How-toUpdated 2 min read

How to take a passport photo at home with your phone

You don't need a studio. You need a plain wall, a window and someone to hold the phone. Here's the method that gets it right first time.

Quick answer

Background
Plain white or light wall
Light
Face a window, no overhead light
Distance
1–1.5 m, camera at eye level
Never
Filters, beauty mode or AI edits
On this page
  1. Is a home passport photo allowed?
  2. What you need
  3. Step by step
  4. Common mistakes
  5. Printing

Is a home passport photo allowed?

For US passports and visas, yes. The State Department lists a friend or family member as an acceptable person to take your photo. UK online applications let you take a digital photo yourself, as long as someone helps you. Australia and Canada are stricter: Canada requires a commercial photographer, and Australia asks for professionally printed photos and warns against apps.

What you need

  • A plain, light-coloured wall with nothing on it. White for US photos; light grey or cream works for the UK.
  • Daylight from a window.
  • A phone, and a friend or a tripod with a timer.

Step by step

  1. Set up the wall. Stand about half a metre in front of it, so you don't cast a shadow on it.
  2. Face the window. Light should fall evenly on both sides of your face. Turn off ceiling lights, which cause shadows under the eyes.
  3. Get the distance right. The camera should be 1 to 1.5 m away at eye level. Arm's-length selfies distort your face and are often too close.
  4. Turn off everything clever. No beauty mode, portrait mode, filters or HDR effects.
  5. Pose. Face straight on, shoulders level, eyes open, hair away from your face. Glasses off. A neutral expression with your mouth closed is the safe choice everywhere.
  6. Take several shots and pick the sharpest one.
  7. Crop to the official size. Don't guess; head size is measured in millimetres. Our passport photo maker crops to your document's exact size and checks head height, eye position, background and light.

Common mistakes

  • Shadow on one side of the face from a side window.
  • Wall that looks grey or yellow in the photo because the room is too dark.
  • Head too small because the camera was too far away.
  • Hair covering eyebrows or eyes.
  • Wearing white against a white wall, so your shoulders disappear.

See all of them in why passport photos get rejected.

Printing

Put your photo on a 4 × 6 inch sheet with the print sheet maker and order a regular photo print at Walgreens, CVS or Walmart for well under a dollar.

Questions

Can I take my own passport photo with my phone?

For US passports and visas, yes, and a friend or family member can take it. Selfies at arm's length are often too close, so ask someone to help.

What background do I need for a passport photo?

Plain white or off-white for US photos. The UK asks for plain cream or light grey.

Can I edit my passport photo?

No. Only crop it to size. The State Department says not to change your photo with software, apps, filters or AI.

Sources

Checked on 2 Nov 2026. Prices and rules change; always confirm with the official source before you apply. SnapToSubmit is an independent service, not a government website.

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