Last reviewed: 12 July 2026
A passport photo from a shop isn't magic. It's really just three things: a plain background, even light, and a precise crop. You can do all three at home with a phone and skip the queue (and the fee). Here's a practical capture workflow before checking the result against the current official requirement.
Quick answer
- Stand half a metre from a plain wall; face a window for soft, even light — no flash.
- Neutral expression, mouth closed, both ears visible, no glasses.
- Background colour depends on your country — the UK requires light grey, not white.
- Upload to the passport photo maker, pick your country, and it crops and sets the background automatically.
Ready to crop
Straight, centred, evenly lit and neutral.
Shadow behind
Standing too close to the wall creates a shadow.
Uneven light
Side lighting leaves part of the face dark.
Head tilted
Keep the head upright and face the camera.
Eyes closed
Retake while both eyes are open and visible.
No crop room
Leave space so the final crop does not clip the head.
Concrete output example
A landscape phone image can be cropped without stretching into the selected country preset. Choosing the verified US preset produces a square 51×51 mm frame with a 25–35 mm chin-to-crown band; choosing the verified UK preset produces 35×45 mm with a 29–34 mm head band. Sources: the U.S. State Department and GOV.UK.
Background colour by country
The background colour is not universal — get it wrong and the photo fails even if everything else is perfect.
| Country | Required background |
|---|---|
| United States | Plain white or off-white |
| India | Plain white |
| United Kingdom | Light grey or cream (not white) |
| Canada | White |
| Australia | White or plain light grey |
| Schengen (EU visa) | Light grey preferred |
The UK's specification is published on GOV.UK. The passport photo maker applies the correct background for each country automatically, so you don't need to repaint your wall.
1. Find a plain wall and good light
Stand about half a metre in front of a smooth, plain wall. Face a window during the day for soft, even light. Steer clear of overhead lights that cast shadows under your eyes, and skip the flash — it flattens skin and bounces off the wall.
2. Frame it head-on
Have someone take the photo from a metre or so away at eye level (a propped-up phone and the timer works too). Look straight at the lens with a neutral expression and your mouth closed. Keep your head straight, hair clear of your eyes, and both ears roughly visible. Leave some space above your head, because you'll need room to crop.
3. Skip the things that get photos rejected
- Follow the selected country's glasses rule; the US registry says no glasses, while Canada permits them if there is no glare and the eyes remain visible.
- No smiling, no raised eyebrows; neutral only.
- No hats or head coverings except for religious or medical reasons.
- No shadows on your face or behind your head.
4. Crop and set the background automatically
This is where the millimetres matter, and it's where home attempts usually slip. Instead of guessing, upload your photo to the passport photo maker, choose your country, and it crops your head to the selected recorded size and applies the selected background colour. If your country's portal caps the file size, run the result through resize to 50 KB.
5. Print or upload
For a printed application, download the 4×6" sheet and print it at a photo kiosk on photo paper. For online applications, use the upload-ready file, inspect the result, and confirm the current authority instructions.
Troubleshooting a home passport photo
| Failure | Fix |
|---|---|
| Shadow behind the head | Move farther from the wall and use soft light from in front of the face. |
| Face looks distorted | Use the rear camera at eye level from farther away; avoid a close arm's-length selfie. |
| Head is clipped after cropping | Retake with space above the hair and around both shoulders. |
| Portal rejects the finished file | Check the country's current dimensions, format and KB rules; correct framing alone is not enough. |
Photographing a baby or infant? The rules differ — eyes must be open and the head unsupported. See how to take a baby passport photo at home.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a selfie for a passport photo?
A front-facing selfie taken at arm's length can work, but the perspective often distorts the face slightly. A better approach is to prop your phone against something and use the timer, or ask someone to take it from about a metre away at eye level.
Does the background have to be white?
Not for all countries. The UK requires light grey or cream — a pure white background will fail. The US and India require white. Upload your photo to the passport photo maker and select your country; it applies the correct background regardless of what was behind you.
Why do passport photos get rejected for shadows?
Passport photos use the face as a biometric identifier. Shadows alter the apparent shape of facial features and can cause automated systems to flag the photo. Stand away from the wall and use soft frontal light to eliminate both face shadows and background shadows.
How do I know if my head takes up the right amount of the frame?
Every country specifies a required chin-to-crown head height as a percentage of the photo height. The passport photo maker measures this automatically and adjusts the crop so your head fills exactly the required band — something very difficult to judge by eye.