How-to guide
How to crop a passport photo correctly
Learn how head size, top margin, centering, and output aspect ratio work together in a safe passport-photo crop.
Use a fixed output aspect ratio, center the face, and aim for a head size that sits safely inside the allowed band instead of at the extremes.
Good cropping is mostly geometry. The goal is to place the face inside the expected range without clipping or crowding.
How it works
Start with the correct profile
The target physical size defines the aspect ratio and the final pixel output.
Use head-size guidance
Look for a crop where the head height lands near the preferred range, not just the minimum pass line.
Protect top space
Leave enough room above the head to avoid a cramped crop.
Avoid edge clipping
Hair, ears, chin, and shoulders should not be accidentally cut off.
Common issues
Head too small
Top margin too tight
Face off-center
Crop touches hair or chin
Need a clean background first?
Use a separate background-removal tool first, then come back here to match the crop, size, and final export.
Background cleanup opens on a third-party site. Clean the background there first, then come back here to crop and export.
Remove backgroundOpen the crop workstation
Use auto crop first, then fine-tune zoom, alignment, and rotation in the browser.
Open editorFAQ
Should I crop tighter for a more professional look?
No. Official photos are about compliance, not style. A slightly tighter crop is often safer.
Why does the checker prefer mid-range head size?
Because profiles often allow a range, and the middle of that range is less likely to fail manual review.