at another; we found no limit at the other two |
|---|
No face retouching. Pay once. 90-day redo and refund, no letter needed. Saving is free while we launch; the promise covers every paid photo once payments open. How the promises compare
Questions
- What size is the PADI certification card photo?
- 700×900 pixels.
- What file size does the PADI certification card photo need?
- 50 KB to 4.5 MB. Picproved saves the file inside this limit.
- What background does the PADI certification card photo need?
- A plain white, off-white or light grey background with no shadows or patterns.
- Can I wear glasses in the PADI certification card photo?
- Clear glasses are allowed if your eyes show clearly with no glare. Tinted glasses are not.
- How do I make the PADI certification card photo with my phone?
- Stand facing the camera against a plain wall in even light. Picproved shows live checks while you take it, crops it to 700×900 pixels and checks the rules before you save. Your photo stays on your device.
- What size photo does a PADI card need?
- PADI gives no pixel size: a head-and-shoulders JPG or PNG of 4.5 MB or smaller on a blank background.
Have a photo already? Check it free with the PADI certification card photo checker.
All countries
