How to Scan an ID Card to PDF (Front and Back) — Free Online

Most KYC checks, visa applications, university admissions, and bank account openings ask for one specific thing: a single PDF showing both sides of your government ID. Sending two separate JPGs is the most common reason these applications get rejected — the front of a driving licence on its own is rarely enough to verify identity.

This guide shows how to scan an ID card to a clean two-page (or stacked single-page) PDF in under a minute, free, with no app and no sign-up.

Why a Single PDF Beats Two Photos

• Most portals reject loose JPGs. Visa centres (VFS, TLScontact), banks, and HR systems typically require PDF format with both sides included.
• Front and back stay paired. Two separate photos can get out of order or one can be lost in transit. A combined PDF locks them together.
• Cleaner appearance. A scanned, edge-corrected ID looks far more professional than a phone snapshot of an ID at an angle.
• Smaller file size. A scanned and filtered ID PDF is often 50–150 KB — well under the 1 MB cap most portals enforce.

How to Scan Both Sides of an ID to a Single PDF

Use the free online document scanner on imageandpdf.com. The same tool handles single-page documents and multi-page IDs identically — no special "ID mode" required.

Step 1 — Open the scanner

Go to imageandpdf.com/document-scanner in any browser. The tool loads instantly with no account prompt.

Step 2 — Capture the front of your ID

The simplest method is the QR pairing. Scan the on-screen QR code with your phone camera, then photograph the front of your ID with the phone. The image transfers to your desktop session immediately. Alternatively, drag and drop a photo you already have.

Step 3 — Crop and choose a filter

The editor auto-detects the ID edges. Drag the corner handles to fine-tune the crop tightly around the card — leaving generous border on an ID image makes the actual ID smaller in the final PDF and harder to read.

For driving licences, passports, and cards with photos, choose Colour. Most ID verifications need to see colour photos and security elements. For text-only ID like utility bills, B&W produces a smaller file.

Step 4 — Capture the back of your ID

Click Add page. Photograph the back of the ID the same way you did the front. Crop tightly. Use the same filter as page 1 for visual consistency.

Step 5 — Download as a single PDF

Confirm front is page 1 and back is page 2 in the page strip. Click Download PDF. Save the file with a clear name like my-name-id.pdf ready to upload to the portal.

Tips for a Clean ID Scan

• Lay the ID flat on a dark, plain surface. A black notebook or a wood desk gives the auto-edge detection a clear contrast boundary.
• Avoid harsh direct light. Glossy IDs reflect light and blow out details. Diffuse natural light or indirect room light works best.
• Hold the camera level. A tilted angle distorts the rectangle. The auto-perspective correction handles minor tilt, but a near-square crop produces the cleanest result.
• Crop tightly. Once the corners are detected, drag them inward so almost no background is visible. The ID should fill the page in the final PDF.
• Use the same orientation for both sides. If the front is landscape, capture the back as landscape too. Mixing orientations makes the PDF awkward to read.

Common ID Use Cases

• Visa applications. VFS, TLScontact, and most national immigration portals require front+back of a passport bio page or national ID.
• Bank account opening. KYC checks need clear scans of both sides of a driving licence or government ID.
• Job applications. Right-to-work checks ask for ID scans uploaded to applicant tracking systems.
• University admissions. International student visa packages typically need ID, transcripts, and financial documents in PDF form.
• Rental and lease agreements. Property managers commonly ask for ID scans alongside the application form.

Privacy: What Happens to Your ID Image?

An ID is sensitive data. The online document scanner processes your scan as follows:

• Your photo is uploaded to the server only for the duration of the scanning session, over an encrypted HTTPS connection.
• The PDF is generated server-side and streamed back to your browser.
• Both the source image and the resulting PDF are deleted from temporary storage automatically — within minutes for most sessions, and within an hour at the latest.
• No image content is logged, stored permanently, or analysed for any purpose beyond the scan itself.

If you want maximum privacy, scan from a private network and clear your browser cache when finished.

What If the Portal Wants the Front and Back on One Page?

Some portals require both sides on a single page rather than two separate pages. The simplest workaround:

1. Scan front and back as a 2-page PDF using the steps above.
2. Open the result in our PDF editor or use the Merge PDF tool with the 2-up option to place both pages side by side.
3. Download the 1-page result.

Alternatively, photograph both sides of the ID side-by-side on a flat surface in a single shot, then run that combined image through the scanner as one page.

Ready to scan your ID? Open the free online document scanner →