2x2 photo maker

US passport photo requirements

US passport photo requirements

Print size	2 x 2 in (50.8 x 50.8 mm)
Head height (chin to top of head)	1–1 3/8 in (25.4–34.9 mm)
Eyes from the bottom edge	1 1/8–1 3/8 in (28.6–34.9 mm)
Background	Plain white or off-white, without shadows, texture, objects or lines
Expression	Neutral or a natural smile, mouth closed, eyes open
Glasses	Not allowed
Head covering	Only for religious or medical reasons
How recent	Taken in the last 6 months
Digital photo	Online renewal: a square JPG, PNG, HEIC or HEIF file of 54 KB to 10 MB (you can crop it in the application)

• Send the original photo: no filters, retouching, AI tools or software-changed background
• No uniform, camouflage or clothing that looks like a uniform
• No headphones or wireless earpieces; jewelry and piercings are fine if they do not hide the face
• Hair must not cover the eyes
• Printed on matte or glossy photo-quality paper, with no printer dots, creases or holes

Official source: U.S. Department of State — Passport Photos

What a 2x2 photo is

“2x2” is the photo size used for United States documents: a square print 2 inches on each side (51 x 51 mm). The outer size is only half of the rule. Inside the square, the head must measure 1 to 1 3/8 inches (25–35 mm) from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head, and the eyes must sit 1 1/8 to 1 3/8 inches (28–35 mm) above the bottom edge. A photo with the right outer size but a small head is refused just like a photo of the wrong size.

The tool above starts on the US passport rules. To make a 2x2 photo for another US document, choose Change and pick it:

How to get the head size right

The easiest way is to let the tool do it: take a photo from about 4 feet (1.2 m) away with your head and shoulders in view, and leave space around your head. The tool finds your chin and the top of your head, scales the photo so your head fits the range, and centers your face. The guides on the preview show the measured head height and eye line in inches and millimeters, with a check mark when they are inside the rule.

If you want to crop by hand instead, use these numbers for a 600 x 600 pixel image:

• head (chin to top of hair): 300 to 412 pixels high;
• eyes: 338 to 412 pixels above the bottom edge;
• face centered left to right.

Taking the photo

Stand in front of a plain white or off-white wall, a few feet away from it so no shadow falls on it. Face a window or soft light; avoid a single lamp to one side. Take off glasses and hats, keep your head straight, eyes open and mouth closed. Use the phone’s normal camera, without portrait mode, filters or beauty effects: US agencies refuse edited photos, and they do not accept a background that software has painted white.

Printing 2x2 photos on a 4 x 6 sheet

A 4 x 6 inch print holds two 2 x 2 inch photos. The Download print sheet button makes that sheet at 300 pixels per inch, so the photos come out at true size when the sheet is printed at 100%. Any pharmacy or supermarket photo counter can print it as a standard 4 x 6 photo; our price comparison lists what shops charge for that print and for their own passport photo service. The print sheet maker also works with a 2x2 photo you already have; check it first with the photo checker.

Frequently asked questions

How big is a 2x2 photo?

A 2x2 photo is 2 inches wide and 2 inches high, which is 51 x 51 mm (50.8 mm exactly). It is square. For US documents the head inside it must measure 1 to 1 3/8 inches from chin to the top of the head, and the eyes sit 1 1/8 to 1 3/8 inches above the bottom edge.

What is a 2x2 photo in pixels?

At the usual photo print resolution of 300 pixels per inch, a 2x2 photo is 600 x 600 pixels, which is the size this tool downloads. US visa and DV lottery uploads must be square too; the visa accepts 600 x 600 to 1200 x 1200 pixels and the DV lottery exactly 600 x 600 pixels.

Is a 2x2 photo the same as a passport photo?

In the United States, yes. US passports, US visas and USCIS forms all use 2 x 2 inch photos. Many other countries use a different size, such as 35 x 45 mm in the UK and most of Europe, or 50 x 70 mm for a Canadian passport. Choose your document in the tool so it uses the right size.

Can I just crop a photo to a square?

Usually not. A square crop of a normal photo leaves the head too small, because the rules fix the head height inside the square, not only the outer size. The tool finds your chin and the top of your head, then scales the photo so your head fills 1 to 1 3/8 inches of the 2 inch frame.

How do I print 2x2 photos?

Download the print sheet, which puts two 2 x 2 inch photos on a standard 4 x 6 inch photo print with cut guides. Order it as a normal 4 x 6 print at a photo counter, or print it at home on photo paper at 100% scale. Measure one photo afterwards; it should be exactly 2 inches wide.

What background does a 2x2 photo need?

For US passports, visas and USCIS forms, plain white or off-white, with no shadows, patterns or objects. These documents do not accept a background replaced by software, so take the photo in front of a white wall or a smooth white sheet. The tool checks the background and tells you if it is not white enough.

Sources

1. U.S. Department of State — Passport Photos (opened September 30, 2026)
2. U.S. Department of State — Photo Composition Template (eye height) (opened September 30, 2026)
3. U.S. Department of State — Uploading a Digital Photo (online renewal) (opened September 30, 2026)
4. Foreign Affairs Manual 8 FAM 402.1 — Passport Photographs (opened September 30, 2026)

Last checked: September 30, 2026

passportvisapic.com is not affiliated with any government. The issuing authority makes the final decision on every photo.