Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about Passport Photo Live.
- Go to the passportphotolive.com home page.
- Take a few well-lit photos in front of a plain white or off-white background. Choose the best one to upload.
- Upload your photo and follow the on-screen steps to crop and adjust it to official passport or visa requirements.
- Download your digital passport photo for free. You can print it at home or at a photo center.
Tip: For best results, avoid shadows, use a neutral expression, and leave space above your head for cropping.
- Have someone else take your photo. No selfies please.
- Use a plain white or off-white background.
- Avoid shadows—take the photo in natural daylight if possible.
- Keep the camera at least 4–5 feet (1.2–1.5m) from the person.
- Face the camera with your head centered and not tilted. Use a neutral expression or natural smile.
- If using passportphotolive.com, capture a half-body picture with extra space above the head. This helps the cropping tool fit your face to required dimensions.
- See example photos on our home page for what is acceptable.
No service can guarantee acceptance. We follow common guidelines for passport and ID photos, but final approval is always up to the issuing authority. Please review your country's official requirements and compare them with your final photo.
Yes, Passport Photo Live offers a completely free plan that lets you create and download digital passport, visa, or ID photos at no cost. The free version is supported by ads and includes all the essential features for most users.
Optional paid features include ad-free experience, premium backgrounds, and priority processing. You only pay if you choose these extras—there are no hidden fees for basic photo creation and download.
Use a well-lit photo taken in front of a simple background. Face the camera directly, keep a neutral expression, and avoid hats, sunglasses, or heavy filters unless your authority explicitly allows them.
In many cases, yes. We provide general presets, but each authority may have specific rules about size, background color, or face coverage. Always check and select the correct preset for your document.
Premium removes ads and offers higher-quality exports and priority processing. This means cleaner edges around hair and faster results during busy periods.
Your privacy is our priority. Free photos are kept for 60 minutes for your session. Paid orders are kept for 48 hours to ensure you have plenty of time to download or print them. After this period, they are permanently and automatically deleted from our servers. We do not sell or share your photos. See our Privacy Policy for more details.
No. Passport Photo Live runs in your browser and works on desktop, laptop, tablet, and modern mobile devices.
- Solo Photo: Children must be on their own in the picture. Babies must not be holding toys or using dummies.
- Toddlers: Have them stand/sit independently against a white wall. Ensure even lighting with no shadows or glare. No objects near head/shoulders.
- Infants: Spread a white sheet on the floor and have the baby lie on it. Stand over and take the photo looking straight down.
- Lighting: Ensure lighting across the face is even. Make sure you aren't casting a shadow on the baby when taking the photo!
Even for digital products, we are required by law to collect address information to determine correct sales tax treatment and ensure compliance with international trade regulations. Your information is kept secure and is only used for transaction verification and tax calculation purposes.
Applying for a passport and visa is a mandatory process you have to go through whenever you want to visit a foreign country. Out of the many regulations, one common question is: “Can you smile in a passport photo?”
Recommendation: Maintain a neutral facial expression (mouth closed, eyes open) for these countries.