How to Make a Passport Photo at Home: Size, Background and Printing

Know the rules before you shoot

Passport and visa authorities publish detailed photo rules, and they differ between countries and even between document types. Size, head height as a share of the picture, background colour and whether glasses are allowed can all vary.

Open the official page for your document first and note the size and any special requirements. A tool can crop to the right dimensions, but it cannot know about a rule you have not checked.

Set up the shot

Stand or sit facing a plain, light wall in even daylight. Face a window so the light falls on you evenly, and avoid overhead lights that cast shadows under your eyes. Ask someone to take the photo at eye level, from about an arm's length or more away, rather than a selfie, which can distort the face.

Keep a neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open and looking at the camera. Pull hair back from your face, and remove anything that casts shadows or glare.

• Plain light background with no patterns.
• Even light on both sides of the face.
• Camera at eye level, straight on.
• Neutral expression, both eyes visible.
• No filters, beauty modes or editing.

Crop to the official size

Open the Passport Photo maker, choose your country and document, and drag the photo so your face fits the guide. If you know the country, you can jump straight to a ready page such as United States, United Kingdom, Schengen, Canada, India, Australia, China or Morocco.

Download the single photo for online applications, or the printable 4x6 inch sheet if you need prints.

Printing at home or at a shop

For printed photos, a photo-quality paper gives better results than plain paper. If your printer is not great, send the 4x6 sheet to a photo lab or print kiosk, which is usually cheap and gives accurate colours.

Print at 100 percent scale with no 'fit to page' option, then measure the result with a ruler against the official size. Cut carefully along the edges.

Uploading a digital photo

Online applications often add file size limits. If your portal wants a small file, run the photo through Resize Image to 50 KB or another size from the same tool family. Keep the pixel dimensions the portal asks for.

Never edit the face or background with filters. Authorities can and do reject photos that look retouched.

Typical size standards at a glance

Photo sizes vary by country, but a few come up again and again. The United States generally uses a square 2x2 inch format. The United Kingdom and many Schengen countries use 35x45 mm. Canada uses 50x70 mm for passports, and several countries have their own variants for visas and national ID cards.

Because rules change and some documents have special requirements, treat any list as a starting point. The official government page for your document is the final word, including how much of the frame the head should occupy and whether a printed or digital photo is needed.

• United States: 2x2 inches (51x51 mm).
• United Kingdom and Schengen visas: 35x45 mm.
• Canada: 50x70 mm.
• Check the official page for India, Australia, China, Morocco and others.

Tips for children and babies

Photos of babies and young children are harder, because they cannot hold a neutral expression on command. Lay a baby on a plain white sheet and photograph from above, making sure no hands or toys are visible. Many authorities relax some rules for infants, such as eyes open and a neutral expression, but you should check the guidance for your country.

For toddlers, patience is the main tool. Take many photos in quick succession in good light and choose the one that best meets the requirements. Keep a parent's hands out of the frame, since extra people or objects can lead to rejection.

Cost and time compared with a studio

Taking your own photo can save money and a trip, especially when you need photos for several family members. A studio or photo kiosk, however, knows the rules and often guarantees acceptance, which can be worth it for high-stakes applications. Many people mix the two: they use a home photo for digital submissions and a professional print for documents that need a physical photo.

Whichever route you take, allow time for a retake. Rejections happen even to careful applicants, and the cost of a delayed application is usually higher than the cost of a professional photo.