How to take a passport photo at home
A phone from the last few years has more than enough camera for this. What separates an accepted photo from a refused one is almost never resolution. It is light, and after that it is framing.
Light is the whole game
Stand facing a window on an overcast day. That single instruction solves most of what goes wrong: it gives soft, even light with no shadow under the nose or eyes, which is what every authority is asking for when it says the photo must be evenly lit.
Avoid overhead light, which casts shadows under the eyes, and avoid a window behind you, which puts your face in shade. Never use the flash.
Background
A plain wall in white or a very light neutral. Requirements vary slightly, with the UK asking for plain light-coloured and Australia accepting white or light grey, but a plain white wall satisfies all of them.
Stand about a metre away from it. Closer and you cast a shadow on the wall, which stops it counting as plain.
Camera settings
Use the rear camera if someone can help you, because it is meaningfully better than the front one on every phone. Turn off anything that smooths skin or enhances a face: beauty modes, portrait mode and filters can all get a photo refused for altering your appearance.
- Rear camera where possible, with a timer or a helper
- Standard photo mode, never portrait mode
- Beauty and skin-smoothing off
- No flash, no filters
Framing and expression
Hold the camera at eye level. Below that and the face distorts; above and you get the holiday-selfie angle. Keep about 50 to 80 cm between you and the lens.
Look straight into the lens rather than at the screen, which is a slightly different direction and shows. Neutral expression, mouth closed, both eyes open, hair off your eyebrows.
Check before you commit
Zoom in on your own eyes. If they are sharp and clearly visible with no reflection, and both sides of your face are the same brightness, the photo is very likely fine. Those two checks catch the majority of refusals.
Questions
Can I take a passport photo with my phone?
Yes. Any phone from the last few years has sufficient camera quality. Light and framing decide whether the photo is accepted, not the hardware.
What background do I need?
A plain wall in white or a very light neutral, with no shadow on it. Standing about a metre away from the wall prevents the shadow.
Should I use portrait mode?
No. Portrait mode blurs the background and can soften the edges of your face, which counts as altering the image.
Can I smile?
No. Passport photos require a neutral expression with your mouth closed, in every country covered here.