How to Make a Passport Size Photo at Home

PDFEditor Team · September 2026 · 2 min read

Forms for exams, jobs, visas and IDs often ask for a small photo of a fixed size. A studio visit takes time, so many people prefer to take the photo at home and prepare it themselves. Here is how to get a neat result.

Take a good photo first

• Stand in front of a plain, light wall with no shadows behind you.
• Face a window or use even lighting so there are no shadows on your face.
• Ask someone to hold the phone at eye level, straight in front of you, or use a stand.
• Look straight into the camera with a neutral expression, and keep glasses free of glare.
• Leave space around your head so you can crop it properly.

Crop it to the right size

1. Open Passport photo and choose your picture.
2. Select the size your form asks for, such as 35 x 45 mm or 2 x 2 inch. For anything else, choose Custom size and type the millimetres.
3. Use Zoom and the two position sliders to center the face. Watch the preview until the head sits in the frame the way the form describes.
4. Choose One photo for an online upload.
5. Select Create photo and download the JPG.

Print several copies on one sheet

For printed applications, choose a print sheet instead. The tool places as many copies as fit on a 4 x 6 inch or A4 page, with thin guide lines for cutting. Take the JPG to a print shop or print it yourself on photo paper, and always print at actual size (100%). If the printer says Fit to page, the photos will come out the wrong size.

Before you submit

Rules differ by country and by purpose. Check the official instructions for the exact size, head height, background color and whether a home-made photo is allowed. Some offices only accept photos taken in a studio. This tool crops and resizes only. It does not change the background or check that a photo will be accepted.

If the upload also has a file size limit, reduce the result with Resize image.

Quick answers