US Passport Photo Requirements 2026
The US Department of State requires a 2×2 inch (51×51mm) square photo on a plain white or off-white background. The full list is below.
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US passport photo requirements
- Size
- 51 × 51 mm (2 × 2 inches) — square
- Head height
- 25–35 mm chin to crown (1–1⅜ in)
- Head fill
- 50–69% of the photo frame
- Eye height from bottom
- 28–35 mm (1⅛–1⅜ in)
- Background
- Plain white or off-white, no shadows
- Expression
- Neutral, mouth closed
- Glasses
- Not permitted (since Nov 2016)
- Digital size (renewal)
- 600–1200 px square, 54 KB–10 MB, JPEG/PNG/HEIC
- DS-160 digital upload
- 600–1200 px square, JPEG, 240 KB or less
- Recency
- Taken within the last 6 months
- Min DPI (print)
- 300 DPI
Verified 4 Jun 2026travel.state.gov
Report outdated informationHow to take a US passport photo at home
Stand against a white or very light wall in good, even natural light — avoid direct sunlight which creates harsh shadows. Have someone take the photo at eye level, about 5–6 feet away, with the camera in portrait orientation. Wear your normal daily clothing (no uniforms or white tops that blend into the background). No hats unless for documented religious reasons. Upload your photo to the free maker above and it will crop it to the exact 2×2 inch composition, size your head to within the 25–35 mm band, and apply a clean white background.
Compare pharmacy passport-photo prices
As checked on 19 July 2026, the official Walgreens Photo price list lists its passport-photo service at $16.99, while the official CVS passport-photo page lists two 2×2-inch prints at $17.99. Prices and promotions can change by date or location. This tool creates a single 2×2 image and a 4×6 print sheet; check the current price and print settings at whichever home printer, kiosk, or lab you choose.
Common US passport photo rejection reasons
The State Department rejects photos for: shadows on the face or background; head too large (over 69% of the frame) or too small (under 50%); wearing glasses; a non-neutral expression; a background that is not plain white; and a photo older than six months or taken before your appearance changed significantly. The maker sizes the head and sets the background; check the rest yourself before you print.
US passport photo for online renewal
Online renewal takes a digital photo instead of a print, at the renewal sizes in the table above. If your file is over 10 MB, use the compress to KB tool to bring it under the limit.
Privacy — your photo stays on your device
Unlike services that upload your photo to a server for processing, this tool runs entirely in your browser. Your photo is never sent to any server, never stored, and never seen by anyone else. The background removal, head detection, cropping, and resizing all happen locally on your device. This matters especially for biometric document photos, where privacy and security are significant concerns.
Frequently asked questions
Can I print a US passport photo at home?
Yes. Download the 4×6 print sheet from the maker, print it on photo paper, and cut out the 2×2 inch copies.
Ready to make your photo?
Free and on your device. Saves a 2×2 inch JPEG and a 4×6 print sheet.