What size is a US passport photo in pixels?

600x600 pixels at 300 DPI, which equals 2x2 inches when printed. For online submissions, use 600x600 pixels.

Can I take a passport photo with my phone?

Yes. Modern phone cameras exceed the resolution requirements. Use a white background, natural light, and follow the framing guidelines. Our tools handle the cropping and resizing.

What if the file is too large for the visa application upload?

Use the Compress Image tool at 85% quality. Most visa applications accept JPG files between 100KB-240KB. Compressing a 600x600 photo at 85% typically produces a file around 50-150KB.

Do I need to remove the background?

Not if you photograph against a white or off-white wall. The background needs to be plain and light-colored — it does not need to be digitally removed.

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How to Crop & Resize Photos for Passport and Visa Applications Free

Last updated: March 2026 7 min read Image Tools

Why DIY Passport Photos?

Passport photo services charge $10-15 for something you can do in 60 seconds with your phone and a white wall. The requirements are simple: correct dimensions, white background, face centered, no glasses. The tricky part is getting the exact pixel dimensions right — and that is what our tools handle.

Step 1: Take the Photo

Stand in front of a plain white or off-white wall
Use natural daylight or even lighting — no harsh shadows on your face
Face the camera directly, neutral expression, mouth closed
Remove glasses, hats, and headphones (religious headwear is allowed)
Have someone take the photo from 4 feet away, or use a timer

Tip: Take several photos. Pick the one with the most even lighting and centered framing.

Step 2: Crop to the Required Ratio

Open the Image Cropper
Upload your photo
Set the aspect ratio to 1:1 (square) for US passport, or the ratio required by your country
Position the crop so your head is centered with space above
Download the cropped photo

Step 3: Resize to Exact Dimensions

Open the Resize Image tool
Upload your cropped photo
Enter the exact dimensions (see reference below)
Download the resized photo

Photo Size Reference by Country

US Passport: 2x2 inches = 600x600 pixels (at 300 DPI)
US Visa: 2x2 inches = 600x600 pixels
UK Passport: 35x45mm = 413x531 pixels
EU/Schengen Visa: 35x45mm = 413x531 pixels
Indian Passport: 2x2 inches = 600x600 pixels
Canadian Passport: 50x70mm = 591x827 pixels
Chinese Visa: 33x48mm = 390x567 pixels

All sizes assume 300 DPI for printing. For online submissions, the pixel dimensions are what matter.

Step 4: Compress If Needed

Some online visa applications have file size limits (100KB-240KB is common). If your photo exceeds the limit after resizing:

Open the Compress Image tool
Upload the resized photo
Compress at 85% quality — passport photos need to stay sharp
If still too large, try 75% quality

Try Image Cropper — free, private, unlimited.

Open Image Cropper