How to take a passport photo with a mobile phone

Taking a passport photo with your smartphone is a convenient and accessible alternative to traditional methods. This approach not only saves time and money but also provides the flexibility to take the perfect picture from the comfort of your own home.

In this article, we will show you how to take a passport-size photo from a mobile phone and ensure a compliant and hassle-free passport photo experience.

Table of contents

• Can I take a passport photo with my phone?
• How to take passport photo at home with phone? Guidelines
• Make a passport photo online: Visafoto features
• Editing a passport photo with phone: introducing 7ID app by Visafoto
• How to print a passport photo taken with phone?

Can I Take a Passport Photo With My Phone?

“Can I take my own passport photo with my cell phone?” The answer is “definitely yes”! There is no need for professional studios or photo booths. Most smartphones have a camera with a resolution of at least 5 megapixels, which is more than enough for high-quality passport photos.

However, it is essential to follow specific guidelines regarding lighting, facial features, and clothing style to ensure a successful photo.

How to Take Passport Photo at Home with Phone? Guidelines

To learn how to take a passport photo with iPhone or Android, please follow these instructions:

• Lighting: For best results, use natural light near a window. Avoid harsh or direct flash, which can cause unwanted shadows or reflections. If you do not have adequate natural light, artificial lighting can work. Two eye-level lights on either side of your face can help reduce shadows.
• Camera position: Stand 1–2 meters away from your lens to include your shoulders in the photo. Either ask someone to take your picture or use a tripod to position the camera at eye level. However, if only your face needs to be included, you can comfortably take a selfie.
• Pose: Aim for a natural, relaxed pose, looking straight at the camera with your shoulders straight. Ensure your entire face is visible, avoiding obstructions such as hats or sunglasses. Keep your mouth closed and eyes open to maintain a neutral expression.
• Dress code: Wear appropriate clothing that doesn't blend with the background. A solid color outfit that contrasts with the background is ideal. For important documents such as passports, be sure to follow the specific dress code guidelines of the issuing authority.
• Background: Use a light wall, background, screen, or sheet. Avoid casting a heavy shadow on the wall. Our tools, such as Visafoto and 7ID, allow you to change the background of the photo to white or blue. If you are using the basic 7ID editor, stick to a solid color background for greater accuracy.

Make a Passport Photo Online: Visafoto Features

Visafoto.com is a quick and reliable way of generating passport photos, operating 24×7. The process is simple: use a digital camera or smartphone to take a picture against a white or off-white wall and upload it to the website to download a professional-quality passport photo instantly.

In seconds, the Visafoto tool will edit your photo:

• scale and crop the image to the proper dimensions;
• fix the background;
• correct a tilted head;
• adjust the size for Internet submission.

You will receive a digital photo for online submission and a print-ready version — and if your photo isn't accepted, you'll get a 100% refund.

The website comes with a 99.7% accuracy guarantee and knows the exact photo size requirements for your specific needs. It's equipped to handle a variety of exotic visa, passport, and ID photos, including popular requests such as U.S. visas or passports and Canadian visas.

Editing a Passport Photo with Phone: Introducing 7ID App by Visafoto

Introducing the best passport photo app supported by Visafoto — 7ID App!

7ID passport photo app iPhone and Android provides an easy-to-use platform for capturing and editing passport photos using a smartphone. Suitable for both online and physical submissions, the app streamlines the passport photo editing process.

Simply upload your image, select the appropriate country and document type, and take advantage of 7ID’s outstanding features:

• Automatic Resizing: 7ID reduces the need for manual editing by automatically resizing your image to the specified passport size, and correctly positioning the head and eyes.
• Background Color Change: A left slide on the slider allows users to change the background to universal colors such as white, light gray, or blue as required by official document specifications.
• Printable templates: Once your passport photo editing is complete, 7ID provides a print-ready template that adheres to your specified dimensions. You can adjust the image to fit common paper sizes, such as 10×15 cm, A4, A5, or B5, and either print at home or use a local copy center.
• Advanced Editing (Expert feature): 7ID's Advanced Passport Photo Editor uses sophisticated algorithms to enhance image quality, optimize edits, and seamlessly remove backgrounds for important documents such as passports or DV lottery applications.
• 24/7 support and quality checks (Expert feature): The Expert feature provides round-the-clock support and image checks to ensure optimal results and photo replacement if the image is unsatisfactory or rejected.

How to Print a Passport Photo taken with a Phone?

Where to get passport photos printed? The 7ID and Visafoto provide a printable template with the specific dimensions required for passport photos. Using your color printer or a local printing service like Walgreens or Rite Aids, it's easy to print an image.

If you have a home printer that can print color images on photo paper, follow these simple steps:

1. Make sure you have 4×6 inch (10×15 cm) photo paper. Identify the picture you want to print, right-click it, and choose Print.
2. Select your printer model from the window that appears.
3. Specify the paper size and type.
4. Specify the number of photocopies.
5. Check the settings and print. The photos generated by 7ID and Visafoto will already be the appropriate size.

If a printer is unavailable, many retail chains allow you to order passport prints online for in-store pickup. Here's how to place an order:

1. Select the 4×6 print size in the online photo service.
2. Upload your passport photo template from 7ID or Visafoto.
3. Complete your purchase online and select pickup at your local store. You'll usually be able to pick up your prints the same day, sometimes within an hour.

With your mobile device and convenient tools like the Visafoto and 7ID passport photo app for Android and iPhone, you can take perfect passport photos anywhere and anytime.