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How to take a passport photo at home

All you need is a phone, a plain light wall, daylight and someone to press the button. Here is how to take a passport photo at home that passes, and which documents accept one.

Which documents accept a photo taken at home

  • Yes: US passport, US visa (DS-160), DV lottery, USCIS forms, UK passport (the online service even lets you take the photo during the application), Irish passport (someone else must take it, no selfies), Schengen visas and the Indian, Chinese, Korean and Brazilian photos we cover.
  • No: Canadian passport, PR card and citizenship photos must come from a commercial photographer, unedited. Our Canadian passport page can still check a studio photo for you.
  • Studio recommended: Australia asks for photos printed on heavy glossy photo paper by a photographic process or a professional printer, so plan to print at a lab.

What you need

  • A phone or camera (any recent phone is sharp enough).
  • A plain white or light wall, or a white sheet pinned flat without creases.
  • Daylight from a window, or two soft lamps on either side of the camera.
  • A helper, or a stand for the phone and its self-timer.

Step by step

  1. Set up the background. Clear the wall of pictures, switches and shadows. Stand about half a meter to a meter in front of it so your own shadow falls behind you, not on it.
  2. Face the light. Stand facing a window so daylight lights your face evenly. Turn off ceiling lights that shine down and make shadows under your eyes.
  3. Get ready. Take off glasses if you can, push hair away from your eyes and face, and remove hats (unless worn for religion), headphones and anything that hides your face. Wear everyday clothes that are not white.
  4. Position the camera. Your helper holds the phone at your eye level, about 1.5 meters (5 feet) away, with the phone upright. Do not zoom (Ireland forbids it) and do not come closer: short distances distort the face.
  5. Pose. Look straight into the lens, shoulders square, head level, eyes open, mouth closed and a neutral face (a natural smile only if your document allows it).
  6. Take several shots with the flash off, and keep the sharpest one. Leave plenty of space around your head and shoulders; the tool crops it for you.
  7. Make the photo. Open your document’s photo maker, upload the shot and let it crop the photo to the exact size and check it. Adjust the frame if it asks you to.

Taking a photo of a baby or child

Babies can lie on a plain white sheet and be photographed from above; no hand, toy or other person may show. Several countries relax the rules for young children, such as closed eyes for babies under one. The baby passport photo page explains the rules by country and has a baby mode in the tool.

Printing or uploading

  • Online application: download the digital file from the tool; it already has the pixel size and file size your document asks for.
  • Paper application: download a print sheet with several copies on 4 x 6 in or 10 x 15 cm paper. Print it at 100% scale on photo paper at home, or order one standard print at a photo counter, then cut along the guides.

If you want a second opinion before you send it, run the final file through the photo checker.

Frequently asked questions

Can I take my own passport photo at home?

For most documents, yes. US passports and visas, the DV lottery, UK and Irish passports, Schengen and most other visas accept a photo taken at home if it meets the rules. Canadian passport, PR card and citizenship photos must come from a commercial photographer, and Australia asks for professional prints, so for those use a studio.

Can I take a selfie for my passport photo?

It is better not to. An arm's-length selfie is too close, which enlarges the nose and makes the head tilt, and Ireland says no selfies at all. Ask someone to take the photo from about 1.5 meters (5 feet), or put the phone on a stand and use the timer.

What is the best background at home?

A plain white or light wall with nothing on it, or a white sheet or large sheet of paper pinned flat. Stand about half a meter to a meter in front of it so your shadow does not fall on it. Check the color your document asks for; the UK, for example, asks for cream or light gray on printed photos.

How do I avoid shadows in a home passport photo?

Face a window in daylight so the light falls evenly on your face, and turn off overhead lights that shine from above. Step away from the wall to lose the shadow behind you. Do not use the phone's flash close to your face; it causes glare, red eyes and hard shadows.

How do I print a passport photo at home?

Make a print sheet with several copies on 4 x 6 in or 10 x 15 cm paper, then print it at 100% scale on photo paper, or order a single standard print at a photo counter. Measure one photo afterwards. For online applications you do not print at all; upload the digital file instead.

Is it really free?

Yes. The photo tool, the checker and the print sheet are free with no watermark, and your photo never leaves your device, because everything runs in your browser. The only cost is printing, if your application needs paper photos, which is often cheaper than a shop photo.

Sources

  1. U.S. Department of State — Passport Photos (opened )
  2. GOV.UK — Get a passport photo — Digital photos (opened )
  3. Department of Foreign Affairs — Photo guidelines for passports (opened )
  4. Government of Canada — Passport photo requirements (opened )
  5. Australian Passport Office — Passport photo capture guidelines (opened )
  6. Passport Seva — Guidelines for ICAO compliant photographs (opened )

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