Tip: After taking the photo correctly, just upload it to anhthe.io — the system automatically enhances your smartphone photo, giving you beautiful skin and lighting while keeping it compliant.
You can absolutely take your own ID photo at home with a phone — no studio, no professional camera. Phone photos are accepted for passports, ID cards, driver licenses and visas, as long as they're taken correctly. Compare the two photos below to see what an acceptable ID photo looks like, then follow the rules underneath to get it right the first time.
Why one passes and the other doesn't
Why this one passes
- Looking straight at the lens, head not tilted
- Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open naturally
- Even light on both sides of the face — no shadows
- Face is sharp with both ears clearly visible, not covered by hair, glasses or a hat
Why this one fails
- Eyes looking downward (often a side-effect of taking a selfie)
- Shadows on the face from uneven lighting
- Hair covers the face, or wearing a hat or hair accessory
- Shoulders tilted, not level. Head tipped back or down toward the floor
The 3 rules that matter most
-
Lighting
Stand facing a window during the day, 1–2 meters away. Avoid ceiling lights, back-lighting and flash — both sides of your face should be evenly lit.
-
Expression
Eyes open naturally, mouth closed, no smile. Look straight into the lens with a relaxed, neutral face — like an ID card.
-
Posture & framing
Head upright, shoulders level, back straight. Camera at eye level, 0.5–1 meter away, framed from the chest up. Use the rear camera, not selfie.
How to set up your shot
Tap an icon to see that step.
Clothing, background and camera settings
Clothing
- Wear a collared shirt in a dark color (navy, black, dark gray) — avoid white tops that blend into the white background;
- Skip busy patterns and fine stripes;
- Keep hair tidy with ears and eyebrows visible; no hats, glasses or earphones.
Background
- Don't worry about the background — anhthe.io will remove it and add a compliant white backdrop for you;
- Keep other people and objects out of the frame.
Phone camera settings
- Use the rear camera — higher quality than the selfie camera and no mirroring. Ask someone to shoot, or prop the phone up and use a 3–10 second timer;
- Turn off flash, Portrait mode and Live Photo (iPhone);
- Turn off Beauty Mode (Android) — automatic beautification can get the photo rejected;
- Tap your face on screen to focus, then take 5–10 shots and pick the sharpest.
Most common mistakes
| Mistake | Consequence | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Shooting with flash | Hard shadow behind you, red eyes | Turn off flash, face a window |
| Using the selfie camera | Mirrored, soft image, eyes off-axis | Use the rear camera with a helper or timer |
| Smiling | Photo rejected | Neutral face, mouth closed |
| Wearing white | Blends into the white background | Dark collared shirt |
| Standing against the wall | Shadow on the backdrop — "gray level" rejection | Stand 30–50 cm away from the wall |
If Vietnam's Public Service Portal has rejected your photo for a background issue, see how to fix the "background gray level not suitable" error.
What to do after shooting
- Open anhthe.io on your phone or computer;
- Pick the photo type you need (passport, ID card, driver license, visa...);
- Upload your shot — AI removes the background, adds compliant white and frames your face to the exact ratio and size;
- Preview for free and download the compliant file.
Want your ID photo to look better?
You can use AI or built-in phone tools — pick whichever fits you from the options below:
Important note on identity: skin smoothing, brightening, and shadow removal are all fine. But never use face-slimming, eye-enlarging, or shape-altering effects. An ID photo must match your real face — if your features have been reshaped, our system will reject the photo and the issuing authority will reject it too.
- How to remove face shadow on iPhone — Vivid filter + Shadows/Contrast/Brightness sliders.
- How to remove face shadow on Samsung — one-tap AI Erase Shadow (One UI 6.1+).
Ready to create a compliant ID photo?
Upload your photo to anhthe.io — AI removes the background, adds a white backdrop and exports the right size for passports, ID cards, driver licenses and visas.
Create ID photo now