Create a Passport Photo from Your Selfie
Skip the drugstore photo booth. Get a compliant passport photo from your phone in minutes.
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"Needed passport photos for all 4 kids. Getting them to sit still at CVS would have been a nightmare. Snapped selfies at home, processed them here, printed at Walgreens for $0.35 each. All accepted." @FamilyOfFour
Built for Travelers and ID Applicants
Passport photos have strict requirements: plain white or light gray background, even lighting without shadows, neutral expression, proper face size. Most selfies fail these requirements, but the underlying photo is fine. EditThisPic fixes the background and lighting to meet compliance standards while keeping your face exactly as photographed.
Tools for Passport Photo Creation
Replace Background
Create the required plain white background
Enhance Lighting
Even out lighting to meet compliance standards
Remove Background
Complete background removal for replacement
How to Create a Passport Photo from Your Selfie
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Take a proper selfie
Stand in front of a plain wall (any color - we'll replace it). Face the camera directly with a neutral expression. Ensure even lighting on your face without harsh shadows. Remove glasses, hats, and anything covering your face or head (unless for religious reasons).
Background replacement: 20-25 seconds. Full passport treatment: 35-45 seconds.Natural daylight from a window in front of you provides the most even, compliant lighting. -
Upload and request passport compliance
Drop your selfie into EditThisPic and describe the requirements: 'replace background with pure white for passport photo, ensure even lighting without shadows on face, keep my neutral expression exactly as is.' The AI handles the technical compliance requirements.
Mention 'passport photo' in your prompt - the AI understands the specific requirements. -
Verify compliance requirements
Check the result against passport photo requirements: pure white or off-white background, no shadows on face or background, both ears visible (unless covered by hair), eyes open and clearly visible, mouth closed with neutral expression.
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Download and print
Download your compliant passport photo. For US passports, print as 2x2 inches. For UK passports, 35x45mm. Most drugstores offer 4x6 prints for under $1 - you can fit multiple passport photos on one print.
Use a passport photo template to arrange multiple copies on a 4x6 print - print at any drugstore for cents.
Copy-Paste Prompts for Passport Photos
replace background with pure white for US passport photo, ensure even lighting without shadows, keep neutral expression, maintain natural skin tone
US passports require pure white background - no off-white or gray
replace background with plain light gray for UK passport photo, even lighting, remove any shadows from face and background
UK and many EU countries accept light gray backgrounds
remove all shadows from my face and behind my head, replace background with pure white, keep lighting even across entire face
Shadow removal is the most common fix needed for compliance
replace background with pure white for passport photo, brighten slightly, keep the child's natural expression, ensure face is clearly visible
Children's photos have more flexibility on expression but same background requirements
Show 3 more prompts
correct yellow/orange color cast to neutral, replace background with pure white, ensure natural skin tone for passport photo
Indoor lighting often adds yellow cast that makes photos look non-compliant
replace background with plain light blue for visa photo, even lighting, no shadows, keep neutral expression
Some countries (India, China) require specific colored backgrounds for visas
replace background with pure white, optimize for digital passport photo submission, ensure even lighting and clear face visibility
Digital submissions have the same requirements as printed photos
| Edit Type | Prompt | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Passport | pure white background, even lighting, passport compliant |
25s | Try This → |
| UK Passport | light gray background, no shadows, passport compliant |
25s | Try This → |
| China Visa | light blue background, even lighting |
25s | Try This → |
| Shadow fix | remove face shadows, even lighting, white background |
30s | Try This → |
Real Examples
Living room selfie becomes compliant
Selfie taken against a beige wall with visible furniture. Background replaced with pure white and shadows removed.
replace the beige wall and furniture background with pure white for US passport photo, remove the shadow on the right side of my face, keep even lighting
Outdoor selfie made compliant
Great natural light but trees and sky in background. Replaced with white while preserving the beautiful even lighting.
replace the outdoor background with pure white for passport photo, preserve the natural lighting on my face which is already even
Yellow-tinted indoor photo corrected
Indoor photo with strong yellow cast from tungsten lighting. Color corrected and background replaced for compliance.
correct the yellow color cast to natural skin tone, replace background with pure white for passport photo, ensure proper lighting for compliance
When Things Go Wrong
Background isn't pure white - has gray or off-white tint
Why: The AI may have matched the background to your original lighting conditions.
Specifying '#FFFFFF' or 'maximum brightness' helps achieve true white.
Shadows still visible on face
Why: Strong directional lighting in the original creates shadows the AI may not fully remove.
Tap markers on shadow areas, then: completely remove these shadows, even lighting across entire face
Retake the selfie facing a window with curtains drawn - soft diffused light eliminates shadows.
Hair edges have white halos or look choppy
Why: Fine hair strands are challenging to separate cleanly against white backgrounds.
Tap markers on hair edges, then: blend hair edges naturally with white background, no halos
Dark hair against original light backgrounds produces cleaner results.
Skin tone looks unnatural after processing
Why: Color correction may have over-compensated, making skin look too cool or warm.
restore natural skin tone, keep background pure white, maintain realistic appearance
Start with background-only replacement, then add color correction as a separate step if needed.
AI changed the wrong area
Why: The AI couldn't determine exactly which area you meant from description alone.
Tap a marker on the specific area you want to change, then regenerate with the same prompt
Markers tell the AI 'I mean THIS one specifically.' Use them when description alone is ambiguous.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to mark the background before replacing it?
No. Just type 'replace background with pure white for passport photo' and the AI automatically identifies and replaces the background. Only use markers if the first result needs specific areas refined.
How do I make a passport photo from my phone selfie for free?
Upload your selfie to EditThisPic and type 'replace background with pure white for passport photo, ensure even lighting.' The AI creates a compliant passport photo in 30 seconds. Download and print at any drugstore for under $1. Free to try, no account needed.
Will my passport photo created this way be accepted?
EditThisPic creates photos that meet standard passport requirements: plain white background, even lighting, clear face visibility. However, always verify against your specific country's requirements. The most common rejection reasons are shadows and expression - issues EditThisPic can fix.
What are the size requirements for passport photos?
US passports require 2x2 inches. UK passports require 35x45mm. Most EU countries use 35x45mm. EditThisPic creates the photo - you'll need to size it correctly when printing. Many drugstore photo services have passport photo sizing built in.
Can I use this for visa photos with colored backgrounds?
Yes. Some countries require specific background colors (India requires white, China requires blue for some visas). Just specify the color: 'replace background with light blue for China visa photo.' Check your specific visa requirements for the exact color needed.
Is there a free passport photo maker that doesn't require signup?
Yes. EditThisPic creates passport-compliant photos from selfies without creating an account, without watermarks, and free to try. Upload, describe what you need, and download your passport photo ready for printing.
Is EditThisPic's AI create a passport photo from your selfie really free?
Yes — you get 1 free edit per week, no account needed. For unlimited edits, plans start at $3.99/month.
Can I passport photos on my phone?
Yes. EditThisPic works in any mobile browser — iPhone, Android, tablet. No app download needed.
Ready to create your passport photo?
Free to try. No signup required. No watermarks.
Create Passport Photo