Passport & visa photos / Passport photo at home
How to take a passport photo at home with your phone
✓ Checked Oct 2026 against the official pages. See sources
The State Department lets a friend or family member take your passport photo. All you need is a plain white wall, good light, and a phone. PhotoFit crops it to 2 x 2 in and checks the basics before you pay $4.99.
Make my photo (free check, $4.99 to download)
The setup
- Background: a plain white or off-white wall, or a white sheet hung over a darker wall. Stand a few feet in front of it so you don't cast a shadow.
- Light: face a window or a soft lamp. Avoid overhead light or a single light from the side, which casts shadows.
- Camera: have someone else hold the phone at eye level, about 4 feet away. Use the main camera at its highest quality setting, no filters or beauty mode.
- You: face the camera straight on, eyes open, mouth closed, neutral expression or a natural smile. Take off glasses. Show your head and the tops of your shoulders.
Then make the photo
Upload the original photo below (not a screenshot or a photo sent by text, which lowers quality). PhotoFit finds your face, crops it to the official head size, and checks the background, lighting, tilt, and eyes. Fix anything it flags, then get the clean digital file and a 4x6 print sheet for $4.99.
Common reasons home photos get rejected
- Shadows on the face or the wall behind you
- Glasses, or glasses pushed up on your head
- Head too small or too big (standing too far or too close)
- Filters, retouching, or an edited background
- Blurry, grainy, or a photo of a printed photo
Make your photo
🔒 Your photo never leaves your device. Face detection, cropping, and the checks all run in your browser. Nothing is uploaded to us or anyone else.
2. Your photo
Tips for a photo that passes
- Stand 2 to 4 feet in front of a plain white or off-white wall (or hang a white sheet). Step forward from the wall so no shadow falls behind you.
- Have someone else take it from about 4 feet away, camera at eye level. Selfies at arm's length distort your face.
- Face a window or a soft lamp so both sides of your face are evenly lit. No flash.
- Take off glasses and hats. Neutral expression, eyes open, mouth closed. Leave room above your head and show your shoulders.
- Use the original camera photo, not a screenshot or a photo sent by text.
Not an official acceptance guarantee. These are basic checks; the agency makes the final decision. Things we can't check: glasses glare, hair over the eyes, how recent the photo is, and whether it looks like you.
$4.99 for the clean photo
- The digital file at the official size
- A 4x6 print sheet (when the document needs prints). Print it at any photo kiosk as a 4x6 at 100%, then cut along the lines
- Retakes: one purchase covers up to 3 photos
The preview above is free and watermarked. Secure checkout by Stripe. Your photo stays on this device during checkout.
Printing: choose 4x6 in, "actual size" or 100%, no borders. Check one photo with a ruler before you cut.
Questions
Is a passport photo taken at home allowed?
Yes. The State Department lists a friend or family member as one of the places you can get your photo. It just has to meet the same rules.
Can I smile in a passport photo?
Yes, a natural smile is fine as long as your eyes are open and your mouth is closed. Avoid exaggerated expressions.
Sources
From the official pages below, last checked Oct 2026. Rules change, so check them before you apply.