What size is a K1 application photo?

It depends on the school. For 2027/28, Kiangsu & Chekiang Primary School (Kindergarten Section) asks for two 2 × 1.5 inch head-and-shoulders photos; Keen Mind Kindergarten asks for two 4 × 5 cm photos; some schools only write "one photo". The application form is what counts.

Can I use a photo taken with my phone?

Yes, if the photo is clear, taken from the front, recent, and in the size the school asks for. 2 × 1.5 inches needs only about 450 × 600 pixels, so a normal phone photo is enough.

What photo does a Hong Kong kindergarten application need?

Published 20 October 2026 · Updated 22 October 2026 · OneTakeKid

Kindergarten application photos: what do schools ask for? Three interview photos of one child and the phone photo they were made from

Most Hong Kong kindergartens ask for a photo of your child when you apply for K1. There is no common standard: each school sets its own rule on its application form. Below are the real rules of 13 popular kindergartens, and what to check when you prepare the photo.

1. Each school sets its own photo rule

The Education Bureau handles the Registration Certificate for Kindergarten Admission; for 2027/28 you apply for it from September to November 2026. The photo is part of each kindergarten's own application, so the rules differ from school to school. This is what the schools write on their forms or application pages:

School	School year	Photo rule
Kiangsu & Chekiang Primary School (Kindergarten Section)	2027/28	Two head-and-shoulders photos, 2 × 1.5 inches
St. Paul's Kindergarten	2027/28	One recent photo, 2 × 1.5 inches; uploaded as a JPEG under 2 MB, 200 dpi
Munsang College Nursery (N class)	2027/28	One recent photo on the application form, 40 × 50 mm
Keen Mind Kindergarten	2026/27	Two recent photos, 4 × 5 cm, brought on the interview day
Victoria Educational Organisation	2027/28	A recent ID photo; JPG, JPEG, PNG or PDF, ideally under 5 MB, 200 dpi or more
Raimondi College Kindergarten Section	2027/28	One passport-size photo; JPG, GIF, PNG or PDF, up to 2 MB per file
Learning Habitat Kindergarten	2026/27	A recent ID photo; JPG, ideally 100 KB to 2 MB
Creative Kindergarten & Day Nursery (Kowloon Tong)	2027/28	Paper application: one recent passport-size photo
Yew Chung International School (early childhood)	All year	One passport-size photo
The Alliance Kindergarten (Kowloon Tong)	2027/28	A photo of the child, uploaded with the online application
York International Kindergarten	2027/28	One photo, stuck on the application form
Kowloon True Light School (Kindergarten Section)	2027/28	A JPG photo of the child, ready before the online application
Pui Ching Primary School (Kindergarten)	2027/28	A recent photo of the child, ready before the online application

Before you apply, read each school's form carefully. What the form says is what counts.

2. Common sizes: 2 × 1.5 inches and 4 × 5 cm

A common size on paper forms is a portrait photo of 2 × 1.5 inches (about 51 × 38 mm), which has a 3:4 shape. The other common size is 4 × 5 cm (40 × 50 mm), which has a 4:5 shape, a little wider than 3:4. If the form only says "one photo" with no size, measure the photo box on the form, or call the school.

The two photo sizes drawn to the same scale: 2 × 1.5 inches (shape 3:4) and 4 × 5 cm (shape 4:5) — Both sizes drawn to scale: 4 × 5 cm is a little wider.

3. What makes a good application photo?

Recent: the photo shows what your child looks like now.
Front, head and shoulders: head and shoulders in the picture, eyes on the camera.
Clear: the face is in focus, the light is even, the background is plain.
Neat clothes: a top with a collar, or a school uniform, is a common choice.
Online applications: check the file format and size the form asks for before you upload.

Left: a front-facing photo taken with a phone at home; right: the interview photo made from it — A clear phone photo taken from the front is enough to make an interview photo.

4. Paper applications: how to print

Print at a photo shop or a self-service photo printer, in the size the school asks for, such as 2 × 1.5 inches.
A 3:4 portrait photo prints at 2 × 1.5 inches without cropping. For 4 × 5 cm, first trim a little from the top and bottom to make it 4:5.
Resolution: 2 × 1.5 inches needs only about 450 × 600 pixels, and 4 × 5 cm about 470 × 590 pixels (at 300 dpi). A normal phone photo is enough.
Print one or two extra photos for each school, and write your child's name on the back, in case one comes off the form.

A 4R photo sheet with eight small photos, two photos already cut out, scissors, a ruler and a pencil — One 4R sheet holds eight 2 × 1.5 inch photos. (AI illustration)

5. Can the photo be retouched?

School interview photos in Hong Kong have always been retouched: studios smooth the skin, change the background and adjust the light. Schools ask for a recent, clear photo taken from the front. If a school's own rules ask for an unedited photo, follow them.

A photo studio with a white backdrop and lighting equipment — A traditional studio's backdrop and lights. Photo: Pexels

Questions

What size is a K1 application photo?: It depends on the school. For 2027/28, Kiangsu & Chekiang Primary School (Kindergarten Section) asks for two 2 × 1.5 inch head-and-shoulders photos; Keen Mind Kindergarten asks for two 4 × 5 cm photos; some schools only write "one photo". The application form is what counts.
Can I use a photo taken with my phone?: Yes, if the photo is clear, taken from the front, recent, and in the size the school asks for. 2 × 1.5 inches needs only about 450 × 600 pixels, so a normal phone photo is enough.