Your Step-by-Step Home Photo Guide
You can take your own US passport photo at home if it meets State Department rules on size, background, and expression. Most rejections happen because of lighting or head size—not because the photo was taken at home.
What you need
Use a smartphone or digital camera with at least 5 megapixels. A plain white or off-white wall works best as a background. Ask someone else to take the picture, or use a tripod with a timer—selfies often fail because of angle and arm distortion.
- Plain wall or sheet hung flat behind you
- Natural daylight facing a window, or two lamps at eye level
- Plain clothing that contrasts with the background
- A helper or tripod so the camera stays at eye level
Step-by-step
Stand about four feet from the wall. The camera should be at the same height as your eyes. Leave space above your head—you will crop to 2×2 inches later.
- Face the camera directly with a neutral expression and mouth closed
- Keep both eyes open and remove glasses unless you have a medical reason
- No hats, headphones, or filters
- Take several shots so you can pick the sharpest one
Crop to the correct size
A US passport photo must be 2×2 inches (51×51 mm) with your head measuring 1 to 1⅜ inches from chin to top of head. Use our free cropper to set the right dimensions and download a file ready for printing or online renewal.
Ready to crop your photo?
Free online tool—pick your country template (US 2×2 or UK 35×45), align your head, and download. No account needed.