How to Take a Passport Photo at Home in 3 Minutes

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Create your passport / visa photos online for printing and online submission

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How it works

1. Take a picture

Use a white wall as background, take several photos with a camera or smartphone

2. Crop the photo

Crop your photo to the correct ID or passport size photo. Over 50 templates available!

3. Download and print

Download your photo and print it at any photo store or online. Single digital photo is also available.

Taking a passport photo at home can save you time and money. With just a few simple steps, you can capture a professional-looking photo in just three minutes. Here’s how:

Step 1: Choose the Right Location

Find a well-lit area in your home that has a plain, light-colored background. Avoid areas with busy or distracting backgrounds, such as a cluttered bookshelf or a busy wallpaper.

Step 2: Set Up Your Camera

Use a digital camera or smartphone with a high-resolution camera. Set your camera on a tripod or a stable surface to avoid any camera shake or blurry images.

Step 3: Position Yourself

Stand or sit in front of the camera with your shoulders straight and your face centered in the frame. Make sure your entire face, including your chin and forehead, are visible.

Step 4: Take the Photo

Set the camera’s timer for three seconds and then press the shutter button. Keep your eyes open and your face relaxed for the best results.

Step 5: Choose the Best Photo

Review the photos and choose the one that meets the passport photo requirements. The photo should have a plain background, be in focus, and show your face clearly.

Step 6: Edit and crop the photo

Use photo editing software or an online tool to crop and adjust the photo to meet the passport photo requirements. This includes cropping the photo to the correct size, removing any shadows or glare, and adjusting the brightness and contrast. Ensure that you only make necessary edits and avoid altering your appearance.

Step 7: Print Your Photo

Print the photo on high-quality photo paper. Ensure that the photo’s dimensions meet the passport photo requirements for your country.

By following these simple steps, you can take a passport photo at home in just three minutes. This will save you time and money, and you can be sure that you have a professional-looking photo that meets all of the passport photo requirements. This can be especially helpful if you need a passport photo quickly and don’t have the time or resources to go to a professional photographer. Taking a passport photo at home is also a great way to ensure you have complete control over the photo-taking process. Plus, it can be a fun experience that you can share with family and friends. 



Click here to make passport / visa photos

Other passport pictures guides

How to take passport photo in 5 steps?


Step 1: Use a digital camera or a smartphone to take a photo

Find someone to take the photo for you and selfie photo is not acceptable for passport photo application. If you have a tripod, use it. A tripod will make it easier to keep the camera steady and level. The distance of the person to the camera should be around 1 meter.


Step 2: Find a venue with good lighting

When taking photo, you should face the light, such as a nice bright window or the door. This can provide even lighting to avoid shadows on the face and background. The face must be evenly lit. There should be no shadows and glares on the face.

Note: No need to worry about the background as our online passport photo generator will automatically remove or change the background for you.

unacceptable passport photo


Step 3: Wear properly for your passport photo

Do not wear uniforms. Wear regular street clothes in your photo.

Do not wear eyeglasses. If you wear glasses, sunglasses, or tinted glasses, take them off for your passport photo.

Your face must still be fully visible.  Don’t let your hair drape over your face and obscure your eyes. If you have very long bangs that cover your eyebrows, you should pin them back with bobby pins. It’s best if your ears show, as well, but that won’t cause your photo to be rejected.

No hats are allowed in passport photos unless it is religious headgear such as a headscarf or yarmulke that you wear every day.

acceptable passport photo

Step 4: Pose for a passport

Look straight towards the camera with face straight on. Head should not be tilted or rotated.

Both ears showing or both edges of the face visible if hair covers the ears.

Shoulders should be visible, and there should be enough space around the head for cropping the photo.

Position the camera in the same height as the head.

unacceptable passport photo

unacceptable passport photo


Step 5: Have a neutral facial expression

You can smile in your passport photos, but the government prefers that you have a neutral facial expression.

Smiling or having your mouth open is usually not acceptable, especially under the new international passport rules.

acceptable passport photo

Unacceptable passport photo

 

Good and bad passport photo examples

Example of passport photos

Printed passport photos

Online Passport Photo Generator

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