How to take a passport photo with an Android phone
Turn off portrait, beauty and filter modes. Stand in front of a plain white or off-white wall, facing a window for soft light, and have someone hold the phone at eye level a few feet away (the back camera is sharper). Keep a neutral face, eyes open, mouth closed, then crop it to 2 × 2 inches with the head 1 to 1 3/8 inches.
Camera settings
- Use the normal photo mode, not portrait or beauty mode
- No filters, no smoothing or “AI enhance” effects
- Flash off; use daylight from a window instead
- Clean the lens
Set up the shot
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Find a plain wall
White or off-white, with nothing behind you. A white sheet works too.
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Face the light
Stand facing a window so the light is soft and even, with no shadows on your face or the wall.
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Get some distance
Have someone hold the phone at eye level a few feet away. A selfie at arm’s length distorts the face.
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Pose
Face the camera straight on, eyes open, mouth closed, glasses off.
Check and crop it
Open passportowl.com in Chrome on your phone. The owl coaches you while you shoot, then we crop the photo to the official size and check every rule. You see the result before you pay, and retakes are free.
Already have a photo? Check it free with the passport photo checker. Every rule in one place: passport photo requirements.
Questions
Should I use the front or back camera?
The back camera is sharper. Ask someone to hold the phone, or prop it up.
Can I use my phone’s AI enhance or beauty mode?
No. They change the photo, and edited photos aren’t allowed.
Sources: Passport photos - travel.state.gov . Checked Oct 12, 2026. How we keep rules accurate
