US Passport Photo Requirements
Official photo requirements for United States passport applications. Follow these specifications exactly to ensure your photo is accepted. Photo must be taken within the last 6 months
Official Photo Size
The photo must be exactly 2×2. This is a critical requirement—photos that don't match the exact dimensions will be rejected.
| Inches | 2×2 |
| Millimeters | 51×51 |
| Pixels (300 DPI) | 600×600 px |
Tip
Background & Lighting
Background: Plain white or off-white. The background must be uniform with no shadows, patterns, or other people visible.
- No shadows on the background or your face
- No patterns, textures, or decorations
- No other people or objects visible
- Uniform color throughout
- Even lighting with no harsh shadows
Face & Head Size Rules
Head size: 1 to 1 3/8 inches (25-35mm) from chin to top of head. Your face must be positioned correctly in the frame.
- Face the camera directly (no tilting)
- Expression: Neutral expression (no smiling)
- Eyes open and clearly visible
- Head centered in the frame
- Shoulders visible in the photo
What You Can Wear (Glasses, Head Coverings)
Understanding what accessories and clothing are allowed:
- Glasses: Allowed, but no tinted lenses or glare
- Clothing: Regular clothing (no uniforms or camouflage)
- Head coverings are only allowed for religious purposes
- Head coverings must not cast shadows on your face
- Your face must be fully visible from bottom of chin to top of forehead
Photo Quality Requirements
Sharp focus, high resolution (300 DPI), no filters or alterations
- Sharp focus with no blur
- High resolution (minimum 300 DPI for printing)
- No filters or digital alterations
- Color photo (no black and white)
- Recent photo (taken within last 6 months)
Common Rejection Reasons
Photos that don't meet these requirements will be rejected, delaying your application. Common issues specific to United States passport applications:
- Wrong photo size (not 2×2)
- Incorrect background (not plain white or off-white)
- Wrong head size (not 1 to 1 3/8 inches (25-35mm) from chin to top of head)
- Poor photo quality (blurry or pixelated)
- Wrong expression (Neutral expression (no smiling))
- Shadows on face or background
- Photo too old (taken more than 6 months ago)
- Digital alterations or filters
- Smiling or unusual expression
- Shadows on background
- Wrong head size
Local Notes for United States
- US passport photos must be taken within the last 6 months
- No uniforms or camouflage clothing allowed
- Professional photo studios often provide compliant photos
- Photo must be taken within the last 6 months
- No head coverings unless for religious purposes
- Eyes must be open and clearly visible
Printing Tips for United States
- Print on 4×6 inch photo paper at 300 DPI
- Most US photo printing services (Walgreens, CVS) can print passport photos
- Cut photos to exactly 2×2 inches with no white borders
Create a United States Passport Photo Online
Use our tool to create a compliant passport photo. We'll automatically:
- Crop to exactly 2×2
- Fix background to plain white or off-white
- Ensure proper head size (1 to 1 3/8 inches (25-35mm) from chin to top of head)
- Align face correctly
- Export at 300 DPI for print quality
Create Your Passport Photo
Upload your photo and we'll make it compliant with United States requirements
US Passport Photo Requirements FAQs
What size is a US passport photo?
US passport photos must be exactly 2×2 inches (51×51 mm), or 600×600 pixels at 300 DPI.
What background color is required?
The background must be plain white or off-white with no shadows, patterns, or other people visible.
Can I wear glasses in a US passport photo?
Yes, but glasses must not have tinted lenses and there should be no glare or reflection that obscures your eyes.
What is the head size requirement?
Your head must be between 1 and 1 3/8 inches (25-35mm) from the bottom of your chin to the top of your head.
How recent must the photo be?
US passport photos must be taken within the last 6 months to be considered current.
Can I take a US passport photo at home?
Yes! You can take a passport photo at home using your smartphone, then use our tool to crop and adjust it to meet all requirements.