Official US passport photo size
US Passport Photo
A compliant 2 x 2 photo from your phone, in minutes
Upload a photo or take one with your phone. 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 guaranteewith the Expert check
- Digital in a minuteor prints near you
Your photo is deleted 30 days after delivery and never used to train AI.
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.
Upload or take a photo
Use your phone's camera with on screen guidance, 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 a minute of paying. Or have prints mailed, or pick them up 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.
Distance From The Camera
Take the photo 16 to 20 inches, or 40 to 50 cm, from your face.
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 Expert check & acceptance guarantee at checkout. If the authority rejects the photo, you get twice what you paid, to the card you used.
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, no filters, nothing that changes how you look.
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 only
Renewing 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 prints
Applying 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 pick them up at a location near you, ready in about an hour.
- Not sure
Not 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.
What it costs
| 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 |
| Pickup near youReady in about an hour | No shipping |
| Expert check & 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 filter, or 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. The State Department rejects altered photos, and 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
Your questions, answered
Does my photo meet US passport requirements?
The software measures your photo 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 Expert check & acceptance guarantee pays double your money back if it is rejected.Can I take a selfie?
Yes, and the camera guides you while you line it up. A photo taken by someone about four feet away, or with the timer, sizes your head more accurately: an arm’s length selfie can stretch the face and fail the head size check.How long does it take?
About three minutes to take the photo and check out. The digital file is in your inbox within a minute of paying. Mailed prints arrive in 3 to 5 business days with Standard shipping (Free) or 1 to 2 with Express ($15); pickup near you is ready in about an hour.Where can I print it?
Every 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, have prints mailed to you, or pick them up at a location near you.Can I use it to renew my passport online?
Yes. 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?
No. Take them off for the photo. If you cannot remove them for a medical reason, include a signed note from your doctor with your application.Can I smile?
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.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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Choose your document
We make compliant photos for official IDs from all over the world. We do not provide or issue the documents themselves.
