Passport Photos: Requirements, Sizes, and How to Make Your Own
Passport Photos: Requirements, Sizes, and How to Make Your Own
Passport photos are expensive at photo studios and drugstores — often $10-15 for a pair of tiny prints. If you have a decent camera (even a smartphone camera) and a printer, you can create compliant passport photos at home for a fraction of the cost. The key is understanding the requirements and producing a photo that meets them.
Common Requirements Across Countries
Regardless of country, passport photos generally must have:
- **Plain background** — usually white or off-white, sometimes light blue
- **Neutral facial expression** — mouth closed, no smiling (some countries now allow slight smiles)
- **Eyes open and visible** — no hair covering the eyes, no glasses (most countries banned glasses in 2016)
- **Recent photo** — typically taken within the last 6 months
- **Even lighting** — no harsh shadows on the face, no backlighting
- **Face covers a specific proportion** of the photo — usually 70-80% of the frame
Country-Specific Dimensions
India: 35x45mm — the standard for Indian passport and visa applications.
USA: 51x51mm (2x2 inches) — square format for US passports and visas.
UK: 35x45mm — standard for UK passport applications.
Canada: 50x70mm — larger than most other countries.
Australia: 35x45mm — standard for Australian passports.
EU: 35x45mm — standard across most EU member states.
Always verify with your local passport office before printing, as requirements can change. The dimensions listed here are current as of 2026.
How the Tool Works
Upload a portrait photo with a clear view of your face. Select your country preset — the tool sets the correct photo dimensions automatically. Set the background color (white is standard for most countries). The tool crops and sizes the photo to the exact requirements and generates a printable sheet.
The printable sheet contains 16 copies of the photo arranged in a 4x4 grid, sized for standard photo printing at approximately 300 DPI. Print the sheet on standard photo paper at home or at a photo shop, then cut out the individual photos.
Taking a Good Passport Photo
Lighting. Use natural daylight facing a window, or even artificial lighting from the front. Avoid overhead lights that cast shadows under the eyes and nose. The face should be evenly lit with no bright or dark patches.
Background. Stand against a plain white or off-white wall. If you do not have one, hang a white sheet. Avoid patterned or textured backgrounds — the passport office will reject them.
Distance. Stand about 1.5 meters from the camera. Use a tripod or have someone else take the photo — selfie-style photos are usually rejected because the angle distorts facial proportions.
Expression. Look straight at the camera with a neutral expression. Keep your mouth closed and eyes open. Do not wear glasses, hats, or head coverings (unless religious, which most countries allow with documentation).
What the Tool Does Not Do
The tool handles sizing, layout, and printing. It does not verify that your photo meets content requirements — you must ensure the background is plain, the expression is neutral, and the lighting is even. If the passport office rejects the photo for content reasons, no sizing tool can fix that. Start with a photo that meets the content requirements, then use the tool to format it correctly.
Try the Passport Photo Maker to create compliant passport photos.