US Passport Photo Size & Requirements
The official size is 2×2in (51×51mm, 600×600px). Upload a photo, align it to the guide, and download — nothing is ever uploaded to a server.
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Blue band = acceptable head-height range · yellow dashed = eye line · fit your head between the solid lines
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United States passport photo specification
- Print size
- 51×51mm (2×2 in)
- Digital output
- 600×600px
- Head height (chin to crown)
- 25–35mm (49–69% of frame)
- Background
- Plain white or off-white, no patterns or shadows
- ·Neutral expression, both eyes open and visible, mouth closed
- ·No glasses, except in rare cases of documented medical necessity (a signed statement is required). This has been the rule since Nov 1, 2016.
- ·No head coverings, except for religious or medical reasons
- ·Taken within the last 6 months, and must look like you do now
- ·Photo must not be digitally altered or filtered beyond basic cropping
- ·Digital upload (online renewal): square JPEG or HEIF, 600x600 to 1200x1200px, 54KB to 10MB
- ·Mail-in (paper) application: printed on quality photo paper, unmounted, untrimmed to exactly 2x2in
Source: U.S. Department of State, travel.state.gov/photos. These are the same US passport photo requirements that passport acceptance facilities and the National Passport Center check against, so meeting this spec is what actually determines acceptance.
US passport photo size in every unit
Every US passport photo, whether you're applying, renewing, or replacing a lost passport, has to be the same 2×2 inch square. Here's that one measurement converted to the units you're actually likely to be working in:
| Unit | Full photo | Head height (chin to crown) |
|---|---|---|
| Inches | 2 × 2 in | 1 – 1⅜ in |
| Millimeters | 51 × 51 mm | 25 – 35 mm |
| Centimeters | 5.08 × 5.08 cm | 2.5 – 3.5 cm |
| Pixels (digital upload) | 600 × 600 px min | ~49–69% of frame height |
Digital vs. printed US passport photo requirements
Most applicants now renew online, where the specification is a digital file: a square JPEG or HEIF between 600×600 and 1200×1200px, sized between 54KB and 10MB. If you're filing a paper application by mail instead (a first passport, a lost passport, or a name change), the requirement shifts to a physical print: photo-quality paper, unmounted, and trimmed to exactly 2×2 inches with no white border. This tool exports at 600×600px by default, which satisfies the digital spec directly and prints cleanly at 2×2in for a mail-in application too.
How the head-height measurement is checked
The head-height rule (chin to crown) is the single most common reason a correctly-sized photo still gets rejected. Acceptance facilities and the National Passport Center measure how much of the 2×2in frame your head actually occupies, not just whether the file is the right pixel dimensions. The guide in this tool's cropper is built around that same 1 to 1⅜ inch range, so lining your head up with it handles this automatically.
Where to get a US passport photo taken
If you'd rather not do it yourself, US Postal Service (USPS) locations, pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens, and shipping stores like UPS and FedEx Office all offer US passport photo services, usually for around $15–16 a set. All of them are producing a photo to the exact same 2×2in specification covered on this page, so there's no accuracy advantage to paying for one over taking it yourself.
The free alternative: follow our guide to taking a passport photo at home with just a phone camera and a plain wall, then upload the result to the cropper above. It checks the size, background, and head-height rules for you and exports a file ready for the online renewal form or for printing.
Related US photo requirements
Common rejection reasons
Background isn’t plain or uniform
Shadows, patterns, furniture, or other people in frame are among the most common reasons photos get bounced back. Use a plain wall and even, shadow-free lighting.
Head size or position is off
Too zoomed in, too zoomed out, or off-center. Each country specifies an exact head-height range and crown position, and that's exactly what the crop guide in this tool aligns to.
Glasses, glare, or head coverings
Most countries now disallow glasses entirely (or require them glare-free with no frame over the eyes), and disallow non-religious head coverings that hide the hairline or face.
Photo is filtered, retouched, or AI-enhanced
Beauty filters, background blur, skin smoothing, and AI-generated backgrounds are explicitly rejected by several passport authorities, including the UK’s HM Passport Office.
Photo is outdated
Most countries require a photo taken within the last 6 months (the UK requires within the last month). An old photo, even a good one, can be rejected on this basis alone.
Expression or eye contact issues
Closed eyes, mouth open, smiling with teeth showing, or not looking straight at the camera are all common rejection triggers. A neutral, closed-mouth expression is the safe default.
Want the full picture across every country? See all passport photo requirements for 2026, read how to take a passport photo at home, or check what to wear and expression rules.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a US passport photo?
Two inches by two inches, exactly square — 51×51mm if you're working in metric, or 5.08×5.08cm. Inside that square, your head (chin to the top of the head) needs to take up between 1 and 1⅜ inches, which is 25 to 35mm.
What are the US passport photo requirements?
A recent photo, taken in the last 6 months, in color, against a plain white or off-white background, neutral expression, both eyes open, mouth closed. No glasses, no hats or head coverings unless worn for religious or medical reasons, and no filters or retouching. For online renewals the file itself has to be a square JPEG or HEIF, 600×600 to 1200×1200px, 54KB to 10MB.
What are the exact dimensions and measurements for a US passport photo?
The full photo is 2×2in (51×51mm, 5.08cm square). Head height, chin to crown, needs to land between 1 and 1⅜in (25–35mm), roughly half to two-thirds of the frame. In pixels, that's a minimum of 600×600 for the digital upload, up to 1200×1200.
Can you smile in a US passport photo?
No. A neutral, closed-mouth expression is what the State Department wants, not a smile. You can look relaxed, just keep your teeth covered and skip the grin, since an open-mouth smile is one of the more common reasons a photo gets bounced back at the counter. Our guide to smiling in a passport photo walks through exactly what counts as neutral.
Can I wear glasses in my US passport photo?
No, not anymore. The State Department stopped allowing glasses in late 2016, and the only exception is a documented medical reason you genuinely can't take them off for.
What should you wear in a US passport photo?
Whatever you'd normally wear, with a couple of exceptions: skip anything white or very pale that could blend into the background, and leave the uniform at home unless you're active-duty military. Everyday makeup and jewelry are both fine. There's more detail, including what colors photograph best, in our what to wear guide.
Can I take my own US passport photo at home?
Yes, and it's the cheapest way to get it done. A phone camera, a plain wall, and decent daylight get you most of the way there — you just need to crop the result to the exact 2×2in spec afterward, which is what the tool on this page does. Full walkthrough here: how to take a passport photo at home.
Where can I get a US passport photo taken, and how much does it cost?
USPS locations, CVS, Walgreens, Costco, and UPS or FedEx Office stores all do passport photos, generally somewhere between $9 and $16 for a printed set — Costco tends to run cheapest, CVS and Walgreens closer to $15–16. Every one of them is producing the same 2×2in photo covered on this page, so paying for one buys convenience, not extra accuracy.
How long is a US passport photo good for, and do I need a new one to renew?
Six months. If your existing photo is older than that, you need a fresh one, and yes, that applies to renewals too — the State Department checks that the photo actually looks like you now, not several years ago.
Are US passport photo requirements different for a newborn or infant?
The size and background rules are identical, but a baby obviously can't hold a neutral, camera-facing pose. Acceptance facilities allow workarounds for this, like photographing the baby lying down on a plain white sheet with eyes open. See our newborn and infant passport photo guide for exactly how that works.
Does this tool upload my photo anywhere?
No, it doesn't. Cropping happens entirely inside your browser using the canvas element built into modern browsers, so your photo is read from your device, processed there, and never transmitted anywhere.