How to Take a Passport Photo at Home: Sizes & Rules
A rejected passport photo can delay an application by weeks. The good news is that you don't need a studio: with a plain wall, daylight and a phone you can take a photo that passes — as long as you know the rules for your country. This guide covers the rules almost every country shares, the headline sizes for the most common ones, how to take the photo, and the reasons photos get rejected.
Always check the issuing authority's current instructions before you submit. Photo rules are updated from time to time, and websites (including this one) can lag behind. The sizes below are a starting point, not a substitute for the official page.
Rules that nearly every country shares
- A recent photo. Most authorities want it taken within the last few months (the US says within six months; the UK says within the last month).
- Your whole face, clearly visible, centred, looking straight at the camera, with both eyes open and your mouth closed.
- A neutral expression. No smiling, no raised eyebrows, no tilted head.
- A plain background with no pattern, objects or shadows. The exact colour differs by country (see below).
- Even lighting, with no shadows on your face or behind you, and no glare.
- A sharp, unedited photo. No filters, beauty modes or retouching.
- No hats or head coverings, except those worn daily for religious or medical reasons, where your face must still be fully visible. Check your country's wording.
- Glasses are best removed. Many countries no longer allow them because of glare and reflections.
Headline sizes by country
| Country | Printed size | Head (chin to crown) | Background |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm) | 1 to 1⅜ in (25–35 mm) | White or off-white |
| United Kingdom | 35 × 45 mm | 29–34 mm | Plain cream or light grey — not white |
| Canada | 50 × 70 mm | 31–36 mm | Plain white or light-coloured |
| Schengen / most of Europe | 35 × 45 mm | Typically 32–36 mm | Plain light background; varies by country |
| India | 4.5 × 3.5 cm (35 × 45 mm) | See the portal | White |
A few details worth knowing:
- The UK is the odd one out. UK passport photos need a plain cream or light grey background, not white. A white background that would pass for a US or Indian passport can be rejected in the UK.
- US visa applications that upload a digital photo (for example the DS-160 form) have their own file rules: a JPEG between 600 × 600 and 1200 × 1200 pixels, under 240 KB.
- India: Passport Seva's application guidance states a colour photograph of 4.5 × 3.5 cm on a white background. The requirements for photos uploaded online (pixel size and how much of the frame the face should fill) have been updated recently, and websites disagree about them. Use the figures shown on the Passport Seva portal when you apply rather than any third-party table.
- Many Indian exam forms ask for a 3.5 × 4.5 cm photo of 20–50 KB. Always check the notification for your exam, because limits differ.
How to take the photo at home
- Pick the spot. Stand a step or two in front of a plain wall in a light colour. Face a window so daylight falls evenly on your face, and avoid a lamp that casts shadows to one side.
- Set up the camera. Use the rear camera if you can (it's sharper), at eye level, about an arm's length or a bit more away. Ask someone to take it, or use the timer with the phone on a steady surface.
- Pose. Shoulders square, head straight, chin level, a neutral expression. Take plenty of shots.
- Choose the sharpest, most even one. Zoom in to check that your eyes are open, there's no shadow behind you and nothing is blurry.
- Don't crop too tightly. Leave a margin around your head so it can be placed correctly in the final frame.
Turning it into a correctly sized photo
The Passport Photo Maker does the sizing for you:
- Choose a size: India passport (3.5 × 4.5 cm), India exam forms (3.5 × 4.5 cm, 20–50 KB), US passport (2 × 2 in), US visa online (DS-160), UK / Schengen / Australia (35 × 45 mm), Canada (50 × 70 mm), or a custom pixel size and KB limit.
- Upload your photo. AI removes the background and places your head within the frame; you can adjust the position.
- Download a single photo, or a print sheet of 4 × 6 in or A4 with several copies, ready for a photo lab.
Removing the background uses AI, so the photo is sent to our server and an AI service for that step and then deleted (details in our Privacy Policy); the sizing, positioning and print sheets run in your browser. The tool keeps your real photo and only changes the background and size, which is why it suits passport photos. Don't use a tool that redraws or "enhances" your face, because authorities reject photos that don't look like you.
For the UK: the 35 × 45 mm size uses a very light grey background, which fits the UK rule. Make sure you don't switch to white.
Printing
- Print at the exact size (the print sheets are laid out at 300 dpi) on proper photographic paper, not plain office paper.
- Use a photo lab or a shop that prints 4 × 6 in photos, and don't let it "fit to page", which changes the size.
- Measure a printed photo with a ruler before you cut it out.
Common reasons for rejection
- The wrong background colour (especially white for the UK).
- Shadows on the face or on the wall behind you.
- The head is too large or too small for the frame.
- An expression: smiling, open mouth, raised eyebrows.
- Glare on glasses, or glasses covering the eyes.
- A blurry, low-resolution or over-compressed photo.
- Over-editing or filters.
- The wrong file size or format for an online upload.
Make a correctly sized passport, visa or exam photo from your own picture.
Open the Passport Photo Maker →