Step-by-Step: Taking the Photo
Choose the right background
The background colour is the #1 cause of passport photo rejection. Check your country's requirement carefully before taking the photo. Most countries require plain white. The UK requires light grey or cream. Germany requires light grey. France requires light grey or light blue.
Set up the lighting
Good lighting is the difference between a professional-looking photo and a rejected one. The best lighting comes from natural daylight through a large window. Stand facing the window — not sideways to it.
- Face a large window at mid-morning or mid-afternoon when light is diffused
- Stand 50cm from the wall — this prevents your shadow from appearing behind you
- Avoid direct sunlight — it creates harsh shadows on your face
- If light is too strong, hang a white sheet over the window to diffuse it
- Avoid using only overhead ceiling lights — they create under-eye shadows
Take the photo correctly
Most countries do not accept selfies. Have someone else take the photo with the rear camera of a smartphone.
- Camera at eye level — not angled up or down
- Distance: 1–1.5 metres from the subject
- Use the rear camera — front cameras distort faces
- Neutral expression — mouth closed, eyes open
- Look directly at the camera lens
- Remove glasses — not accepted since 2022 in most countries
- No hat (unless religious head covering)
- Take multiple shots and choose the best
Upload to FixImg.ai and crop
Once you have a good photo, upload it to FixImg.ai. Select your country to load the exact requirements, then use the crop tool to frame your face correctly.
- Centre your face inside the green oval guide
- Leave a small space above your head — not too much
- Both shoulders should be visible
- Both eyes must be clearly visible and at the same level
Download and print
Download the JPG for digital portal submissions. Download the print sheet (4 or 6 photos on A4) to print at home or at any pharmacy or photo lab.
Understanding Head Size Requirements
Every country specifies how large your face must be within the photo. This is measured from the bottom of your chin to the top of your skull (crown) — not to the top of your hair. This distinction catches many applicants with voluminous hair.
Crown = top of skull, not top of hair
| Country | Photo Size | Head Size | Background |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 USA | 51×51 mm | 50–69% (25–35 mm) | Plain white |
| 🇬🇧 UK | 35×45 mm | 70–80% (29–34 mm) | Light grey / cream |
| 🇮🇳 India | 51×51 mm | 50–69% (25–35 mm) | Plain white |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | 50×70 mm | 31–36 mm | Plain white |
| 🇪🇺 Schengen | 35×45 mm | 70–80% (32–36 mm) | White / light grey |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | 35×45 mm | 70–80% (32–36 mm) | Light grey only |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | 35×45 mm | 70–80% (32–36 mm) | Plain white |
✅ Correct vs ❌ Incorrect Photos
✅ Accepted photos have:
- Plain background (correct colour for your country)
- Even, shadow-free lighting
- Neutral expression — mouth closed
- Eyes open, looking straight at camera
- Head occupying 70–80% of frame
- Both shoulders visible
- No glasses
- Taken within the last 6 months (2 weeks for Nigeria)
❌ Rejected photos have:
- Wrong background colour (very common)
- Shadow behind the head
- Smiling or open mouth
- Head tilted or turned
- Face too small (under 70% of frame)
- Glasses worn
- Hat or head covering (non-religious)
- AI-altered, filtered or retouched photo (US: rejected since Jan 2026)
- File too large or too small (very common for India, Pakistan)
Country-Specific Requirements
Background colour and file size requirements vary significantly by country. Click your country for the exact specifications and to make your photo free:
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