How to Make a Passport Size Photo at Home
You do not need a studio for a passport or visa photo. A phone, a plain wall and good light are enough – the rest is getting the size, the head position and the background exactly as the rules ask. This guide walks you through it, from taking the picture to a print sheet you can take to any photo shop.
Know the size you need
“Passport size” means different things in different places. Check the official rules of the office you apply to; these are the most common sizes, and all of them are built into the Passport Photo Maker:
| For | Photo size | Head (chin to top) | Background |
|---|---|---|---|
| India passport and OCI, applied for at an Indian mission abroad | 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm) | 35–40 mm | Plain white or off-white |
| US passport and visa | 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm) | 25–35 mm | White or off-white |
| UK passport (printed) | 35 × 45 mm | 29–34 mm | Plain cream or light grey |
| Schengen visa | 35 × 45 mm | About 70–80% of the height | Plain and light |
| Canada passport (printed) | 50 × 70 mm | 31–36 mm | Plain white or light-coloured |
| Indian exam, job and ID forms | Usually 3.5 × 4.5 cm | Face clearly filling most of the photo | As the form says, usually white |
The Passport Photo Maker page links to the official pages these numbers come from. If you apply for an Indian passport inside India, the photo is normally taken at the Passport Seva Kendra during your appointment.
Step 1: take the photo
- Light: face a window in daylight, or stand under even room light. Avoid light from one side, which leaves half the face in shadow, and avoid flash.
- Background: stand about half a metre in front of a plain, light wall, so your shadow does not fall on it. The tool can replace the background, but a plain wall gives the cleanest edges around your hair.
- Camera: ask someone to hold the phone at your eye level, about 1.5 metres away, and use the main (back) camera. Selfies from arm’s length make the nose look bigger and the face rounder.
- You: face the camera straight on, eyes open, mouth closed, neutral expression. Take off glasses unless the rules allow them, keep your hair away from your eyes, and avoid white clothes if the background will be white.
- Frame: leave space above your head and include your shoulders. Take several photos and pick the sharpest.
Step 2: set the size, background and head position
- Open the Passport Photo Maker and add your photo.
- Choose the size under Photo size, for example India passport / OCI – 2 × 2 in.
- The tool cuts you out of the background, puts the chosen plain colour behind you, finds the top of your head and your chin, and scales the photo so your head falls inside the size the rules give.
- Check the guides: the top of your head should touch the crown line and your chin should sit in the shaded band. Drag the photo or use Zoom to adjust; Place the head automatically again resets it.
- Choose the background colour the rules ask for, and adjust Brightness if the photo is a little dark.
Step 3: print sheet and digital photo
Tick Print sheet to get a page of photos with thin cut lines, as JPG and PDF. On 4 × 6 inch (10 × 15 cm) photo paper you get six 2 × 2 inch photos or eight 35 × 45 mm photos; 5 × 7 inch and A4 are also available. Tick Single photo for online forms to get one JPG at 300 DPI, and set a maximum KB if an online form gives one.
Press Create photos. Everything is made in your browser; the photo is not uploaded.
Step 4: print it at the right size
Most photo shops print 4 × 6 inch photos cheaply, and many home printers take 4 × 6 photo paper. Whichever you use, the sheet must be printed at 100% / “Actual size”, not “Fit to page”, or every photo comes out slightly smaller.
After printing, measure one photo with a ruler: a 2 × 2 inch photo must be 51 mm wide, a 35 × 45 mm photo 35 mm wide. If it is smaller, print again at 100%. Cut along the grey lines with scissors or a paper cutter.
Before you submit: a quick check
- Face sharp and evenly lit, no shadows on the face or the background.
- Head size within the guides, nothing cut off at the top or the chin.
- Plain background in the colour the rules ask for, with clean edges around the hair.
- Eyes open and visible, no glare on glasses if glasses are allowed.
- The photo is recent – the US, for example, asks for a photo taken in the last six months.
What a tool cannot promise
The size, background and head position follow the official numbers, but the office also judges your expression, lighting, glasses, hair and how recent the photo is. No website can promise acceptance, and iLoveDocuments is not connected to any passport office. If you are unsure, compare your photo with the examples on the official page before you print.
Frequently asked questions
Can I make a passport size photo at home for free?
Yes. Take a front-facing photo against a plain wall, add it to the Passport Photo Maker, choose the size and print the 4 × 6 sheet at 100% at home or at a photo shop.
What is the size of an Indian passport photo?
For passport and OCI applications at Indian missions abroad: 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm) with a head of 35–40 mm on a plain white or off-white background. In India the photo is normally taken at the Passport Seva Kendra.
How many passport photos fit on a 4 × 6 sheet?
Six 2 × 2 inch photos, or eight 35 × 45 mm photos.
Can I use a selfie?
It is better not to: a phone held at arm’s length distorts the face. Ask someone to take the photo from about 1.5 metres at eye level.
Why did my printed photos come out smaller?
The printer scaled the page. Print again with scaling set to 100% or “Actual size”, not “Fit to page”.
Is my photo uploaded anywhere?
No. The photo is processed in your browser on your own device.
Keep reading
- How to resize your photo and signature for online forms
- How to compress a PDF to 100 KB or 200 KB for online forms
- Are Online PDF Tools Safe? What to Check Before You Upload
Written by the iLoveDocuments team and checked against how the tools behave today. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will fix it. See our editorial standards.