Free tool · Photo ID

Passport / ID Photo Maker

Make a compliant passport or ID photo for the US (2×2 in, 25–35 mm head, white), the UK (35×45 mm, 29–34 mm head, cream), Schengen, Canada (50×70 mm), India, China (33×48 mm), Japan, and 12 other countries. Crops to the exact head-size band each government publishes and exports a print-ready 300 DPI JPG.

1 in 4US passport photo applications were rejected for a compliance reason in 2023 —·US State Department / OIG report

Updated May 21, 2026·Reviewed by FreeHeadshot · headshot research team·Runs in your browser · No upload

Country

🇺🇸 United States

Drop a photo here, click to pick, or paste with Cmd/Ctrl+V

Selfie or head-and-shoulders photo · processed in your browser

Why passport photos get rejected

The US State Department's 2023 OIG audit found about a quarter of US passport photo submissions failed compliance on first try. The four leading reasons: head height outside the 25-35 mm range, shadows on the face (almost always from a flash or direct overhead light), a colored or patterned background, and digitally retouched skin. This tool fixes the first three; for the fourth, just don't apply a beauty filter before exporting.

Country comparison — passport photo specs (verified 2026-05-21)

All specs come straight from the government passport page for each country. The pixel-at-300-DPI column is what this tool exports — it's the print resolution every photo office expects.

Country	Physical size	@ 300 DPI	Head height	Background
🇺🇸 United States	2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm)	602 × 602	25–35 mm	White or off-white
🇬🇧 United Kingdom	35 × 45 mm	413 × 531	29–34 mm	Light-coloured (cream / light grey)
🇪🇺 Schengen / EU	35 × 45 mm	413 × 531	32–36 mm	Light-coloured (white preferred)
🇨🇦 Canada	50 × 70 mm	591 × 827	31–36 mm	Plain white or light-coloured
🇦🇺 Australia	35 × 45 mm	413 × 531	32–36 mm	Plain light background
🇩🇪 Germany	35 × 45 mm (biometric)	413 × 531	32–36 mm	Uniform light grey
🇫🇷 France	35 × 45 mm	413 × 531	32–36 mm	Fond uni clair (light grey/blue)
🇮🇹 Italy	35 × 45 mm	413 × 531	32–36 mm	Sfondo chiaro (light)
🇪🇸 Spain	32 × 26 mm (DNI/passport)	378 × 307	ICAO (70–80%)	Fondo blanco liso
🇳🇱 Netherlands	35 × 45 mm	413 × 531	27–36 mm	Effen lichte achtergrond
🇨🇭 Switzerland	35 × 45 mm	413 × 531	29–34 mm	Plain light background
🇮🇳 India	35 × 45 mm (passport) / 51 × 51 mm (visa)	413 × 531	ICAO (70–80%)	Plain white background
🇨🇳 China	33 × 48 mm	390 × 567	28–33 mm	Pure white background
🇯🇵 Japan	35 × 45 mm	413 × 531	32–36 mm	Plain (white or light)
🇰🇷 South Korea	35 × 45 mm	413 × 531	25–35 mm	Plain white background
🇧🇷 Brazil	50 × 70 mm (5 × 7 cm)	591 × 827	ICAO (70–80%)	Fundo branco
🇲🇽 Mexico	35 × 45 mm	413 × 531	ICAO (70–80%)	Fondo blanco
🇸🇬 Singapore	35 × 45 mm	413 × 531	25–35 mm	Plain white background
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates	43 × 55 mm	508 × 650	ICAO (70–80%)	White background
🇿🇦 South Africa	35 × 45 mm	413 × 531	32–36 mm	Plain, light background

What "light-coloured background" really means

US, China, India, Japan, Singapore, Brazil, Mexico, and most others want pure white. The UK is the famous outlier — it explicitly disallows pure white and asks for "light-coloured" (cream, light grey, off-white). The reasoning: pure white sometimes triggers automated rejection from biometric scanners that interpret the high contrast as a missing background. Schengen countries are flexible — pure white is accepted but light grey is recommended.

How to take the photo

Stand 1.5 meters from a plain wall, indirect daylight from the side (not from above — that creates eye-socket shadows). Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open, both ears visible. No glasses (most countries banned eyewear in 2016 due to glare). No hats unless religious. Hold the phone at eye level and have someone else take the photo if you can — selfies from below create chin distortion.

Why we're not a government service

We're a tool that cuts and resizes your photo to the published spec. Final compliance is up to the issuing agency. For high-stakes applications (new passports, immigration interviews, US Green Card biometrics), spend the $15 and go to a pro studio — they shoot, retouch within compliance limits, and re-shoot if rejected. For renewals and most visa applications, this tool produces a file that prints exactly to spec.

For LinkedIn or your resume instead

Passport photos are deliberately neutral — they're bad headshots by design. If you need a photo for LinkedIn, your CV, or a corporate website, generate one in the AI Studio. One selfie, 100+ styles, ready in about 60 seconds. Free for the first 3, $19 once for 100 photos.

Questions, answered

Passport / ID Photo Maker — frequently asked questions

What size is a US passport photo in pixels?

2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm) at 300 DPI works out to 600 × 600 pixels. Head must be between 25 and 35 mm from chin to crown — about 1 to 1-3/8 inches. Background is white or off-white.

What's the UK passport photo background color?

The UK passport service requires a 'light-coloured' background — explicitly NOT pure white. Cream (#F4F1E8) and light grey are the safest choices. This tool fills in the right color when you swap the background.

What about Schengen / EU passport photos?

35 × 45 mm with a 32-36 mm head height on a light-coloured background. Most Schengen countries accept either pure white or light grey, but Germany and France favour light grey because their biometric scanners read facial features more reliably against it.

Can I print this passport photo at home?

Yes. The download is 300 DPI, which is the print resolution passport offices and photo printers expect. Use thin photo-quality paper and don't scale the print in your printer driver. CVS, Walgreens, and most drugstore kiosks also accept the digital file directly.

Does this tool replace getting a passport photo at a pro studio?

For most countries, yes. Pro studios charge $10-25 for a photo; this tool is free and meets the same published spec. The exception is countries that require an in-person biometric scan at the application step (Germany, France) — in those cases, get the photo at the consulate's recommended studio.

Will this work for a US visa photo?

Yes — US visa photos use the same 2×2 inch spec as US passport photos. Same head-height band, same background rules. The tool exports a single image that satisfies both.

Why does India have two sizes listed?

Indian passport applications use 35×45 mm (the international standard). Indian visa applications historically used 51×51 mm (US-style). The Ministry of External Affairs accepts both today, but check the consulate you're applying through.

What's the head height for Schengen countries specifically?

32-36 mm. The face must take up 70-80% of the photo height from chin to crown. The dashed green band in the preview shows exactly that range — fit your head inside it.

Are my photos uploaded anywhere?

No. The cropping happens entirely in your browser using the Canvas API. The background-replace step uses a WebAssembly model that runs locally too. Nothing leaves your device.

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