The universal rules
Almost every country requires a neutral expression, a plain light background, and a front-facing photo with your head centered. The devil is in the details: head size, distance from chin to top of head, and even the brightness of the background.
Our Passport Photo Maker encodes the exact specs for 208 countries, so the crop and print sheet are automatically correct.
Background color matters
The US requires a plain white or off-white background. Many European countries accept light gray or light blue. Never use a patterned, textured or shadowed background — it's the #1 reason photos get rejected.
Glasses, smiles and lighting
Glasses are allowed in most countries as long as there's no glare and your eyes are fully visible. A closed-mouth, slight smile is standard. Ensure even lighting with no shadows on your face or behind your head.