Can I take a biometric photo at home?

Some applications accept it; for others a photographer's shot is required. Find out the authority's method in advance.

Many official applications require no glasses. Check the current rule of the authority.

Must the background be pure white?

Turkey asks for plain white; some countries accept light grey or other light colours. Your preset applies the suggested colour.

Where is my photo uploaded?

Nowhere: processing happens on your device and nothing is uploaded.

Biometric Photo Sizes and Rules by Country (2026)

Don't get your ID, passport or visa photo rejected: sizes, head proportions, backgrounds and the usual mistakes by country in one post.

A biometric photo is an official document photo taken to specific size and rules so that face-recognition systems can use it too. A small deviation in size, background or head proportion can get an application rejected. The list below summarises common sizes.

Common sizes

Turkey (ID card, passport, driving licence): 50×60 mm, plain white background; the face covers roughly 70–80% of the photo.
Schengen and EU countries: 35×45 mm; head height about 32–36 mm; light, plain background.
United Kingdom: 35×45 mm; head height about 29–34 mm.
United States: 2×2 in (51×51 mm); head height about 25–35 mm; white background.
Canada: 50×70 mm; head height about 31–36 mm.
China (visa): 33×48 mm; white background.

Rules differ by country and change over time. The above is general information; always check the current requirements of the authority or consulate you apply to.

Basic rules that apply almost everywhere

Facing the camera straight on; head not tilted or turned.
Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open.
Shadow-free, plain, light background; no glare on face or eyes.
No hat, hair or accessories covering the face; the glasses rule varies by country and most applications want none.
No digital filters or retouching that alters facial features.
Recent photo (usually within the last 6 months).

How to prepare the photo

Shoot in front of a plain wall: In window light, facing the camera at eye level, with the phone fixed in place.
Choose the size: In AI Photo Studio pick a preset such as “Turkey biometric (50×60)”, “Schengen” or “US”; the head proportion is set automatically.
Make the background white: AI separates the background down to strands of hair; apply white or light grey.
Read the suitability list: Warnings for head size, expression and light are shown; retake if needed.
Set a size limit if required: Portals may cap file size in KB; enter the maximum and the tool fits the file.

AI Photo Studio — Crops to biometric sizes, swaps the background and prepares a print sheet. The photo never leaves your device.

For printing, you can lay out many copies on 10×15 cm photo paper; choose “100% / actual size” when printing so the sheet isn't scaled down.