How to Take a Passport Size Photo at Home for Online Forms

You do not need a studio to get a good photo for an online form. With a phone, a plain wall and some daylight, you can take a clean passport-style photo at home in about ten minutes. This guide shows how to take it, and how to bring it to the exact size and KB your form asks for.

What “passport size” means on a form

On most application forms, “passport size photo” only describes the size and style of the picture: a front-facing photo of your face on a plain background, in a small size such as 3.5 x 4.5 cm. It does not mean that the photo is being used for an actual passport.

If you are applying for a real passport or visa, the rules are stricter and are set by the passport or visa authority. In that case, read their official photo instructions first and follow them exactly.

What you need

• A phone with a working camera (the back camera gives a sharper photo)
• A plain, light wall, or a white bedsheet or sheet of paper hung behind you
• A window with daylight
• A friend or family member to click the photo, or a phone stand with the camera timer

Step 1: Choose the background

Stand about a step away from a plain, light wall, so that your shadow does not fall on it. If the wall has a pattern or is coloured, hang a white or off-white sheet behind you. A plain background also keeps the file size small, which helps with KB limits.

Step 2: Get the light right

Face a window in the daytime, so the light falls evenly on your face. Avoid standing with the window behind you, because your face will turn dark. Also avoid a lamp on one side only, because it creates a strong shadow. Your face should look bright and even, with no patches of shadow under the nose or chin.

Step 3: Set your pose

• Face the camera straight, with your head level and not tilted.
• Keep a natural, neutral expression with your mouth closed, unless your form says otherwise.
• Keep both eyes open and looking at the camera.
• Remove a cap, sunglasses and anything that hides your face. Follow the form if it has rules about glasses or head coverings.
• Keep your hair away from your eyes and face.
• Wear a plain top in a colour that stands out from the background. A white shirt on a white wall makes the shoulders disappear.

Step 4: Position the camera

Ask the person clicking to hold the phone at your eye level, at a distance of about one to two metres, and to keep the phone straight, not tilted upward or downward. Standing too close makes the face look distorted, and standing too far makes your face small. Use the back camera, and zoom in slightly rather than coming very close.

Frame the picture so that your head and the top of your shoulders are in the middle, with a little empty space above your head. The picture can be cropped later, but it cannot be repaired if the head is cut off.

Step 5: Take several photos

Click at least 5 to 10 photos, and pick the sharpest one. Look at it zoomed in, and check the eyes and edges of the face. Do not use beauty filters, portrait effects or smoothing, because they change your face and may lead to rejection.

Step 6: Resize it to your form’s size and KB

Your phone photo will be several MB and much larger than needed. To fix this:

1. Open our Photo Resizer and choose the photo.
2. Enter the width, height and unit from your form (mm, cm or pixels). Read our guide on pixels, KB, cm and DPI if you are unsure.
3. Enter the maximum KB, and the minimum if your form has one.
4. Keep Crop to fit on, so your face is not stretched.
5. Press Resize, check the preview, and download the file.

If your form also wants your name and the date on the photo, use the Name and Date on Photo tool instead. Everything runs in your browser, so your photo is not uploaded to our website.

Final check before uploading

1. Is your whole face visible, straight and sharp?
2. Is the background plain, without shadows?
3. Is the file a JPG within the KB limit?
4. Do the width and height match the form?
5. Is the photo recent and natural, without filters?

Frequently asked questions

Can I use a selfie?

A selfie is possible, but a photo clicked by another person from a proper distance usually looks better and avoids the wide-angle distortion of a front camera.

Can I use a photo with a coloured background?

Only if the form allows it. Most forms prefer a plain, light background, so it is safer to use one.

How recent should the photo be?

Forms usually want a recent photo, often taken within the last few months. Read your form’s instructions for the exact rule.

What if my photo is rejected?

See our guide on photo and signature upload problems for the common reasons and fixes.

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Sarkari Photo Tools is an independent website and is not connected to any government department. Please always check the official instructions of your form.