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How to Create a Passport Photo at Home

5 min read
Quick Answer

To create a passport photo at home, take a front-facing photo against a plain light wall with good lighting. Upload it to EditThisPic and type 'replace the background with pure white and crop to a passport photo size.' The AI removes the background, applies the correct white, and frames the shot to meet passport photo requirements.

Skip the Pharmacy, Make It at Home

Passport photos at CVS, Walgreens, or the post office cost $15-20 for two prints and often look terrible. You can get a better result at home with a smartphone and AI editing. The US State Department requires a 2x2 inch photo with a plain white background, taken within the last 6 months. As long as your photo meets the technical requirements, where you took it doesn't matter.

What Passport Photos Require

US passport photo requirements are specific: 2x2 inches, plain white or off-white background, full face visible, no glasses, neutral expression, and taken in front-facing position. The head height (from chin to top of hair) must be between 1 and 1-3/8 inches. AI editing handles the hardest parts: getting a perfectly white background and ensuring proper framing.

ID Photos You Can Make at Home

  • US passport and passport card photos
  • Visa application photos for various countries
  • Driver's license and state ID renewal photos
  • Work permit and green card application photos
  • Student ID and professional certification photos

Shooting Tips for the Best Result

Use natural light from a window—face the window so light falls evenly on your face. Stand about 4 feet from a plain white or light-colored wall. Have someone else take the photo at arm's length, holding the phone at your eye level. No selfies—passport agencies can reject photos taken too close. Keep a neutral expression with both eyes open and mouth closed.

Step-by-Step Guide

1

Take Your Photo

Stand against a light wall with even lighting on your face. Have someone photograph you from about 4 feet away, camera at eye level. No hats, glasses, or headphones. Neutral expression.

2

Upload and Edit with AI

Upload the photo to EditThisPic. Type 'replace the background with pure white and frame this as a passport photo.' The AI isolates you from the background and creates a clean white backdrop.

3

Verify Requirements

Check that your face is centered, evenly lit, and the background is uniformly white. The head should fill about 50-70% of the frame vertically. Describe any corrections needed.

4

Print at Correct Size

Download the result and print at a 2x2 inch size. Most home printers can handle this. You can also print at a drugstore photo kiosk for a few cents by arranging multiple photos on a 4x6 print.

Try These Tools

White Background Remove Background Passport Photo Tool Crop Photo

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, as long as it meets the technical requirements. The State Department doesn't care where the photo was taken. What matters is correct size, white background, proper framing, and adequate lighting. Many people use home photos successfully.
Pure white or off-white. The US requires a plain white background with no patterns, textures, or shadows. EditThisPic's 'replace with pure white' prompt gives you an exact white (#FFFFFF) background that meets the requirement.
No. As of 2016, the US State Department no longer allows glasses in passport photos. Remove them before taking the photo. This applies even to clear prescription glasses.
The photo must be taken within the last 6 months and represent your current appearance. If you've significantly changed your hairstyle, gained or lost weight, or undergone facial surgery, take a new photo.
Yes. Modern smartphones take photos that far exceed passport photo resolution requirements. Just use the rear camera (not selfie camera) with someone else holding the phone at eye level about 4 feet away.

Make Your Passport Photo Now

Upload your photo and get a clean white-background passport shot. Free, instant, meets requirements.

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