Passport & visa photo guides

Practical, sourced guides for taking and submitting compliant passport, visa, and biometric ID photos.

Last reviewed: 2026-05-01

All guides

• 美宝中国旅行证完整攻略 — China Travel Document for US-born babies
  Bilingual (中文 / English) guide to the China Travel Document for US-born babies of Chinese-national parents (美宝): why a visa isn't an option, the 2-year validity, consular districts, required documents, how to photograph a baby, and renewal.
• 2026 US passport photo AI rules — what's banned and what's allowed
  The US State Department began rejecting AI-edited passport photos on January 1, 2026 (8 FAM 402.1). What the rule actually says, and how to take a US passport photo that passes the automated review.
• Schengen visa photo requirements — one photo for 27 countries
  Schengen visa photo specifications used by all 27 EU/EFTA member states: 35 × 45 mm, light grey background, ICAO biometric framing. Country-by-country submission rules and the difference vs. national passport photos.
• Green card photo requirements (USCIS 2026) — I-485, I-90, N-400
  USCIS green card photo specifications: 2 × 2 inch, white background, head 50–69%, JPEG under 240 KB. Applies to I-485, I-90, N-400, I-765, and most other USCIS forms.
• Can you wear glasses in a passport photo? (2026 rules by country)
  The US, UK, Schengen, India, Canada, Australia, and most other countries banned glasses in passport photos between 2014 and 2018. Country-by-country list and the rare medical exemption.
• Hijab in a passport photo — what's allowed by country
  Religious head coverings including hijab, niqab, turban, kippah, and pagri are allowed in passport photos worldwide — as long as the face is fully visible from forehead to chin and ear to ear.
• Passport photo with a beard — allowed, but match your look
  Beards, moustaches, and facial hair are allowed in passport photos worldwide. The catch: your photo should match how you typically appear when travelling.
• Walgreens & CVS passport photo — print for $0.49 instead of $14.99
  How to print a compliant US passport photo at Walgreens or CVS for under $1 by uploading our 4×6 sheet, instead of paying $14.99–$16.99 at the passport-photo counter. Same store, same printer, 30× cheaper.
• Free passport photo maker — preview free, pay only if you keep it
  A truly free passport photo maker that lets you preview a biometrically-framed photo with watermark for free — then pay $3.99 only if you decide to keep it. Compares every free option and the hidden catch with each.
• Passport size photo — dimensions, apps, and how to make one ($3.99)
  What is a passport size photo? Exact dimensions for India, US, UK, Philippines, and 100+ countries in mm, inches, and pixels. How to take one with your phone, what apps work, and how to print at home for under $5.
• Indian passport photo requirements — size, OCI, Aadhaar, online vs offline
  Complete 2026 guide to Indian passport, OCI, and visa photo requirements. 51 × 51 mm dimensions, 70–80% face coverage, white background, and the 240 KB Passport Seva online file ceiling.
• Philippines passport photo requirements — DFA rules, size, cost
  Complete 2026 guide to Philippine passport, visa, and PRC ID photo specifications. 35 × 45 mm dimensions, plain white background, DFA-Aseana online appointment rules, and where to print for ₱20 a sheet.
• Baby & newborn passport photo — take one that passes on any phone
  Babies won't hold the pose, the head won't stay centred, and the eyes close mid-shot. Our tool fixes any decent phone snap — here is exactly how to capture, upload, and print a compliant baby passport photo at home.
• The cheapest way to get a passport photo (and print it anywhere)
  $3.99 for the digital JPEG plus a 4×6 sheet you can print at CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, FedEx, or any home photo printer. Compare every print option side by side.
• Passport photo size by country (2026) — complete dimensions chart
  Dimensions for the US, UK, Schengen, Canada, China, India, Japan, Australia, and 95+ other countries. mm, inches, pixel sizes, and background rules.
• Can I use the same passport photo for multiple countries?
  Compatibility matrix for common country pairs — UK ↔ Schengen, US ↔ India, Canada ↔ Brazil — and the four blocking differences (dimensions, background, face coverage, age).
• How to print a passport photo at home (4×6 sheet, any printer)
  Step-by-step on printing a passport photo at home on standard 4×6 photo paper, with paper choice, printer settings, and how to trim the sheet for a clean cut.
• Why passport photos get rejected (and the 12 fixes that work)
  The 12 most common rejection reasons across US, UK, India, China, and Schengen authorities — with the exact home-capture fix for each.
• Biometric passport photo requirements explained (ICAO 9303)
  What "biometric" actually means: face coverage, eye-line position, expression rules, and which countries follow ICAO Doc 9303 to the letter.

For country-specific dimensions and rules, browse all supported countries, see every document type, or jump straight to choose a document.