The MYXpats Centre has announced that, effective December 1, 2026, all passport photos submitted via Xpats Gateway and ESD Online must have a white background. This requirement applies to all pass types, including:
- Employment Pass (EP)
- Professional Visit Pass – Expert (PVP – Expert)
- Dependant Pass (DP)
- Long Term Social Visit Pass (LTSVP)
- Social Visit Pass – Internship (SVP-i)
- Investor Pass
This aims to ensure consistency in passport photo submissions and facilitate the photo verification process for applications involving MyVISA.
Applicants and employers are encouraged to utilize the Photo Verification feature available on ESD Online (since August 21, 2026) to verify that passport photos comply with the required specifications before submitting their applications. This will help minimize issues arising from non-compliant passport photos during the application process.
Erickson Insights & Analysis
Erickson Immigration Group will continue to monitor developments and share updates as more news becomes available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or if you have case-specific questions.