How to take a passport photo at home with your phone

Yes, you can take your own U.S. passport photo. The State Department lists a friend or family member among the ways to get one. What matters is that the photo meets the rules below, whichever phone you use.

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Checking is free. You pay $9.99 only after your photo passes, and we never edit it.

Eight steps

  1. Find a plain white wall.White or off-white, with no texture, lines or objects. No white wall? Hang a white sheet over it.
  2. Stand a few feet in front of it.Standing right against the wall puts your shadow on it.
  3. Face a window.The light on your face should be even. Avoid a ceiling light directly above you or a lamp off to one side.
  4. Hold the phone about 4 feet away.The State Department says the camera should be several feet (1.2 m) from you. This is much easier if someone else holds the phone.
  5. Look straight at the camera.Head level, both eyes open, mouth closed, hair away from your eyes. A small closed-mouth smile is fine.
  6. Take off glasses, hats and headphones.Head coverings are only allowed for religious or medical reasons, with a signed statement.
  7. Don't edit anything.No filters, no background removal, no AI touch-ups. If something is wrong, fix the light or the wall and take a new photo.
  8. Print it at 2 × 2 inches.Use matte or glossy photo paper. If you are renewing online, you upload the digital file instead.

Questions

Can I take a passport photo with my iPhone or Android phone?

Yes. Use the highest quality setting, keep the phone steady and make sure the picture is in focus. The rules are the same whatever camera you use.

Can I take my passport photo by myself?

It is easier with a helper, because the camera should be about 4 feet away. If you are alone, prop the phone up at eye level. PicPassed shows you what to fix on the screen and takes the photo by itself when everything looks right.

How do I avoid shadows in a passport photo?

Face a window so daylight falls evenly on your face, and stand a few feet in front of the wall so your shadow doesn't land on it. Don't remove shadows afterwards with an app: edited photos are not accepted.

Can I print my own passport photo at CVS or Walgreens?

Yes. PicPassed gives you a 4×6 print sheet with two 2×2 photos. Order it as a normal 4×6 photo print, choose "actual size", and cut along the lines.

Summarised from the U.S. Department of State photo guidance. Always check the latest official rules for your application.

More help: Passport photo with glasses · Passport photo rejected · DS-160 photo upload error

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