Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about FreePassPhoto.

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  1. Go to the freepassphoto.com home page.
  2. Take a few well-lit photos in front of a plain white or off-white background. Choose the best one to upload.
  3. Upload your photo and follow the on-screen steps to crop and adjust it to official passport or visa requirements.
  4. 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 freepassphoto.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, FreePassPhoto is completely free for creating and downloading digital passport, visa, or ID photos. We provide the tools to crop and verify your photo at no cost.

Premium features, such as AI background removal, expert manual review, and physical prints, are available through our professional partner service. You'll see options to upgrade if you need these extra services.

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.

The free version on this site lets you download your photo with its original background. Our Premium Partner service offers AI background removal, biometric quality checks, and physical prints delivered to your door. This is ideal if you need a white background or want the peace of mind of a professional review.

Your privacy is our priority. Photos on this site are kept for 60 minutes for your session. 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. FreePassPhoto 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!

A shipping address is only required if you choose to order physical prints through our premium partner. This is needed for delivery and to calculate correct sales tax. Our free digital download service does not require a shipping address.

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?”

United States Rules: In the U.S., you are allowed to have a natural smile in your passport photo. However, an exaggerated or unnatural smile may result in the cancellation of your application. The government prefers a natural expression.
International Rules: For countries like the UK, Canada, Australia, and Schengen states, the rules are stricter. They often use different face recognition algorithms that struggle with smiles.
Recommendation: Maintain a neutral facial expression (mouth closed, eyes open) for these countries.
The Final Verdict: It depends on the country. Most countries suggest a neutral facial expression. When in doubt, do not smile.