πͺͺ Passport Photo Maker
Official-size passport, visa, and ID photos from your own camera.
Drag the box to position your face. Keep eyes roughly one third down from the top, with a little space above the head.
How to Make a Passport Photo
Upload a well-lit headshot, pick your country standard, drag the crop box so your face sits correctly, and download. The tool exports exact pixel dimensions for 300 DPI printing, plus an optional 4 by 6 print sheet that fits multiple copies for cheap drugstore printing.
Take a photo against a plain light wall: neutral expression, eyes open, no glasses.
Upload it and choose US 2x2, 35x45mm visa, or ID size.
Drag the crop box to center your face with space above the head.
Download the single photo or a 4x6 sheet, print at 100 percent scale.
Official Requirements Explained
Passport photo rules exist so facial recognition works reliably. The head must occupy a specific fraction of the frame: for the US, chin to crown between 1 and 1.375 inches on the 2-inch photo, which translates to roughly 50 to 69 percent of the image height. Position eyes around 55 to 65 percent down from the top for a natural, compliant composition. Backgrounds must be plain white or off-white with no shadows, patterns, or other people: the whiten option here pushes near-white backgrounds to pure white, but it cannot fix busy wallpapers, so shoot against a genuinely plain surface. Lighting should be even and frontal; harsh side light creates a shadow that can trigger rejection. Expression stays neutral with mouth closed: even a slight smile is technically non-compliant for US passports, though enforcement varies. Photos must be recent, generally within 6 months, because the point is current likeness.
Printing Tips
The single download is sized for 300 DPI: 600 by 600 pixels prints exactly 2 by 2 inches. The critical setting at print time is scale: choose Actual size or 100 percent, never Fit to page, which would shrink or stretch the photo out of compliance. The 4 by 6 sheet arranges multiple copies (six 2x2 photos) on one standard print, so a single drugstore print costing under a dollar yields several usable photos: cut carefully along the edges. Use matte or glossy photo paper, not plain printer paper, which looks unprofessional and may be rejected. Let prints dry fully before handling to avoid smudges.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size should a US passport photo be?
US passport photos must be 2 by 2 inches (51 by 51 mm), with the head measuring between 1 and 1.375 inches from chin to crown. This tool crops and exports at exactly 600 by 600 pixels, which prints at 2 by 2 inches at 300 DPI: the standard print resolution. Print at actual size with no scaling.
What about Schengen visa and other countries?
Most of Europe, including Schengen visas, plus India and many other countries require 35 by 45 mm photos. Select the 35x45mm preset to crop at 413 by 531 pixels (300 DPI equivalent). Always double-check your specific country requirements, since a few nations use 33 by 48 mm or other variants.
What are the official photo rules?
Common requirements: plain white or off-white background, neutral facial expression with mouth closed, both eyes open and looking at the camera, no glasses, no hats except for documented religious reasons, no shadows on the face or background, and a photo taken within the last 6 months. This tool handles sizing and background cleanup, but posing is up to you.
How do I take a good passport photo at home?
Stand about 4 feet from a plain white wall in soft daylight, facing a window for even illumination. Mount your phone at eye level on a tripod or stack of books and use the rear camera with a timer. Keep shoulders straight, chin level, and expression neutral. Take several shots and pick the sharpest before cropping here.
Will the State Department accept a homemade photo?
Yes, if it meets all the official requirements: correct size, plain background, proper head size and position, recent, and high quality. Millions of accepted applications use home-taken photos. Print on matte or glossy photo paper at exact size: many drugstore kiosks print 4 by 6 sheets you can cut down, which costs far less than a photo studio.
Is my photo uploaded anywhere?
No. Cropping and background processing happen entirely in your browser. ID photos are sensitive documents, so keeping them local matters: nothing is transmitted, stored, or logged, which is essential for identity documents. You can generate unlimited photos until you are satisfied with the result.