Passport Photo Maker — Get a Compliant ID Picture in 30 Seconds

Snap – Upload – Done. PhotoGov is a passport photo tool that instantly creates official photos meeting international government standards.

Upload your selfie → Get a compliant passport-size photo

Excellent
56 546 reviews on
Before: original casual photo
After: document photo preview with white background and guide lines
Before
After

Government Photo Compliance Guaranteed

Analytics Insight logo
Travel Tweaks logo
Tech Bullion logo
UM logo
Signal News logo
PI logo
HuffPost logo
Worldcrunch logo

Passport Photo Maker: From Selfie to an ID Photo

Create ID or visa photos with our online service. All you need is a smartphone or a laptop — PhotoGov takes care of the rest. Follow these simple steps:

Select Country and Document Type:

Step 1/4
Popular:
Popular:
Example of a casual selfie before processing for US Passport 2x2 inch
Before
Example of a compliant US Passport 2x2 inch photo after processing
After
Government Photo Compliance Guaranteed

PhotoGov is an independent service. We are not affiliated with any government, embassy, or consulate. All information on this website is based on official government requirements and verified primary sources. Final acceptance is determined solely by the issuing authority.

How it works

How Our Passport Photo Maker Works

PhotoGov makes photos for 900+ types of ID documents across 200 countries. The uploaded portrait doesn't have to be perfect — our software automatically adjusts it to official requirements, delivering a ready-to-download ID picture.

1

Photo Upload

2

Processing

3

Checkout

4

Download

Upload a selfie to the photo maker

1. Photo Upload

Take a selfie and upload it to our online tool.

Photo processing preview

Processing...

2. Processing

In 30 seconds, your portrait is transformed into an ID photo.

Expert review and compliance check preview

Expert review available

Add a manual compliance check before download.

3. Сheckout

Select options or add expert verification

Download prepared ID photo files

4. Download

Get high-quality photos in digital or printable format.

For users in the United States: The U.S. Department of State prohibits digital alterations of ID photographs. Our platform provides sizing and cropping services only and does not modify or enhance images.

100% Compliance With Global ID Photo Standards

Example US passport photo compliance guide
Example: US Passport Photo
  1. 1

    Correct size and framing

    The photo is cropped to the destination document size and the head is positioned to the expected biometric band.

  2. 2

    Plain white or off-white background

    A uniform, light background without shadows, objects, people, or distracting texture.

  3. 3

    Even lighting, no shadows, natural skin tone

    Soft, balanced light across the face and background without flash glare or color casts.

  4. 4

    Face centered, square to camera

    The head stays straight, centered, and facing the camera with both eyes visible.

  5. 5

    Neutral facial expression, eyes open, no smile

    Mouth closed, eyes open, and a neutral expression for reliable biometric matching.

  6. 6

    No headwear (religious/medical only)

    Headwear is accepted only for religious or medical reasons and must not cover the face.

  7. 7

    High-resolution, sharp image

    No blur, noise, compression damage, filters, or edits that change the person’s appearance.

Most identification photographs adhere to two official standards: the first — biometric, established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO); the second — specific parameters and dimensions defined by each jurisdiction. PhotoGov follows these regulations precisely, delivering 100% compliant photos.

Popular Documents: Photo Guidelines

While international ID photo standards share a common foundation, the details — such as head proportions, or the policies on prescription eyewear — vary across countries. Below are the official photo sizes and key parameters for popular documents. Click yours to find out more.

See all (138)

Why you can trust PhotoGov?

ICAO compliance mark
4.7Trustpilot

Guaranteed Compliance

Your photos will pass government inspection after being checked by our experts.

#1 ID Photo Service

“PhotoGov is still the most secure and compliant U.S. Passport Photo Product as we enter 2025”

By Apollo Technical, 2025

4.8
99.2%approval rate

Expert verification

Real experts with 10+ years of experience will check your photo.

in 150+ countries worldwide

185 K+ photos created

for passport, visa, ID in just 3 years

Passport Photo Online — Preview & Examples

Preview how your selfie is adjusted to official passport and ID requirements — choose a document, then click on a sample face or upload your portrait.

Choose a document:

Click on any face:

Try your photo
Compliance Guaranteed

Your personal data is processed in accordance with security and privacy standards and used solely for identification document photo processing.

How to Take a Passport Photo at Home

Use these handy tips and take a perfect ID or visa photo with your iPhone or digital camera, without leaving your home or office.

  1. 1

    Take a good quality selfie

    Choose a well-lit room. Stand near a window.

    Good room lighting for a passport photo
    Avoid
    • Shadows on the face
    • Light from above or the side
    • Flash glare on the forehead
  2. 2

    Make sure that the photo meets the basic requirements

    Choose simple clothing, keep your face clear, and maintain a neutral expression.

    Accepted passport photo posture and expression
    • Neutral expression
    • Mouth closed
    • Eyes open and visible
    • No smile
    Rejected passport photo posture and expression
    • Not plain clothes
    • Hair covers the face or eyes.
    • Glasses (only if allowed).
    • Headwear (permitted only for religious reasons).
  3. 3

    Upload Your Selfie

    Take or upload a photo in good lighting. Pro equipment is not necessary.

    Upload selfie and match the passport photo requirements
    US Passport photo (example)
    Photo Size: 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm)
    Head Size - 1- 1 3/8 inches (25-35 mm)
    Format - JPG (600x600 px)
    Background - plain, white (#FFFFFF)
    Quality Photo - no shadows, blur or noise
    File Size - 1 MB-15 MB
    Resolution - 300 DPI (300 KB-1 MB)
    Сlothing - neutral color, plain
    Compliant passport photo result
  4. 4

    Сhoose an outfit

    All 6 photos will be 100% compliant with US passport photo requirements.

    Passport photo outfit examples
  5. 5

    Add Human Photo Verification

    Our compliance expert will review your photo and provide a report on its compliance. 99.2% approval rate.

    Human photo verification preview

    Human Verification

    recommended

    Add expert eligibility check with 100% refund guarantee. Change your photo for free if it doesn’t pass.

    SM

    Sarah Mitchell

    Senior Compliance Expert

  6. 6

    Download Your Application-Ready Photo

    You can select a digital file for online applications, or a printable PDF file for paper submissions.

    Download application-ready passport photo files

Taking Baby Passport Photos

Taking a baby passport photo can be challenging, especially in a studio setting. It’s often easier and more comfortable to do it at home:

Photos that will be accepted

Accepted baby passport photo example 1
Accepted baby passport photo example 2
Accepted baby passport photo example 3
  • Correct size and framing
  • Face centered
  • Plain, light-colored background
  • Proper lighting, no shadows, natural skin tones
  • High-resolution, sharp image in the photo printer format, JPG or PDF

Photos that will not be accepted

Rejected baby passport photo example 1
Rejected baby passport photo example 2
Rejected baby passport photo example 3
  • There are other people in the photo
  • Non-neutral facial expression, eyes not visible, mouth open
  • There are extraneous objects on the photo (nipples, toys)

Photos that will be accepted

Accepted baby passport photo example 1
Accepted baby passport photo example 2
Accepted baby passport photo example 3
  • Correct size and framing
  • Face centered
  • Plain, light-colored background
  • Proper lighting, no shadows, natural skin tones
  • High-resolution, sharp image in the photo printer format, JPG or PDF

Photos that will not be accepted

Rejected baby passport photo example 1
Rejected baby passport photo example 2
Rejected baby passport photo example 3
  • There are other people in the photo
  • Non-neutral facial expression, eyes not visible, mouth open
  • There are extraneous objects on the photo (nipples, toys)

Trusted Global Platform for Passport Photos

Almost two million people trust PhotoGov to create official photos that meet every government standard.

Our service combines verified data, biometric accuracy adherence, and in-house compliance experts working in collaboration with select embassies. All information on the platform is accurate and up-to-date. Learn what stands behind PhotoGov’s global reputation.

Adherence to official guidelines

by established government authorities, including the U.S. Department of State, His Majesty’s Passport Office (UK), the European Commission, and other national administrations.

Collaboration with select state embassies

to strengthen liaison and verification processes.

In-house team

of seasoned compliance specialists, including former consular officers, biometric imaging engineers, and immigration media editors.

Technology-driven compliance

A secure, distributed infrastructure processes photos in an encrypted environment, with an embedded compliance system for consistent accuracy and uptime across regions.

Ongoing updates

of our platform to reflect the latest government requirements, ensuring that every processed photograph meets official standards.

User trust

More than 1.8 million users across 150 countries have created official document photos with PhotoGov. Over 12,000 people use the platform daily.

Top-ranking service

in the online photo tools category on Trustpilot, maintaining a 4.7-star average rating based on 3,000+ Google reviews.

Human verification

a premium add-on that provides an additional layer of compliance assurance. For high-priority applications, users can request an expert eligibility check.

Compliance and Independence

All photos created with PhotoGov are formatted according to official government specifications for ID and visa applications, reflecting the size, background, and framing standards of regulatory sources. Final acceptance of every image is always determined by the issuing authority — such as the U.S. Department of State, USCIS, HM Passport Office, or equivalent national agencies. PhotoGov operates as an independent private service. As an independent service, it is not affiliated with any government or consular institution.

Learn more about our service’s adherence to the Global regulations for ID photos. Important notice for users in the US: Compliance with Official U.S. Department of State Regulations on ID photos digital alterations.

What Our Users Have to Say About Us

By Google

4.7

(3200 reviews)

Segun Abiodun

10 months ago

Easy tool for preparing photos in accepted formats across government agencies and countries.

Posted on Google

Khant Htoo Htoo

10 months ago

Simple, fast, and free compared with other services that charge for the same task.

Posted on Google

J H

10 months ago

Professional result with a clean background and simpler sizing than editing manually.

Posted on Google

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this an official government photo service?

No. PhotoGov is an independent preparation tool. The final decision on whether a photograph is accepted is always made by the issuing authority — the U.S. Department of State, USCIS, HM Passport Office, IRCC, or the equivalent agency in another country.

How is my photo processed?

Everything runs in your browser using MediaPipe Tasks Vision: face landmarks, geometry checks, the auto-crop, and the output JPEG export. No file leaves your device during the free preview check. Paid downloads are stored briefly in encrypted object storage so the email link works.

Do you support documents outside the United States?

Yes. The catalog covers 138 documents across 43 countries. Each document page shows the country-specific size, file format, background color, and head-position rule that applies.

Why no smile?

Biometric matching compares the captured portrait against the live person at submission. Smiling changes the shape of the face and can reduce match accuracy. ICAO 9303 requires a neutral expression with the mouth closed.

Can I wear glasses?

For U.S. passport and visa photos, no — ordinary clear glasses are usually rejected because of glare. Some other countries permit glasses if the eyes are fully visible and there is no glare.

What do I do if my photo gets rejected?

Read the exact rejection message and retake for the reason given. Most rejections trace back to size, background, expression, lighting, file format, eyewear, or photo quality.

Does the photo expire?

The U.S. Department of State asks for a photo taken within the last six months that represents your current appearance.

Why do you not modify U.S. photos?

The U.S. Department of State prohibits digital alteration of facial features, skin, hair, eyes, or background for passport photos. For U.S. documents we crop and resize only.