Images guide
How to Make a Passport Photo at Home (Free)
Updated 27 September 2026 · 3 min read
Passport photos from a shop or pharmacy can cost $15–20 for a few small prints. With a phone, a plain wall and a free cropping tool, you can make your own for the price of a single 6×4 photo print. This guide covers taking the photo, cropping it to the right size and avoiding the mistakes that get photos rejected.
Open the free Passport Photo MakerOfficial sizes at a glance
| Country | Photo size | Head size (chin to crown) |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | 35 × 45 mm | 32–36 mm |
| United Kingdom | 35 × 45 mm | 29–34 mm |
| EU / Schengen | 35 × 45 mm | 32–36 mm |
| United States | 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm) | 1–1⅜ in (25–35 mm) |
| Canada | 50 × 70 mm | 31–36 mm |
| India | 51 × 51 mm | Face about 80% of the photo |
| New Zealand | 35 × 45 mm | See official guidance |
Requirements change and some applications are now online with digital photos. Always check your passport office’s current rules before printing.
Step 1: Take the photo
- Stand about half a metre in front of a plain white or light grey wall with no shadows or patterns.
- Face a window or soft light so your face is evenly lit, with no shadows under the eyes or behind your head.
- Ask someone else to take the photo from about 1–1.5 metres away, with the camera at eye level. Selfies distort faces and are usually rejected.
- Look straight at the camera with a neutral expression and mouth closed.
- Remove glasses (many countries no longer allow them), hats and anything covering your face, unless worn for religious or medical reasons.
- Keep hair away from your eyes and make sure both ears and the edges of your face are visible where the rules require it.
Step 2: Crop it to the right size
- Open the Passport Photo Maker.
- Choose your photo and select your country.
- Drag and zoom so your face lines up with the guide — chin at the bottom line, top of the head at the top line.
- Download the single photo for online applications, or the 6×4 print sheet with several copies for printing.
Step 3: Print it
Upload the 6×4 sheet to any photo printing kiosk or online photo service and order a standard 6×4 inch (10×15 cm) print on glossy or matt photo paper. Do not print on home office paper — most passport offices require professional photo paper. Cut the photos out carefully along the edges.
What about the background?
A plain, evenly lit wall is always best. If your background is slightly busy, the Background Remover can replace it with white. Check the result closely around your hair — some passport offices reject photos that look digitally altered, so a real plain background is safer.
Why passport photos get rejected
- Shadows on the face or background.
- Head too small or too large in the frame.
- Smiling, open mouth or head tilted.
- Red eye, reflections on skin or glasses.
- Photo is blurry, too dark, or heavily filtered.
- Photo is older than the rules allow — often six months.
Privacy
Your photo is processed in your browser. It is not uploaded to KitWren’s servers or stored, which matters for something as personal as an ID photo.