Passport photo checker
Choose your document, add the photo, and the checker measures it against that document's published rules: head size, eye height, tilt, eyes, background and sharpness. It runs in your browser, so the photo is never uploaded.
- Free, no sign-up
- Photo stays on your device
- No retouching
- 41 documents
What the checker measures
| Face found, and only one | Exactly one face, looking at the camera. |
|---|---|
| Head size | Chin to top of hair against the document's range, official or recommended. |
| Eye height and centring | Where the eyes sit and whether the face is centred. |
| Head straight | Tilt of the eye line, in degrees. |
| Eyes open, neutral expression | Closed eyes, an open mouth or a smile are flagged. |
| Space above the head | Hair or the top of the head cut off by the edge. |
| Background | Plain, light and even, or the colour the document asks for (some need white, some must not be white). |
| Sharpness and resolution | Enough pixels for the printed size or upload, and a face in focus. |
| File size and pixels | For online uploads: the KB and pixel limits set by the authority. |
Each result is marked as passed, a warning or a problem. Where the authority publishes no number, for example no head size, the check says it is a recommendation rather than a rule.
What it cannot check
- Whether the photo is recent enough. Most documents want a photo from the last 6 months; the UK passport wants one from the last month. See photo rules compared.
- Whether you look like yourself today, and whether the photo was retouched before you added it.
- Paper quality and print size. Measure a printed photo with a ruler; the printing guide explains how.
How to read the results
- Problems (red) are things the rules forbid, such as two faces or a head outside the official size.
- Warnings (amber) are risks, such as a slightly uneven background or a recommended size that is not met.
- If the framing is the problem and the photo has room around the head, the tool can re-frame it for you. Otherwise take a new photo: how to take a passport photo at home.
Questions
Can it tell me if my photo will be accepted?
No tool can promise that: the passport office, embassy or exam board decides. The checker measures the things that can be measured, such as head size, tilt and background, against the rules published for the document you choose, and explains anything it flags.
Is my photo uploaded?
No. The photo is opened and measured in your browser and never leaves your device. Close the tab and it is gone.
Can I check a photo taken at a shop or pharmacy?
Yes. Scan or photograph the print straight on, or use the digital file if you were given one, choose your document and read the checks. If you only need to check a digital file for a UK or US online application, open that document's page and choose the online option: it checks the file exactly as it is, without cropping.
Does it fix problems?
It can re-frame the photo, which fixes a head that is too large or too small when the original has room around it. It never retouches the face or replaces the background, because authorities refuse photos changed by software. Problems like shadows or a busy background need a new photo.
Which documents can it check?
All 41 documents on this site, each with rules read on the issuing authority's own website. Choose the document in the list above the photo.