Can You Take a Passport Photo at Home?

Whether you can take a passport photo at home depends on the country. The United States says a friend or family member may take it, and UK digital photos can come from your own device. But Germany and France do not accept a home photo for a passport applied for in those countries, and Australia does not recommend online photo services or apps. Check your document before you start.

Who accepts what

This table shows how each document's photo may be made, based on the official pages we have read. "Not stated" means the page we read did not say, so check with the authority.

Countries where a home photo will not work

Germany

Since May 1, 2025, paper photos have not been accepted for passports applied for inside Germany. The photo reaches the office by secure transfer from a photographer, or the office takes it. A file you make yourself has no accepted route. Missions abroad may still accept paper until they have their own equipment, so ask yours. See our Germany page.

France

The official Service-Public page says the photo must be taken by a licensed professional or in a booth using an approved system. See our France page.

Countries with conditions

United States

The State Department lists a friend or family member as one option for a passport photo. For visas, it recommends a professional photo service but says you may take the photo yourself. Its visa page also lists low-quality mobile phone photos among the photos that are not acceptable, so a phone photo must still be sharp and well lit. See our guide to US passport photos.

United Kingdom

GOV.UK accepts digital passport photos taken on your own device, and asks that you include your head, shoulders and upper body without cropping. Printed UK passport photos need a professional print, so a home printer is not suitable. See our UK page.

Canada

For online passport renewal, Canada asks for a file saved directly from the original camera file, and does not accept scans of printed photos. A resized copy may not qualify. Read the official page before you use any tool. See our Canada page.

Australia

The Australian Passport Office does not recommend online passport photo services or mobile apps, saying they may put you at risk of identity fraud. It also asks for a dye-sublimation print, not an inkjet print, on glossy paper. See our Australia page.

Our tool works in your browser and does not upload your photo, but it is still a tool of the kind the office advises caution about, and you should follow the office's advice.

India

India's passport photo guidelines give an exact upload size of 630 x 810 pixels. The e-Visa needs a square JPEG of 10 KB to 1 MB. See our India page.

How to take the photo

If your document allows it, these steps will help. They bring together official advice with practical tips of our own, and sources are named where they apply.

1. Set up the background

Find a plain wall in the color your document needs. Our background guide compares the rules. If your wall is not suitable, the US State Department suggests covering it with a white blanket or sheet. Remove anything that would appear behind you.

2. Stand away from the wall

Stand several feet from the wall, as the US State Department suggests. This helps to keep your shadow off the background.

3. Get the lighting even

Your face should be evenly lit, with no shadows. The US State Department warns against overhead lights and lights far to one side. A practical tip from us is to face a window in daylight, so that the light falls evenly on your face.

4. Ask someone else to take it

A photo taken by another person is usually easier to frame than a selfie, and it keeps the camera straight. If you are alone, use a tripod and a timer. A close selfie can make your head too large in the frame. This is our practical tip, not an official rule.

5. Use the best camera settings

Set the camera to its highest quality, as the US State Department advises. Turn off beauty modes and filters, because several authorities reject altered photos. Hold the camera level with your face.

6. Pose correctly

• Face the camera directly, with your head straight.
• Keep your eyes open and your mouth closed.
• Keep your expression neutral. Rules vary slightly, but neutral is the common standard.
• Remove glasses unless your document's rules allow them.
• Keep your hair away from your eyes and face.
• Remove hats, unless you wear one for a reason your document's rules allow.

7. Take several photos

Take a few and choose the sharpest. Check them on a large screen, looking for blur, shadows and red eye.

8. Size it to the rules

Crop and resize the photo to your document's size, if the authority allows that. Our photo tool does this in your browser, and it tells you when a document has no accepted route. Read Can You Edit or Resize a Visa Photo? first if you are unsure.

9. Print it properly, if you need a print

Follow your document's print rule. The US asks for matte or glossy photo-quality paper, Canada asks for quality photographic paper for visas, and Singapore asks for matte or semi-matte. Check the size on the print with a ruler.

Is it safe to use an online tool?

Ask where your photo goes. Many online tools upload your photo to a server. Ours processes it in your browser, and you can check this on the Network tab of your browser's developer tools. Even so, follow your authority's advice first. Australia's advises against online services and apps for passport photos.

Before you apply

A home photo can save time, but only when your authority accepts it. If you are not sure, a professional photographer who knows your country's rules may be the safer choice. See the rules and official sources on our country pages.