Use good, even lighting
Stand facing a window for soft natural light, or use two lamps at eye level on either side. Avoid overhead lighting โ it creates shadows under your eyes and chin that can cause rejection.
Every template verified against official government specifications and updated automatically when requirements change.
Requirements differ significantly between countries. PhotoPass has a verified template for each.
| Country | PhotoPass โ | Photo Size | Head Height | Background | Glasses | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ๐บ๐ธ USA | โ Supported | 2ร2 in (51ร51mm) | 1โ1โ in (25โ35mm) | White / off-white | Not allowed | State Dept |
| ๐ฌ๐ง United Kingdom | โ Supported | 35ร45mm | 29โ34mm | Light grey / cream | Not allowed | HMPO |
| ๐ช๐บ EU / Schengen | โ Supported | 35ร45mm | 32โ36mm | White / light grey | Not allowed | ICAO Biometric |
| ๐จ๐ฆ Canada | โ Supported | 50ร70mm | 31โ36mm | White | Not allowed | IRCC |
| ๐ฆ๐บ Australia | โ Supported | 35ร45mm | 32โ36mm | White / light grey | Not allowed | DFAT |
| ๐ฎ๐ณ India | โ Supported | 51ร51mm | 25โ35mm | White | Not allowed | MEA / BLS |
| ๐จ๐ณ China | โ Supported | 33ร48mm | 28โ33mm | White | Medical only | MPS |
| ๐ฉ๐ช Germany | โ Supported | 35ร45mm | 32โ36mm | White / light grey | Not allowed | BMI |
| ๐ซ๐ท France | โ Supported | 35ร45mm | 32โ36mm | White / light grey | Not allowed | ANTS |
| ๐ง๐ท Brazil | โ Supported | 30ร40mm | 25โ32mm | White | Not allowed | PF / MRE |
Follow these tips before uploading. Our Software fixes many issues automatically, but a good source photo always gets the best result.
Stand facing a window for soft natural light, or use two lamps at eye level on either side. Avoid overhead lighting โ it creates shadows under your eyes and chin that can cause rejection.
Stand 2โ3 feet in front of a plain white, cream, or light-coloured wall. Distance from the wall prevents shadows on the background. Our Software removes the background automatically, but a clean background helps.
Look directly at the camera with a neutral expression or natural slight smile. Both eyes must be fully open and clearly visible. Avoid squinting or raising your eyebrows.
Remove glasses before taking the photo โ they have been prohibited in US passport photos since 2016. Remove hats, sunglasses, headbands, and large hair accessories that obscure your face or hairline.
Your phone's rear camera is significantly higher quality than the selfie camera. Ask someone to take the photo for you, or use a timer. Hold the phone at eye level, not above or below.
Make sure your entire head โ including the top of your hair and chin โ is fully in frame, with a little space above the crown. Don't crop too tight. PhotoPass will reframe to the correct 2ร2 proportions.
Select destination and category.
App removes background, crops to size.
Instant digital file or prints delivered.
"Accepted first try at the post office. I had always paid $15+ at Walgreens. PhotoPass was faster, cheaper and I could do it from home while eating breakfast. The Software nailed the background removal."
"Needed an emergency passport renewal โ uploaded a photo at 10pm and had my digital file by 10:03pm. The post office accepted it without a second glance. Can't recommend this enough."
"Did 3 passport renewals for the whole family including a 7-year-old. All three photos passed with no issues. My daughter's turned out especially well โ getting kids to cooperate for photos is hard but PhotoPass handled it."
Creating a passport photo online is now the most convenient and reliable way to get a government-compliant photo. Gone are the days of driving to a pharmacy or mall photo booth. With PhotoPass, you upload a photo from your phone, our Software verifies compliance with US passport photo requirements, and you download a print-ready digital file in minutes.
The US State Department now accepts digital passport photo submissions for many application types, including online passport renewals via the updated DS-82 process. Having a high-quality digital file is increasingly essential.
Learning how to take a passport photo at home saves time and money. The most important factors are lighting, background, and head position. Use a plain white wall, stand 2โ3 feet away from it, and photograph in good natural or diffuse artificial light.
Many people search for "passport photo near me" when a home solution is both faster and cheaper. PhotoPass produces passport photos online that meet every US State Department requirement, with the added benefit of Software verification plus an expert human review that a CVS or Walgreens kiosk simply can't offer.
100% acceptance guarantee on every photo. Upload, App verify, download in 3 minutes.