US passport photo maker (2 x 2 in)

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

How to take a US passport photo at home

1. Find a plain white wall. It must be white or off-white, with no texture, lines, pictures or shadows. If your walls are colored, hang a white sheet or blanket and pull it flat.
2. Stand a few feet in front of it. Keeping a gap between you and the wall stops your shadow from falling on it.
3. Light your face evenly. Face a window or a soft lamp. Avoid ceiling lights directly above you and lamps to one side, which leave shadows. Turn the flash off to avoid red eye.
4. Get ready. Take off glasses, hats, headphones and wireless earpieces. Wear everyday clothes, not a uniform or camouflage. Move your hair away from your eyes.
5. Ask someone to take the photo. They should stand about 4 feet (1.2 m) away, hold the phone at your eye level and use the normal camera: no zoom, portrait mode, filters or beauty effects. Include your head and the top of your shoulders.
6. Face the camera. Keep your head straight, your eyes open and your mouth closed. A small natural smile is fine.
7. Upload the photo above. The tool finds your face, sizes your head, and checks the rules below. Download the digital photo, the print sheet, or both.

What the tool checks for a US passport

The tool measures your head and eye line against the 2 x 2 inch frame, checks that the photo is straight, sharp and evenly lit, that your eyes are open and your mouth is closed, and that the background is plain white or off-white. Two things only you can confirm: that you are not wearing glasses, and that any head covering is religious or medical.

Unlike most photo tools, it does not paint in a new background or smooth your skin. The State Department shows a photo with a software-cut background as unacceptable and rejects filtered, retouched and AI-made photos. That is why a white wall matters more than anything else.

Common reasons US passport photos are rejected

The State Department says unacceptable photos are the number one reason it puts passport applications on hold. The usual problems:

• Glasses in the photo, or resting on the head.
• Shadows on the face or on the wall behind, from side or overhead light.
• Head too small or too large: the camera was too far away or too close.
• Background that is not plain white or off-white, or has texture or objects.
• Edited photos: filters, beauty apps, retouching, a changed background or AI tools.
• Expression: an open mouth, a wide smile, squinting or eyes not fully open.
• Poor quality: blurry, grainy or pixelated images, visible printer dots, photocopies or scans.
• Head position: head tilted or turned, or shoulders not square to the camera.

Printing your 2 x 2 photo

A paper application (Form DS-11 or DS-82 by mail) needs one printed color photo. Use the Download print sheet button: it places two 2 x 2 inch photos on a 4 x 6 inch sheet at true size, with cut guides. Order a normal 4 x 6 inch photo print at any photo counter, or print it at home on glossy or matte photo paper at 100% scale, then cut along the guides. The print sheet maker explains how to keep the size exact, and our price comparison shows what shops charge for passport photos and for a single 4 x 6 print.

If you already have a photo, run it through the photo checker before you print. The State Department makes the final decision on every photo.

Frequently asked questions

What size is a US passport photo?

The printed photo is 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm). Your head, from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head, must measure 1 to 1 3/8 inches (25–35 mm), and your eyes should sit 1 1/8 to 1 3/8 inches (28–35 mm) above the bottom edge. The tool sizes your head to the middle of that range and shows both measurements on the photo.

Can I smile in my US passport photo?

Yes, a little. The State Department allows a neutral expression or a natural smile, as long as your eyes are open and your mouth is closed. For online renewal it asks you to avoid showing teeth. A wide grin, raised eyebrows or squinting can get the photo refused, so a relaxed, closed-mouth face is the safest choice.

Can I wear glasses in a passport photo?

No. Glasses are not allowed in US passport photos, including prescription glasses and sunglasses. The only exception is a medical reason, such as recent eye surgery, and then you must send a signed statement from a doctor with your application. Take your glasses off for the photo and do not rest them on your head.

Why does the tool keep my own background?

The State Department does not accept photos whose background was changed with software, and it says it checks every photo for editing and AI tools. So for US documents the tool only crops, sizes and straightens your photo, and it checks that the wall behind you is plain white or off-white. If the check fails, take a new photo in front of a white wall or sheet.

Can I take my US passport photo at home with a phone?

Yes. There is no rule that a professional must take it. Ask someone to hold the phone a few feet away at the height of your eyes, stand in front of a plain white wall in even daylight, and use the normal camera without filters, portrait mode or beauty effects. Then upload the photo here to size and check it.

What photo do I need to renew my passport online?

A color photo taken in the last 6 months, saved on your device as a JPG, PNG, HEIC or HEIF file between 54 KB and 10 MB. You upload it in the application, where you can crop it. The digital photo from this tool is a 600 x 600 pixel JPEG inside that range. Do not upload a photo of a printed photo or a scan.

How old can my passport photo be?

It must be taken within the last 6 months and still look like you. An older photo, such as the one in your current passport, or a photo taken before a big change in your appearance can be refused. A change of hairstyle is fine as long as the photo is still a good likeness.

Can I wear a hat or head covering?

Only if you wear it every day for religious reasons, or for a medical reason. Then add a signed statement to a paper application. The covering must be one plain color without a pattern or small holes, and it must not hide any part of your face or cast shadows on it. Headphones and wireless earpieces are never allowed.

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.