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How to Take Passport Photos at Home: Requirements and Tips

By DocFila Team · February 13, 2026 · 5 min read

A passport photo taken at a pharmacy or photo booth costs money for every set, and you can still be rejected if the result does not meet the issuer's rules, which build on the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) standard for passports. With a smartphone and a way to crop to the exact size, you can prepare a passport photo at home. This guide explains the common requirements and what DocFila does and does not check.

Passport Photo Requirements by Country

While ICAO provides a universal baseline, individual countries add their own specifications. Here are the most common requirements:

United States (US Passport)

• Size: 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm)
• Background: Plain white or off-white
• Head size: 1 to 1⅜ inches (25–35 mm) from chin to top of head
• Expression: Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open
• Glasses: Not allowed (since 2016)
• Recency: Taken within the last 6 months

United Kingdom (UK Passport)

• Size: 35 × 45 mm
• Background: Plain light grey or cream
• Head size: 29–34 mm from chin to crown
• Expression: Neutral, no smile
• Glasses: Not allowed

European Union & Schengen Zone

• Size: 35 × 45 mm (standard across most EU countries)
• Background: Plain white (some countries accept light blue or grey)
• Head size: 32–36 mm from chin to crown
• Expression: Neutral
• Glasses: Some countries still allow them; check your specific country's rules

Step-by-Step: Take Passport Photos at Home

Step 1 — Prepare the Background

Stand in front of a plain white wall. If you do not have a white wall, hang a white bedsheet or large piece of poster board behind you. Make sure there are no patterns, shadows, or objects visible in the background.

Step 2 — Set Up Lighting

Proper lighting is the most important factor for an accepted photo. Follow these tips:

• Natural light is best. Face a large window so light falls evenly on your face. Avoid direct sunlight, which creates harsh shadows.
• Eliminate shadows. If you see shadows on the wall behind you, step further away from it (at least 1 meter).
• Use two light sources. If natural light is insufficient, place two lamps at 45-degree angles on either side of the camera.
• Avoid overhead lighting. It creates shadows under the eyes, nose, and chin.

Step 3 — Position Yourself

Stand 1 to 1.5 meters in front of the background. Face the camera directly — do not tilt or turn your head. Keep your shoulders level and maintain a neutral expression with your mouth closed. Your eyes should be open and clearly visible.

Step 4 — Take the Photo With DocFila

Open DocFila and select the ID Photo Maker. Choose your document from the list — the app applies that document's size. Take a photo or import one, then zoom, move and rotate it so your head sits inside the guide. Where the issuer publishes a head size, the guide uses it; otherwise it is a neutral framing guide, not a requirement.

Step 5 — Review and Export

DocFila can:

• Crop to the document's exact size, at 300 dpi, exactly as you framed it
• Optionally remove the background and replace it with the colour you choose (this runs on DocFila's online photo service, and the app asks before it uploads the photo)
• Generate a print layout with as many copies as fit on a 4×6 in, 5×7 in, A4 or Letter sheet

DocFila does not check face position, expression, lighting or head size for you. Compare the result with the issuer's rules, then save the file and print at home on glossy photo paper, or send it to a local print shop.

Common Rejection Reasons

Passport offices reject photos for surprisingly subtle issues. Avoid these pitfalls:

1. Shadows on face or background — the most common reason. Use front-facing light and stand away from the wall.
2. Incorrect head size or position — your head must fill the specified percentage of the frame. Too close or too far away will cause rejection.
3. Smiling or open mouth — maintain a neutral expression with your mouth closed.
4. Glasses — most countries now prohibit glasses in passport photos. Remove them.
5. Red eye — do not use flash. If you must, enable red-eye reduction or reshoot with natural light.
6. Head coverings — only permitted for documented religious reasons. Ears must be visible in many countries.
7. Low resolution or blurriness — the photo must be sharp. Use a tripod or prop your phone on a stable surface.
8. Over-edited photos — filters, beauty modes, and heavy retouching will cause rejection. The photo must look like you.

Print Dimensions and Paper Tips

Once you have your digital photo, you need to print it correctly:

• US passports: Print two photos on a 4×6 inch sheet. Each photo is 2×2 inches.
• UK/EU passports: Print four photos on a 4×6 inch sheet. Each photo is 35×45 mm.
• Paper type: Use glossy or matte photo paper, not regular printer paper. Most drug stores also offer self-service kiosks where you can print from your phone.
• Resolution: Print at 300 DPI minimum for sharp results.

DocFila's print sheet fits as many copies of the photo as your chosen paper size holds.

What DocFila Does for You

A passport photo has to satisfy several specifications at once — dimensions, background colour, head size and expression. DocFila takes care of the dimensions and the layout and gives you a guide for the head size; the rest is yours to check:

• Document presets: Choose from 30+ ready-made document sizes (passports for about 25 countries and regions, visas, IDs and permits), or enter your own size.
• Background removal: If your wall is not perfectly plain, DocFila can replace the background with a colour you choose. Check the edges around hair and shoulders afterwards.
• Head-size guide: Where the issuing authority publishes a head size, the guide shows the smallest and largest head allowed. DocFila does not measure your face or certify the result.
• Print layouts: Export a print sheet — no need to arrange photos in an image editor.

Take Your Passport Photo Now

Related DocFila tools

Keep going with the document workflow that matches this page. Open the tool you need, then finish the file in DocFila.