Private photo service, not a government office. We make the photo only.
Official US passport photo size
US Passport Photo Online
A compliant 2 x 2 photo from your phone, in minutes
Take a selfie with your phone or upload a photo. Our AI crops it to 2 x 2 inches, sets a plain white background and checks it against the State Department requirements before you pay.
Every requirementverified before you pay
Acceptance guaranteedouble your money back
Digital in minutesor print at a store near you
Your photo is deleted 30 days after delivery and never used to train AI.
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2 inches51 mm
2 inches51 mm
1 to 1 3/8 in25 to 35 mmHead heightchin to top of headPhoto requirements
US Passport Photo Size and Requirements
The State Department’s requirements for a US passport photo. We check every one before you pay.
| Size | 2 x 2 in (51 x 51 mm) |
|---|---|
| Head height | 1 to 1 3/8 in (25 to 35 mm), chin to top of head |
| Background | Plain white or off white, no shadows |
| Taken within | The last 6 months, in color |
| Expression | Neutral, eyes open, mouth closed |
| Glasses | None, unless your doctor signs a note |
| Online renewal file | JPG, PNG, HEIC or HEIF, 54 KB to 10 MB |
| Our digital file | Square JPEG, 600 to 2400 px, within those limits |
| Printed photo | Matte or glossy photo paper, printed at 300 dpi |
Sources: State Department photo requirements and online renewal photo upload, checked September 23, 2026.
How it works
Your US passport photo in 3 steps
Guided by the camera, measured by the software, checked before you pay.
Take a selfie or upload a photo
Hold your phone at arm's length and the on screen guide lines it up. Or upload a photo you already have.
We crop it and check it
The AI crops it to 2 x 2 inches, sizes your head, sets a plain white background and checks every requirement.
Download it or get prints
The digital file is in your inbox within minutes of paying, as soon as the final automated check passes. Or have prints mailed, or print the sheet yourself at a store near you.
- Correct size
- Head height in range
- Plain white background
- Even lighting, no shadows
- Eyes open, mouth closed
- Ready to submit
Three tips before you take the photo
Get these three right and the software handles the rest.
Take It As A Selfie
Hold your phone at arm's length, 16 to 20 inches (40 to 50 cm) from your face. The guide sets the distance.
Face The Camera
Hold the camera at face height. Keep your head straight and your expression neutral.
Ensure Even Lighting
Stand facing a light source, such as an exposed window. Don't worry about the background.
Why customers choose PassportPhotos
Fast, guided, and backed by our acceptance guarantee.
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Three minutes of your time
Take the photo, watch the initial check pass, pay once. No account, no appointment, no line at a counter.
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Guided, then checked
The camera guides you while you take it. Software does the crop, the background and the measurements, then verifies the result against the official requirements before you pay.
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Accepted or double your money back
Add the Acceptance guarantee at checkout. If the authority rejects the photo, you get twice what you paid, to the card you used.
Accepted or double your money back
Every photo gets two automated checks: one while you take it, before you pay, and a final check of the finished photo before we release it. Add the Acceptance guarantee at checkout for $6.99 and that final check is stricter. If the State Department rejects the photo, email us within 14 days of the rejection and you get twice what you paid.
The US passport photo requirements, in plain words
The State Department says unacceptable photos are the most common reason passport applications get put on hold. The requirements are specific, not hard. Here is every one that matters, from travel.state.gov.
Recent
Taken in the last 6 months, in color. An old photo that still looks like you is still an old photo.
Size
2 x 2 inches. Head between 1 and 1 3/8 inches from chin to top of head, centered, the whole head in the frame.
Background
Plain white or off white. No shadows, texture, pattern, objects or lines. We replace whatever is behind you with plain white, but a clean wall gives the AI a cleaner edge.
Pose
Face the camera directly, head not tilted, shoulders square.
Expression
Neutral or a natural smile, mouth closed, both eyes open and visible.
Glasses
None. Not on your face, not on your head. A medical exception needs a signed doctor's note with the application.
Head Coverings
None, unless worn daily for religious reasons or on medical grounds, with a signed statement. The full face has to show.
Clothing
No uniforms, camouflage, headphones or earpieces. Jewelry is fine if it does not hide the face.
Quality
Sharp, evenly lit, natural skin tones. No red eye.
The software measures the size, the background, the pose, the expression, glasses, head coverings and the light before you pay, and shows you every result. The one thing it cannot see is when the photo was taken, so you confirm the date yourself before checkout.
Digital or printed: which one do you need
It depends on how you apply. Every option includes the digital file, so you can always print later.
Digital file onlyRenewing Online At travel.state.gov
You need the digital file only. Our JPEG is inside the State Department's upload limits for online renewal: JPEG, 54 KB to 10 MB.
Digital plus printsApplying In Person Or Renewing By Mail
You need one printed 2 x 2 photo on photo paper. Choose the digital plus prints option and we mail two prints: Standard shipping (Free, 3 to 5 business days) or Express ($15, 1 to 2 business days). Or print the emailed sheet yourself at a store near you.
Not sureNot Sure Which One You Need
Take the digital file. Every option includes it, and you can print the 4 x 6 sheet yourself later at CVS, Walgreens or Walmart for well under a dollar.*
*Listed stores are not affiliated with our service.
US Passport Photo Near Me? Your Phone Is Closer
Most searches for a US passport photo near you end at a pharmacy counter, with one shot you cannot redo. Take it at home instead: your selfie becomes a 2 x 2 inch photo on white, measured against the State Department rules before you pay.
First Passport or Renewal
A first passport is filed in person on Form DS-11 with a printed photo. An online renewal takes the digital file. You get the file either way, and prints when your form needs them.
Retakes Cost Nothing
At a counter you get one or two tries. At home the software checks head size, background and lighting before you pay, and you can retake as often as you like.
Print at a Store Near You
Need the prints today? We email you a ready to print sheet, and you order the print yourself at a store near you, such as CVS, Walgreens or Walmart. Rather stay home? Have them mailed.
US Passport Photo Price
| Digital photo | $16.99 |
|---|---|
| Digital photo plus two printed photosFour or six prints cost a little more | $19.99 |
| Standard shipping for mailed prints3 to 5 business days | Free |
| Express shipping for mailed prints1 to 2 business days | $15 |
| Print at a store near youYou order it from the emailed sheet | Store print price |
| Acceptance guaranteeOptional, added at checkout | +$6.99 |
| Photo retouchingOptional, added at checkout | +$4.99 |
Tax is included in the total you see. You pay once, after the initial check has passed, and never before.
Why photos get rejected, and how we catch it
The State Department publishes its own examples of rejected photos:
- head too small or too large
- shadows across the face
- a colored or patterned background
- glasses, eyes closed, mouth open or head tilted
- a photo older than six months
Our software measures the head size, the tilt, the light and the background against the State Department's own requirements, and shows you every result before you pay. A photo that fails a check cannot be bought; you retake it, free, until it passes. That matters, because a rejection costs you weeks.
What we do not do to your photo
We crop it, size it, place your head correctly and put it on plain white. We do not change your face, your features, your eyes or your expression. A photo that looks like you is the whole point.
If you add photo retouching, we remove temporary blemishes, shadows under the eyes, stray hairs and dust spots, and nothing else.
Sources: U.S. Passport Photos, travel.state.gov and Upload a Digital Photo for Online Renewal, travel.state.gov, checked September 23, 2026.
FAQ
US Passport Photo Questions, Answered
PassportPhotos.com is a private online photo service that makes 2 x 2 inch US passport photos to the State Department rules. We are not part of the State Department or any government office.
Does my photo meet the US passport photo requirements?
A US passport photo must be 2 x 2 inches on white, and the software measures yours against the State Department’s published requirements: size, head height, background, pose, expression, glasses and light. You see every result before you pay, and a photo that fails a check cannot be bought. Acceptance is always the State Department’s decision, which is why the Acceptance guarantee pays double your money back if it is rejected.Can I take my own US passport photo as a selfie?
Yes, you can take your US passport photo as a selfie, and it is the easiest way. Hold your phone at arm's length, 16 to 20 inches from your face, and the camera guide sets the distance and framing. The software then checks every requirement before you pay. Prefer a helper or the timer? That works too.How fast do I get my US passport photo?
Your US passport photo takes about three minutes to take and check out. The digital file is in your inbox within minutes of paying, as soon as the final automated check passes. Mailed prints arrive in 3 to 5 business days with Standard shipping (Free) or 1 to 2 with Express ($15).Where can I print my US passport photo?
Every US passport photo order includes a 4 x 6 sheet with two 2 x 2 photos. Print it on matte or glossy photo paper at home or at a photo kiosk, or have prints mailed to you.Can I use this photo to renew my US passport online?
Yes, the photo works for the online passport renewal. The digital file is a square JPEG between 600 and 2400 pixels and 54 KB to 10 MB, inside the State Department’s online renewal limits. Upload it when the renewal form asks for your photo.Can I wear glasses in a US passport photo?
No, glasses are not allowed in a US passport photo, so take them off. If you cannot remove them for a medical reason, include a signed note from your doctor with your application.Can I smile in a US passport photo?
For a US passport photo, keep a neutral expression, or a natural smile with your mouth closed and both eyes open. The State Department asks you to avoid showing teeth.Where can I get a US passport photo near me?
On your phone, at home: the selfie is cropped to 2 x 2 inches on white, checked against the State Department rules before you pay and emailed within minutes. For Form DS-11 or a mail renewal, print the emailed sheet yourself at a store near you, or have prints mailed.What if my photo fails the check?
The screen tells you what to fix and you retake it free, as many times as you like. Nothing is charged until every check passes.Do you change my face?
No. We crop it, size it and set a plain white background. Retouching, if you add it, removes temporary blemishes and dust, never a feature.What happens to my photo afterward?
It is used to make your passport photo and for nothing else. Deleted 30 days after delivery, never used to train AI.
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We make compliant photos for official IDs from all over the world. We do not provide or issue the documents themselves.
