Passport and visa photo questions
How do I take a passport photo at home without shadows?
Face a window or another soft light at the height of your face, turn off the ceiling light, and stand about 1 m in front of a plain, light wall. Light from the front falls evenly on both sides of your face. Light from above or from one side casts shadows on your face, and standing close to the wall puts your shadow on the wall behind your head. The UK, Ireland, the US and Australia all ask for no shadows on your face or behind you.
What the official page says
- UK (gov.uk): no shadows on your face or behind you.
- Ireland (ireland.ie): no shadows on your face or behind your head, and balanced lighting that is not too dark or too light.
- US (travel.state.gov): even lighting on your face, and no shadows on your face or in the background. Avoid overhead lights or lights far off to one side, and stand several feet from the wall.
- Australia (passports.gov.au): uniform lighting and no shadows or reflections. Its examples show uneven lighting as unacceptable.
Official pages read: October 2026 · Official source: gov.uk, ireland.ie, travel.state.gov, travel.state.gov, passports.gov.au
How to do it with Complyshot
- Turn off the ceiling light. Face a window in daylight, or put a lamp in front of you at face height, so light falls evenly on both sides of your face.
- Stand about 1 m in front of a plain, light wall, so your own shadow does not land on the wall behind your head.
- Open Complyshot, choose your document and take the photo, with someone else holding the phone where the rules ask for it.
- Read the result. Complyshot flags a strong shadow on one side of your face and a background that is not light and even, and says what to change. It does not look for a shadow under your chin, so check that yourself.
Related questions
How do I get rid of the shadow behind my head?
Step further from the wall, to about 1 m, and keep the main light in front of you rather than to one side. Do not remove the shadow by editing: all four countries ask for an unedited photo.
Why is there a shadow under my chin or on my neck?
Usually because the light comes from above, such as a ceiling light. Turn it off and face a window or a lamp at face height instead, so the light comes from the front.
Does Complyshot remove shadows?
No. It checks the photo and tells you what to change, and you retake it. It never edits your face or background, because the UK, Ireland, the US and Australia do not accept edited photos.
Check your photo in Complyshot
Complyshot checks your photo on your iPhone; the photo is not uploaded. Checking is free, and saving the finished photo is a one-time purchase, with no subscription.
Download on the App StoreComplyshot is made by YOTEZIC LTD and is not affiliated with any government. It checks what a phone can measure and cannot promise that your photo will be accepted; the issuing office decides.