How to take a passport-style photo at home
You don't need a studio. A phone, a plain wall and a window are enough for a photo that passes for PAN, Voter ID, exams and visas.
Set up
- Wall: stand about half a metre in front of a plain white or off-white wall. A white bedsheet pulled flat also works.
- Light: face a window in daytime. Turn off overhead lights — they cast shadows under your eyes and behind you.
- Camera: use the rear camera. Ask someone to stand 1–1.5 m away with the phone at your eye level. Don't zoom digitally.
- Clothes: plain, darker colours that contrast with the white background. No uniforms unless the form asks.
Pose
- Face the camera squarely, shoulders level.
- Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open.
- Hair away from eyes; remove glasses if the form doesn't allow them (US visa never does).
- Take 5–10 shots and pick the sharpest.
Turn it into a form-ready file
- Open the converter and upload the photo (HEIC from iPhone is fine).
- Choose your document — the preview switches to the right shape.
- Turn on the face guide, zoom until your face fills the oval, and drag to centre.
- Download. The file is the right pixel size and within the KB limit.
Quick check before uploading
- Is the background plain with no shadow behind your head?
- Can you see both eyes clearly with no glare?
- Is your face sharp when you zoom in?
- Does it look like you today?
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my phone's portrait mode?
Avoid it. Portrait mode blurs the background and can blur the edges of your hair and ears, which some checks reject.
Selfie or someone else?
Ask someone else, standing 1–1.5 m away. Selfies distort the face (a bigger nose) and the arm often shows.
Can I edit out a messy background?
This converter doesn't remove backgrounds. It's better to retake the photo against a plain wall — many portals reject edited photos.