Passport Photo from Phone: Easy Step‑by‑Step Guide
Need a passport photo but don’t want to visit a studio? Your phone can do the job if you follow a few simple rules. Below you’ll find everything you need – from lighting tricks to the right dimensions – so you can upload a perfect image in minutes.
Setting Up Your Phone & Space
First, pick a plain, light‑colored wall. White or off‑white works best because it matches most passport requirements. Stand about a meter away and make sure there’s no shadow on the background.
Use the rear camera; it captures higher resolution than the selfie lens. Turn on the grid feature if your phone has one – the lines help keep your head centered.
Natural daylight is ideal. Position yourself near a window, but avoid direct sunlight that creates harsh shadows. If it’s cloudy, the light is soft and even, which is perfect for passport photos.
Dress in a solid, dark top – no busy patterns. Keep your hair away from your face and look straight at the camera. A neutral expression means mouth closed, eyes open, and no smile.
Editing & Saving the Perfect Size
Snap a few shots, then pick the clearest one where you’re centered and the background is even. Open a free editing app – many phones have built‑in tools that let you crop and resize.
Resize the image to the required dimensions. In India, a passport photo is 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm) at 300 dpi. Most apps let you set the exact pixel size; 600 × 600 px works for 300 dpi.
Crop so that your head (from chin to top of hair) occupies about 70‑80 % of the height. The eyes should be roughly 1 inch from the top edge. Use the app’s ruler or guidelines to check the placement.
Adjust brightness and contrast just enough to make the background uniform and your face clear. Avoid filters – passports need a natural look.
When you’re satisfied, save the file as a high‑quality JPEG. Double‑check the file size; most passport portals accept up to 5 MB.
Now you have a passport‑ready photo that you can upload directly or print at a local shop. No appointment, no extra cost, just a few minutes with your phone.
Quick tip: keep the original photo on your phone for future use. If you need a new passport later, you can just crop again without starting from scratch.
With these steps, getting a passport photo from your phone is as easy as taking a selfie – only a lot more official.