Yes, in some countries you can take your own passport photo with a phone, but not everywhere, and you must not edit it. The US and the UK accept a photo you take yourself, as long as it is a clear original that meets the size, background and pose rules. Canada’s online renewal needs a photo from a commercial photographer, printed photos for Canada and the UK must be professionally printed on photo paper, and Australia asks for heavy-weight glossy prints.
This guide covers what the official rules say, how to take the photo, and the mistakes that get photos rejected. We read the issuing authorities’ pages in September and October 2026 and link each one. Rules change, so open the link for your country before you apply.
Can You Take Your Own Passport Photo?
| Country | Taking it yourself | What the official page says |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Allowed | Photo must be taken in the last 6 months, in colour, with a plain white or off-white background. Phone photos are fine if they are original, high-quality files. travel.state.gov |
| United Kingdom | Allowed for a digital photo, with a helper | You need someone to help you take it. Photos from a booth or shop are more likely to be approved than photos from your own device. gov.uk |
| Canada | Not for online renewal | Online renewal needs a photo from a commercial photographer. Printed photos must be professionally printed on plain, high-quality photo paper, with no home prints. canada.ca |
| Australia | Printed photo to camera-operator standard | Printed photos are 35 mm wide by 45 mm high on high-quality, heavy-weight glossy paper (200 gsm minimum in the guidelines). passports.gov.au guidelines |
Do Not Edit the Photo
The US, UK and Canada all say the photo must not be altered. The State Department says not to change your photo with computer software, phone apps, filters or AI, and not to correct red-eye. GOV.UK lists “edited with software” among the reasons a digital photo is rejected. Canada does not allow cropping, retouching, filters or AI tools on printed photos.
That means a photo with a software-replaced background may be refused for these passports. Taking it in front of a real plain wall is the safer way. Other documents, such as some ID cards, visas or forms, have their own rules, so check the one you need before using any editing app.
How to Take the Photo
- Find a plain wall. The US wants white or off-white with no texture, objects or lines. The UK wants plain cream or light grey. If your wall is the wrong colour, the State Department suggests hanging a white sheet or blanket over it.
- Light your face evenly. There must be no shadows on your face or on the background. Natural light from a window in front of you works well. Avoid a flash if it causes glare or red-eye.
- Ask someone to take it. A helper holds the phone at eye level, a few feet from you, so that your head, shoulders and upper body are in the frame. A selfie arm’s length away distorts your face.
- Face the camera with a neutral expression. Look straight at the lens, eyes open, mouth closed. In the UK, hair must not cover your eyes. In the US, glasses must come off unless you have a signed doctor’s note.
- Take several shots and keep the original file. Do not use beauty modes, filters or HDR styles. Pick the sharpest one.
- Check the size rules. See the next section, then use the official checker if your country offers one, such as the UK photo checker on GOV.UK.
Size and Head Rules at a Glance
| Printed size | Head (chin to crown) | Background | How recent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm) | 1 to 1⅜ in (25–35 mm) | White or off-white | 6 months |
| United Kingdom | 35 × 45 mm | 29–34 mm | Plain cream or light grey | 1 month |
| Canada | 50 × 70 mm | 31–36 mm | White or light-coloured | 6 months |
| Australia | 35 × 45 mm | 32–36 mm | White or light grey | See passports.gov.au |
See the full list in our passport photo size by country chart.
Digital Photo Rules for the UK
For a UK online application, GOV.UK asks for a colour photo that is in focus, at least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall, and between 50KB and 10MB. Do not crop a photo you took on your own device, because the service crops it for you, and it must show your head, shoulders and upper body. The photo must have been taken in the last month. Source: GOV.UK
Printing the Photo
- UK paper application: two identical photos, 45 mm high and 35 mm wide, professionally printed on plain photographic paper with no border.
- Canada: two identical photos, 50 × 70 mm, professionally printed on plain, high-quality photo paper. Home prints are not accepted.
- Australia: high-quality, heavy-weight glossy paper. The camera-operator guidelines give 200 gsm as the minimum.
- United States: if you apply on paper, bring a printed 2 × 2 in photo that follows the same pose and background rules. Check the State Department page for the paper requirements.
Common Reasons Photos Are Rejected
- Photo taken too long ago (more than one month in the UK, six months in the US and Canada)
- Shadows on the face or background, or a busy background
- Blurry or out of focus, or red-eye
- Not looking straight at the camera, or a non-neutral expression or open mouth
- Glasses with glare, tinted lenses or sunglasses, and in the US any glasses without a doctor’s note
- Head covering without a religious or medical reason
- Edited with software, a filter or AI
- Head too big or too small for the size rules
The full UK list is on GOV.UK common mistakes.
Where an App Can Help
For documents that allow it, an app can take care of the fiddly parts: the right print size, a head guide in the camera, a head-size check, and a print sheet with several photos on a 10×15 cm (4×6 in) page. Our own app, ID & Passport Photo Maker, does this on the phone, offline. We built it, so weigh that in. Its on-device background removal edits the photo, so a photo with a replaced background may be refused by an authority that bans edited photos, and you should always confirm the format with the office that will receive the photo.
Get ID & Passport Photo Maker on Google Play.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take my own passport photo with my phone?
In the US and the UK, yes, as long as it is an original, unedited photo that meets the size, background and pose rules. In the UK you need someone to help you. Photos from a booth or shop are more likely to be approved. Canada’s online renewal needs a commercial photographer.
Can I print a passport photo at home?
It depends on the country. Canada says home prints are not accepted and wants professional printing on plain, high-quality photo paper. The UK paper application wants photos professionally printed on plain photographic paper. Australia asks for high-quality, heavy-weight glossy paper.
Can I change the background of my passport photo with an app?
You can, but it may be refused for the US, UK or Canada. The State Department says not to change your photo with software, apps, filters or AI, GOV.UK rejects photos edited with software, and Canada does not allow editing. Take the photo in front of a plain wall instead.
What background colour do I need for a passport photo?
The US wants white or off-white, the UK plain cream or light grey, Canada white or light-coloured, and Australia white or light grey. The background must be plain with no shadows.
How big should my head be in a passport photo?
In the US, between 1 and 1⅜ inches (25–35 mm) from chin to top of head. In the UK 29–34 mm, in Canada 31–36 mm and in Australia 32–36 mm.
Can I wear glasses in a passport photo?
In the US, no, unless you have a signed note from a doctor. In the UK and Canada, glasses are accepted only if your eyes are visible and there is no glare, reflection or shadow, and they should be avoided in the UK unless you need them. Sunglasses and tinted lenses are never accepted.
How recent must a passport photo be?
Within the last month for the UK and within six months for the US and Canada.
