How to Print Passport Photos at Home — Guide to Correct Size & Quality | Harazan

Printing passport photos at home saves money and time, but you must get the size and quality exactly right. Here is the complete guide.

What You Need

A digital passport photo at the correct resolution (at least 300 DPI)
Photo-quality paper (matte or glossy, at least 180 GSM for UK applications)
An inkjet or laser printer capable of photo-quality output
Our printable template (included with every digital download)

Step 1: Check Your Digital Photo

Your digital photo must be at the correct pixel dimensions. UK: 900 × 1200 px minimum. US: 600 × 600 px minimum. The DPI setting determines print size — 300 DPI is the standard.

Step 2: Use the Correct Paper

Use photo-quality paper, not standard printer paper. UK HM Passport Office requires at least 180 GSM paper weight. Glossy or matte finish are both acceptable. Do not use textured or watermarked paper.

Step 3: Printer Settings

Set your printer to the highest quality photo setting. Disable "fit to page" or scaling — print at 100% actual size. Select the correct paper type in printer settings (photo paper glossy/matte). Ensure ink levels are sufficient for consistent colour.

Step 4: Verify the Printed Size

After printing, measure your photo with a ruler. UK photos must be exactly 35 × 45 mm. US photos 2 × 2 inches. If the size is off by more than 1 mm, adjust your printer scaling settings and reprint.

Step 5: Check Print Quality

The photo must be in sharp focus with natural skin tones. No printer lines, ink smudges, or colour casts. The background colour must print accurately — light grey for UK, white for US. Hold the photo under good light to check for imperfections.

Common Printing Mistakes

Using standard paper instead of photo paper — results in dull, unsharp prints
"Fit to page" scaling — changes the photo dimensions
Low ink levels — causes colour banding and inaccurate skin tones
Wrong paper type setting — affects ink absorption and colour accuracy
Printing at low DPI — results in pixelation when printed at actual size