📸 How to Make a Passport-Size Photo and a Digital Signature at Home

By the MZScan team · Updated 10 October 2026 · 3 min read

Visa forms, exam registrations and job applications often ask for a passport-size photo and a scanned signature. A trip to a studio costs time and money, and you often need only a small digital file. With a phone, a plain wall and a sheet of paper you can prepare both at home.

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Make a passport photo or signature →

Take a good source photo

Stand in front of a plain, light-coloured wall in even daylight.
Ask someone to hold the phone at eye level, about one metre away. A selfie camera distorts the face.
Look straight at the camera, keep a neutral expression and keep your mouth closed.
Remove glasses with glare, caps and anything that casts a shadow on the face.

Make the passport photo

Open ID Card, Photo and Signature and go to the passport photo section.
Upload the photo or take a new one.
Choose the size: 35x45 mm, 2x2 inch or 25x35 mm. Check which one your form requires.
Use the zoom and position sliders to centre your face. Leave a little space above the head.
Download a single photo for online upload, or a 4x6 sheet with several copies to print at any photo shop.

Make a transparent signature

There are two methods.

Draw it: sign with your finger or mouse in the signature box.
Use a photo: sign with a dark pen on plain white paper, take a straight, well-lit photo, and upload it. The tool turns the paper background transparent and gives you a PNG you can place on any document.

Use a thick, dark pen and sign inside a clear space, so the strokes stay clean when the background is removed.

Meet the upload limit

Online portals frequently limit photos to 20 to 100 KB. After you save the photo or signature, reduce it with the image compressor. Choose JPG for a photo. Keep PNG for a signature if you need the transparent background, or use JPG when the form requires it.

Printing tips

Print the 4x6 sheet on glossy photo paper at 100% scale. Do not choose "fit to page", because it changes the size of each photo. Cut along the edges with a ruler and a sharp blade for neat copies.

Pixel sizes at a glance

For printing at 300 dots per inch, a 35x45 mm photo is about 413 by 531 pixels, a 2x2 inch photo is 600 by 600 pixels and a 25x35 mm photo is about 295 by 413 pixels. Online portals sometimes ask for a particular pixel size or a maximum file size instead of a print size. Always follow the portal instructions first.

Tips for children and babies

Lay a baby on a plain white sheet and photograph from above, with the face evenly lit. For small children, a calm moment and a plain wall work best. Make sure the eyes are open and the face is turned straight to the camera. Take many pictures and pick the sharpest one.

Getting a clean signature

Use a fresh sheet of white paper and a black or dark blue pen.
Sign a few times and choose the cleanest one.
Make sure the photo has no shadow across the paper. Even light matters more than resolution.
After you get the PNG, check it on a white background and on a coloured one to see that the edges look smooth.

Rules to remember

Official photos usually require a plain background, no filters and a recent picture. Always read the instructions of the authority that will accept your photo. If a rule is strict, such as a specific background colour, follow it exactly.

Frequently asked questions

Is my photo uploaded?
No. Everything happens in your browser.

Which size is for a passport?
It depends on your country and application. Check the instructions. Many forms ask for 35x45 mm, and some visa forms ask for 2x2 inch.

Is it free?
Yes. The free version has a small "mzscan.com" mark on the ID card page, and Premium removes it.

Your files stay on your device. Nothing is uploaded.