# Passport and visa photos checked against the official rules

Take the photo with your phone, or check one you already have, even one made with another app. IDPlain checks it rule by rule, tells you exactly what to fix, and sizes it for the upload form or a print sheet. Many passport offices reject photos with a replaced background or retouching, so we only crop and resize: your photo is never rejected for being edited. Checking is free; downloads start at $3.99 per document, with no subscription.

**URL:** https://idplain.com/index.md
**Last updated:** 2026-11-10
**Currency:** USD

This file (index.md, home page in Markdown) is one of four machine-readable files about IDPlain; they link to one another:

- [llms.txt](https://idplain.com/llms.txt): concise index
- [llms-full.txt](https://idplain.com/llms-full.txt): full details
- [index.md](https://idplain.com/index.md): home page in Markdown
- [pricing.md](https://idplain.com/pricing.md): full pricing

Try it: https://idplain.com/

## From your phone to an accepted photo

1. **Take it at home**: A short checklist first, then live tips as you shoot: closer, level, more light. On your own, it takes the photo when everything turns green.
2. **We check every rule**: Head size, shadows, glasses and sharpness, each with the measured number and the fix.
3. **Upload or print**: The exact upload file, or a 4×6, Letter or A4 sheet that prints for under $1.

## We crop. We never edit.

| | IDPlain | Background-replacing apps |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Background | Your real background, checked against the rules | Replaced by AI |
| Retouching | None: we only crop and resize | Skin smoothing, glare and stray-hair removal |
| What the official rules say | Cropping is allowed for every document we make files for | Replacing the background is explicitly forbidden for US, Canadian, Australian and Schengen documents |
| If the photo is rejected | Free redo for 30 days; if it's still rejected, the document comes back | Varies by app |

[Read the official wording](https://idplain.com/why-no-background-editing)

## Pick your document

- [US Passport photo](https://idplain.com/us/passport-photo): 2×2 in print · mail-in and in-person
- [US Visa (DS-160) photo](https://idplain.com/us/ds-160-visa-photo): 600×600 px upload
- [DV Lottery photo](https://idplain.com/us/dv-lottery-photo): 600×600 px upload
- [Schengen Visa (Germany) photo](https://idplain.com/schengen/germany-visa-photo): 35×45 mm print
- [China Visa photo](https://idplain.com/cn/visa-photo): 354×472 px upload
- [OCI card photo](https://idplain.com/in/oci-photo): 600×600 px upload
- [US Passport online renewal](https://idplain.com/us/passport-photo-online-renewal): Original photo · free check
- [Canada Passport photo](https://idplain.com/ca/passport-photo): Not possible online — see why

## Built around the official rules

- **Checked against the official rules**: Every rule comes from the government page that publishes it, with the date we last checked.
- **Tells you exactly what to fix**: "Head 52%, needs 55 to 65%. Move one step closer." Not just "failed".
- **Never edited**: We only crop and resize. No AI background swaps, so no altered-photo rejections.
- **One price per document**: $3.99 per document, shown before you sign in. No add-ons, no subscription.

## Frequently asked questions

- **Will my photo be accepted?** IDPlain checks every rule it can measure and tells you what to confirm yourself. Final acceptance is decided by the issuing authority. If a photo is rejected, redo it free; if it is rejected again, the document is credited back to your account.
- **Why don't you fix the background for me?** Most governments reject edited photos, and the US says so in writing. IDPlain only crops and resizes, and tells you how to retake when the background or light is off.
- **Is my photo uploaded?** No. The check and the files are made in your browser, and your photo is never sent to our servers. You can see for yourself: after your first check, turn off your internet connection and check another photo. We only store your account, your orders and which documents you unlocked. Photos you send from your phone to your computer are end-to-end encrypted and never stored.
- **How much does it cost?** Checking and the watermarked preview are free. Downloads cost $3.99 per document, with redos free for 30 days. Purchased documents are valid for 18 months and there is no subscription.