How to use it
- Pick the application you need the photo for. The official rules appear under the menu, with a link to the government page they come from.
- Choose a photo taken against a plain, light wall, facing the camera, with even light and no shadows.
- For sizes the tool crops: drag the red line to the top of the head, the blue line to the bottom of the chin, and the yellow line to the middle of the face. The dashed box shows what will be kept.
- Adjust the head size and space above the head if you like. The head-size slider only moves within the official range.
- Press the button and download the result. For printed photos, print the 4 × 6 inch sheet at a photo shop or kiosk at actual size.
Which photos this tool makes
We only include an application when we could read its photo rules on the government's own website. Each rule was checked against the official page on 2026-10-23; the source link is shown with each size.
- United States passport: 2 × 2 inch print, head 1 to 1 3/8 inches.
- United States visa (DS-160): square digital file, 600 to 1200 pixels, 240 kB or less, head 50–69% of the height.
- United States passport online renewal: file prepared within 54 KB to 10 MB. Cropping happens in the application.
- United Kingdom passport online and UK visa: file prepared to the minimum size and file-size limits. The services crop it themselves.
- Canada visitor visa (paper application): 35 × 45 mm print, head 31–36 mm.
- France visa: 35 × 45 mm print, face 32–36 mm, light gray or light blue background.
- Germany Schengen visa: 35 × 45 mm print, head 32–36 mm, taken in the last 3 months.
Not supported, and why
Limits
- The final decision is the issuing office's. This tool makes the size and proportions right, but lighting, expression, focus and background are up to the photo you start with.
- The tool crops and resizes your photo. Some offices don't accept photos cropped from a larger picture: the UK says this for printed passport photos, which is why that size isn't offered. The US asks for an unedited photo with no filters or digital changes; cropping to size doesn't change how you look, but the decision is theirs. If you're unsure, use a photo booth or studio.
- Digital uploads are left unedited when possible. If your original JPEG already meets the file rules, the tool tells you to upload it as it is instead of making a copy.
- No background replacement or retouching. Many countries reject edited photos, so the tool never changes the picture itself.
- The background check is rough. It looks at the edges of the photo and warns if they look dark or busy. Always look yourself.
- Print at actual size. If a printer "fits" or crops the sheet, the photos will be the wrong size. Measure one with a ruler.
Questions
Can I take the photo myself?
It depends on the country. The US State Department says a friend or family member may take a passport photo, and its visa page says you may take a visa photo yourself. The UK passport service says someone should help you. Canada requires a commercial photographer for passports and permanent residence, which is why those aren't offered here.
Where exactly is the "top of the head"?
It depends on the country. France and Germany measure to the top of the skull, not the top of the hair. The US and UK pages just say "top of the head" or "crown". The instructions above the photo change to match the country you pick.
Can I wear glasses?
Not for US passports or visas. Other countries have their own rules; the list under the menu shows what the official page says.
Why does the tool refuse to make my photo?
If the dashed box goes past the edge of your photo, there isn't enough picture around your head for the official proportions. Move the "space above head" slider, or take the photo from a little further away.
Last checked 2026-10-23.