How to Print Passport Photos at Home or at a Pharmacy — Free Print Sheet
A photo studio charges €8–€15 for a set of passport photos. With idpic.app, you create a compliant photo for free, export a print-ready PDF sheet, and print it at any pharmacy for as little as €0.25. Here's the complete guide. Check the exact print size for your country: Germany, UK, US, or France.
Take or upload your photo
Start with a compliant passport photo — correct background, lighting, and face position. If you already have a good photo, open it directly in idpic.app.
- Use a white or off-white wall as background
- Face a window for even, natural light — avoid flash
- Look straight at the camera with a neutral expression
- Eyes must be fully open and visible
- Open your photo in idpic.app for AI validation and resizing
Export the print sheet PDF
Once idpic.app has validated and resized your photo, use the Print Sheet feature to generate a printable PDF. Multiple passport photos are laid out on a single 10×15 cm (4×6 in) sheet.
- A standard 10×15 cm sheet typically fits 4–8 passport photos depending on format
- The PDF is print-ready — no further editing needed
- Download the PDF directly to your phone or computer
- The sheet includes the exact bleed and crop marks needed
Print at a pharmacy or at home
Take the PDF to any pharmacy, supermarket photo counter, or print at home. Standard 10×15 cm (4×6 in) photo paper is used — the same paper used for regular photos.
- At the counter: select "10×15 cm / 4×6 in" photo print and upload the PDF
- Use glossy photo paper for the best results — matte is also accepted in most countries
- Print resolution should be at least 300 DPI — idpic.app exports at 300 DPI by default
- At home, use a photo inkjet printer and dedicated photo paper.
- A 10×15 cm print at a pharmacy counter typically costs €0.15–€0.25.
Cut out your photos
Once printed, cut along the crop lines to separate the individual passport photos. Use scissors or a paper guillotine for straight edges.
- Use a ruler and craft knife on a cutting mat for the cleanest result
- Cut slightly inside the crop marks to avoid visible borders
- Keep the photos flat and clean — avoid fingerprints on the photo surface
- Store unused photos in an envelope until needed
Where to print your passport photo sheet
Germany: dm, Rossmann, Müller — photo terminals accept PDFs directly
In the UK, Boots, Tesco, and Sainsbury's usually let you use an in-store photo kiosk.
In the US, Walgreens, CVS, and Walmart let you upload the sheet in their photo app or use an in-store kiosk.
In France, Fnac, Carrefour, and many pharmacies offer photo printing terminals.
In any location, you can use online photo printing services that deliver by post.
At home, use an inkjet printer with glossy 10×15 cm photo paper.
How to print passport photos on a home printer
Choose the right paper
Use glossy or semi-glossy photo paper in 10×15 cm (4×6 in) size — the same paper used for regular snapshots. Do not use plain A4 printer paper: the colours will bleed, the finish will look flat, and authorities may reject the photo. Photo paper is sold at any office supply store, supermarket, or online (brands: HP, Canon, Epson).
Load paper and open the PDF
Load the photo paper into your printer's photo tray (usually the rear feed). Open the print sheet PDF that you downloaded from idpic.app.
Set the correct print settings
In the print dialog, set the paper size to match your PDF — 10×15 cm (4×6 in). Set quality to "Best" or "Photo". Set scaling to "Actual size" or 100% — never "Fit to page" or "Shrink to fit", as this will alter the photo dimensions. If your printer supports borderless printing, enable it; otherwise leave margins at default — the photos are positioned with enough margin to print correctly either way.
Verify the size with the built-in ruler
Every print sheet from idpic.app includes a 1 cm and 1 inch ruler printed along the edge. After printing, hold a real ruler against the printed one — the markings must match exactly. If the printed ruler is shorter or longer than your real ruler, your scaling is wrong: go back to the print dialog and make sure scaling is set to 100% / "Actual size".
Tips for the best print result
Print at a pharmacy
for the lowest cost and most consistent results
Send the PDF to a print service from your phone
no computer needed
Order multiple sets from one sheet
to save money
Keep a digital copy of the PDF
in case you need to reprint
Check your country's requirements
for gloss vs. matte finish
Laminated photos are not accepted
use standard photo paper only
Common printing mistakes — avoid these
Printing on regular A4 paper instead of photo paper
Printing at the wrong size — always select 10×15 cm (4×6 in)
Low resolution — blurry or pixelated prints are rejected
Laminating the photos — strictly prohibited
Cutting too far inside the lines — photos end up undersized
Fingerprints or smudges on the photo surface
Using an inkjet printer without photo paper — colours bleed
Photos older than the maximum allowed age (usually 6 months)
Frequently asked questions
Can I print passport photos at home?
Yes — as long as you use photo paper (not regular printer paper) and print at 300 DPI or higher. Most countries accept self-printed passport photos provided they meet all the requirements (size, background, face position). For best results, print at a pharmacy or photo counter where the paper and calibration are optimised for ID photos.
What paper size do I need to print passport photos?
The standard is a 10×15 cm (4×6 inch) sheet — the same size used for regular snapshots. idpic.app generates a print sheet PDF at exactly this size, pre-arranged with as many passport photos as fit for your document format.
How many photos fit on a 10×15 cm sheet?
This depends on the format. For the common 35×45 mm European passport format, 4 photos fit on a 10×15 cm sheet. For smaller formats (e.g. 25×35 mm), up to 8 photos can fit. idpic.app calculates the optimal layout automatically.
Do pharmacies accept self-printed passport photos?
In most countries, yes — provided the photos meet the official requirements (size, background, print quality). However, some countries or authorities may require photos from a professional studio. Always check your country's specific guidance before submitting.
How much does it cost to print passport photos?
At a pharmacy or supermarket photo counter, a 10×15 cm print typically costs €0.15–€0.25 (or equivalent), compared to €8–€15 at a professional photo studio. With idpic.app, the passport photo itself is free to create — you only pay for printing.
Should I use borderless printing?
If your printer supports it, borderless is ideal — it prints edge-to-edge with no white margins. If borderless is not available, that's fine: the photos on the sheet are positioned with enough margin to print correctly with standard borders. Just make sure scaling is set to 100% / "Actual size" and never "Fit to page".
How do I verify the printed photos are the correct size?
Every print sheet from idpic.app includes a reference ruler (1 cm and 1 inch) printed along the edge. After printing, hold a real ruler up to the printed one — the markings should match exactly. If they don't, your printer is scaling the PDF. Go back to print settings and set scaling to 100% or "Actual size".
What paper size should I select in the print dialog?
Select the same paper size as the PDF you downloaded — typically 10×15 cm (4×6 in). idpic.app shows the sheet size before you download. If your printer only offers A6 (105×148 mm), that's close enough to 4×6 in and will work. Never select A4 and "Fit to page" — this changes the scale and your photos will be the wrong size.
Generate your free print sheet now
Create my passport photo print sheetFree · No uploads · Works entirely in your browser