How to Make a Passport Photo at Home
Take a compliant passport or visa photo with your phone, crop it to the right size for the US, UK, EU or India, and print a sheet of copies cheaply.
Photo booths and pharmacies charge a lot for two small pictures. With a phone, a plain wall and a free tool you can make your own and print them on a standard photo print.
1. Take the photo
- Stand about 1.5 m from a plain white or light-grey wall. Have someone else take the photo at head height.
- Face the light (a window works well) so there are no shadows on your face or the wall.
- Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open, no glasses (most countries now require this), hair away from your face.
- Take several shots and pick the sharpest.
2. Size it correctly
Open the passport photo maker, choose your country's size, and adjust the zoom and position so your head fills the guide. Common sizes:
| Country | Size |
|---|---|
| United States (passport & visa) | 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm) |
| UK, EU / Schengen, India, Australia | 35 × 45 mm |
| Canada | 50 × 70 mm |
| China | 33 × 48 mm |
3. Print a sheet
Download the 4 × 6 inch (10 × 15 cm) print sheet, which holds several copies, and order a single standard photo print from any pharmacy or online lab. It's far cheaper than a booth.
4. For online applications
Many online forms want a digital photo under a size limit. Download the single photo, then use compress to 100KB (or whatever the form asks for).
Always check the official rules
Requirements change and differ between passport, visa and ID cards. Check your government's official photo guidance before submitting.