Quick checklist
- Recent photo, usually taken in the last 6 months
- Front-facing, head straight, both eyes open
- Neutral expression or a very slight natural smile, depending on the country
- Plain white, off-white or light background with no shadows
- No glare on glasses (or no glasses at all)
- No hat; religious or medical head coverings only if your face stays fully visible
- Sharp, in focus, not blurry or grainy
- No filters, retouching or heavy editing
Size and framing
The picture size depends on the country, for example 2 × 2 inch for the US or 35 × 45 mm for the UK and Australia. Your head should fill most of the frame with some space above it. See the size table in cm, inches and pixels.
Digital upload requirements
Online applications usually want a JPG within a file-size limit and a minimum pixel size. Crop with the passport photo maker, then use the compress tool if the file is too large.
Common reasons for rejection
Shadows on the face or wall, glasses glare, a smile that is too wide, a photo that is too dark or blurry, wrong size, and edited backgrounds.
Check the official page
Each office has its own current rules, so confirm them on the official government site. PicFitter sizes and crops your photo but cannot guarantee acceptance. More detail: general passport photo requirements and the US checklist.