How to Make a Passport Photo at Home (US, UK, UAE & More)

5 min readUpdated July 22, 2026

A passport or ID photo is mostly about three things: the right dimensions, the right resolution, and correct framing of your head. You don't need a photo booth — a clear, front-facing phone photo and the right tool will do it for a fraction of the cost.

Take a good source photo first

Stand against a plain, light-coloured wall in even lighting (no harsh shadows), face the camera straight on with a neutral expression, and keep your whole head and the top of your shoulders in frame. A daylight window is your friend. The better the source photo, the more likely it is to be accepted.

Crop it to the official size

  1. 1Open the Passport Photo Maker and upload your photo.
  2. 2Choose your country/document size — US 2×2", UK/EU & Schengen 35×45mm, UAE Emirates ID/Passport, and more (or Custom for anything else).
  3. 3Set the DPI (300 is standard; some governments such as the UAE require 600), then drag and zoom to line your face up inside the guide oval.

Download one photo or a full print sheet

Download a single photo at the exact size and resolution, or export a 4×6" sheet tiled with multiple copies and cut guides — perfect for cheap printing at a pharmacy or at home. Everything is generated on your device; your photo is never uploaded.