The upload-limit problem, solved properly
Every application portal has a file-size ceiling, every phone camera blows past it, and the usual "fixes" are bad: emailing the photo to yourself (quality roulette), screenshotting it (resolution loss), or uploading your passport scan to a random compression website (a privacy decision you shouldn't have to make). This tool does it correctly: pick the limit, and it finds the best combination of dimensions and JPEG quality that fits under it — locally, in your browser.
Pick the right target
- ≤ 5MB: the common per-file ceiling for visa attachments in ImmiAccount-style portals.
- ≤ 1–2MB: typical for bank loan portals, myGov linked services and job application systems.
- ≤ 500KB: safe for email attachments in bulk and older government forms.
- ≤ 100–250KB: profile documents, web forms with strict limits.
One habit worth keeping: compress a copy for uploading and keep your original full-quality photo archived — you can always compress again, but you can't un-compress.
Scan tips that beat any compressor
A good source photo compresses smaller and reads better: lay the document flat in even light (no flash glare), fill the frame, hold the phone parallel to the page, and use your phone's built-in document mode (iPhone Notes scanner or Google Drive scan) which flattens and sharpens text before you even get here.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my phone photo of a document 8MB?
Modern phone cameras shoot at 12–48 megapixels with light compression — great for landscapes, absurd overkill for a payslip. A document only needs to be readable: around 1,500–2,400px on the long edge at moderate JPEG quality is crisp on any screen and usually lands between 200KB and 1MB.
Will compressing make my document unreadable?
Not at sensible targets. This tool reduces file size by combining smart resizing with JPEG quality tuning, and it refuses to shrink below the point where text typically stays legible — if your target is impossibly small for the content, it tells you and gives the smallest readable result instead.
What file size does ImmiAccount accept?
Attachment limits are commonly around 5MB per file, but they vary by form and change over time — check the limit shown in your actual application. The ≤5MB preset here exists for exactly that case; if your scan bundle is still too big, splitting pages or using our upcoming PDF tools helps.
Is my document uploaded to your server?
No. Compression happens entirely in your browser using the Canvas API — the file never leaves your device, which matters when the document is your passport, payslip or bank statement. Closing the tab discards everything.
My iPhone photo won’t load — why?
It is probably HEIC, Apple’s format that most non-Safari browsers cannot read. Fix it at the source: Settings → Camera → Formats → “Most Compatible” shoots JPEG, or share the photo to yourself in a chat app (which converts it) and save that copy.
Can I compress a PDF here?
Not yet — this tool handles images (JPG, PNG, WebP). A dedicated PDF merge & compress tool is next on our roadmap; for now, many portals accept a compressed JPG of each page just as happily.
Preparing a visa application? Get your photo right with the Visa Photo Resizer, and the money side with our Tax Refund Calculator.
Calcroo compresses files as a convenience — upload limits and document requirements are set by each portal and change over time; always follow the instructions in your actual application. Files are processed locally in your browser and are never uploaded to Calcroo.