Take a passport photo at home
A phone, a window and a minute. The tool does the crop and the background.
Home passport photos get rejected for lighting and expression, not for being taken at home — the rules do not care who pressed the shutter. Get the light right and keep a neutral face, and the tool handles the part that used to need a studio: the exact size, the head placement and the plain background.
Make this photo → Opens the tool with the US passport (2×2 in) preset selected.- 100% freeNo account, no paid download, no watermark.
- Nothing is uploadedYour photo is processed on your device and never reaches a server.
- Official rules, citedEvery size and head-height figure links to the government page it comes from.
- Cheap to printDownload a 4×6 sheet and print it at any photo kiosk instead of paying counter prices for two prints.
The setup
Stand facing a window in daylight, not in direct sun, so the light falls evenly on both sides of the face; overhead room lights alone cast shadows under the eyes and nose. Have someone hold the phone at your eye level, about 1.5 metres away, with the main camera (not the selfie camera, which distorts a close face). Use a plain wall if there is one, but any background works — the tool replaces it. Keep the phone level and the whole head plus the shoulders in frame with space above the head; the tool crops in, so a wider shot is better than a tight one.
Take off glasses (banned in the US, discouraged elsewhere), hats and anything covering the face, unless worn daily for religious or medical reasons. Move hair away from the eyes and off the jawline so the chin edge is visible. Wear a colour that is not white — a white top on a white background loses the shoulder line. Look straight at the camera, both eyes open, mouth closed, neutral expression: no smile, no frown.
The shot
Take several. Check that the face is sharp, evenly lit, with no glare and no shadow across it, and that nothing is in front of the face. Do not use portrait mode, beauty filters or any editing app — the US rules require an unedited photo, and the tool only crops and replaces the background, which is permitted. Then drop the best one into the tool, choose the document, check that the crown and chin sit on the template lines, and download.
Babies and small children
Lay the baby on a plain white sheet and photograph from directly above, or seat a toddler in a car seat covered with a white cloth. No other person may be in the photo, including a supporting hand. Eyes open is required for children who are not newborns; expression rules are relaxed for infants. The baby passport photo page has the details.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use the selfie camera?
Prefer the back camera held by someone else. A selfie at arm's length enlarges the nose and shrinks the ears, and the tool cannot undo that. If you must, use a timer and prop the phone up 1.5 m away.
Do I need a white wall?
No. The tool separates you from whatever is behind you and puts the required colour in. A plain wall only helps at the hair edges.
Is a photo taken at home really accepted?
Yes, by the US State Department, USCIS, HM Passport Office, the Australian Passport Office and most others. The exception is Canada, where a passport photo needs a studio stamp.