How to convert an iPhone HEIC photo for a passport photo
Last updated 2026-08-13
HEIC is Apple's default photo format since iOS 11, and almost no passport photo tool — including this one, for now — accepts it directly.
What HEIC is, and why it gets rejected
HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) is Apple's default camera format on modern iPhones — smaller files than JPEG at similar quality. The problem is that it's still not universally supported: most government upload portals, and this tool today, expect a JPEG or PNG file and will reject a HEIC upload outright rather than converting it for you.
Fastest fix: change your camera format before you shoot
On an iPhone: Settings → Camera → Formats → choose "Most Compatible" instead of "High Efficiency." Every photo you take afterward saves as a JPEG automatically — no conversion step needed. This is the best option if you haven't taken the photo yet.
Converting a photo you already have
If the photo's already on your camera roll as HEIC: opening it in the Photos app and using Share → Save as JPEG-compatible options (or simply emailing/AirDropping it to yourself, which converts it automatically on many iOS versions) will get you a JPEG copy without installing anything.
Then what
Once you have a JPEG or PNG, use the photo tool on your document's page as normal — everything else (cropping, background, compliance check) happens the same way regardless of your original format.