Photo shops charge for every set of passport pictures, and you often need them at short notice for forms, admissions and visas. With a phone and a free online tool you can make correctly sized photos at home.
Step 1: Take the photo
- Stand about 1–1.5 metres from a plain, light-coloured wall.
- Face a window for soft, even light; avoid shadows on your face and behind you.
- Ask someone to take the photo at eye level, rather than a selfie.
- Look straight at the camera with a neutral expression, ears visible if required.
- Remove glasses if the rules ask for it, and avoid white clothes on a white background.
Step 2: Size it correctly
- Open Passport Photo Maker.
- Upload the photo and choose your country or document profile.
- Drag and zoom so your face sits inside the oval and the top of the head and chin line up with the guides.
- Pick the background colour (white is the most common).
- Download a single digital photo or a print sheet.
Step 3: Print
Choose the 4×6 inch sheet and print it at any photo lab, or on glossy photo paper at home. Always print at 100% / actual size; ‘fit to page’ will shrink the photos. Cut along the guide marks.
Will it be accepted?
Requirements differ by country and change over time, and the final decision belongs to the issuing authority. Check the official instructions for size, background, head height and recency before you submit.
Related tools
- Visa Photo Maker for US 2×2 and Schengen 35×45 mm
- Compress Photo to KB for online forms with size limits
- Change Background Color if your wall isn’t plain
Conclusion
Good light, a plain wall and the right size profile are all you need. Make your passport photos at home in minutes and print as many as you like.