Can I use a phone photo or a selfie for my passport?
A phone photo works for US online passport renewal and UK online applications, though GOV.UK says someone should help you take it. Canada requires a commercial photographer, Australia discourages apps and selfies, and India doesn’t say.
Rules checked on · official sources only
What each country says
| Country | Answer | Official quote | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United StatesPassport | Yes for online passport renewal: phone photos are accepted in JPG, JPEG, PNG, HEIC or HEIF. Selfies are not specifically addressed. | The photo is a JPG, JPEG, PNG, HEIC, or HEIF file. Photos taken on a mobile device may automatically save in one of these formats. |
travel.state.gov | |
| United KingdomOnline application | Yes for online applications: you can take it on your own device during the application, but GOV.UK says you’ll need someone to help you take it. | You’ll need someone to help you take a photo during your application. You can get a digital photo either: from a photo booth or shop before applying for your passport by taking one using your own device during your passport application |
gov.uk | |
| Canada | No. Phones and selfies aren't mentioned, but both printed and digital passport photos must be taken in person by a commercial photographer. | Your digital passport photo must: be taken in person by a commercial photographer be taken no more than 6 months before the date you submit your application not be a scanned copy of a printed passport photo be taken in person by a commercial photographer or photo studio |
canada.ca | |
| Australia | Not recommended. The official site discourages online photo services and mobile apps; the video says someone else should take the photo from 1.5 metres away. | We do not recommend using an online passport photo service or a mobile app. These may put you in danger of identity fraud. You should stand about half a metre from the background and the photographer should stand one and a half metres away from you. |
passports.gov.au passports.gov.au (video transcript) |
|
| India | Not stated. Selfies and phone photos aren't mentioned; at the PSK, the Citizen Service Executive takes your photograph. | The CSE will click your photograph, take fingerprints. |
passportindia.gov.in (PDF) |
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Answers quote the official pages linked above. Not affiliated with any government. Final acceptance is up to the issuing authority.