2×2 passport photo
A live coach frames you, then we crop to exactly 2×2 inches with your head between 1 and 1 3/8 inches.
The rules at a glance
U.S. passport- Photo size
- 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm)
- Digital file
- 1200 × 1200 px JPEG at 600 DPI
- Head size
- 1 to 1 3/8 in (25-35 mm), chin to top of head
- Background
- Plain white or off-white, no shadows
- Expression
- Neutral or natural smile, eyes open, mouth closed
- Glasses
- Not allowed
- Photo age
- Color photo taken in the last 6 months
- Paper
- Matte or glossy photo paper
A U.S. passport photo is 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm), in color, taken in the last 6 months, on a plain white or off-white background. Most rejections come from framing: a head that is too small or too big, or eyes too high or too low. Those are measurements, so we measure them.
Why photos get rejected
- Acceptable
Like this
Plain white, centered
RejectedToo far away
Head too small
- Rejected
Head tilted
Keep it level
RejectedSide shadow
Face a window
- Rejected
Too dark
Find more light
RejectedGlasses on
Take them off
RejectedBig smile
Close your mouth
RejectedHair over eyes
Keep your eyes clear
How it works
Take or upload your photo
Stand in front of a plain white wall facing a window. The live coach checks distance, tilt and light before it takes the shot, or you can upload a photo you already have.
We crop it and check it
We crop it to size and set a plain white background. No retouching. Then we check head size, eye line, photo size and face count, and show you every result.
Pay once and download
The preview is free. If it passes, pay once ($6.90 or $9.90) to download the photo and, with Digital + Print, a 4×6 sheet to print.
The 2×2 geometry
Your head, from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head, must measure 1 to 1 3/8 inches (25 to 35 mm). Center it, face the camera with your shoulders square, and keep your mouth closed. The coach shows a live head-size ruler while you line up, and we crop the final photo so both lines land inside the limits. Source: travel.state.gov passport photo rules (opens in a new tab).
Questions
Do you change my photo?
Yes, in two ways, and we tell you up front. We crop and resize it to the 2×2 inch layout, and our processor sets the background to plain white. We never retouch your face, skin, hair or expression. The State Department asks for an original, unedited photo on a plain white or off-white background, so take it against a plain white wall: that keeps the background change as small as possible. For online renewal we don't sell an edited file at all.
Will my photo be accepted?
No one can promise that. A State Department employee (or the embassy, or USCIS) decides. We check your photo against the published rules (size, head height, eye line and face count) and show you every result before you pay.
Can I take my child's or baby's photo?
Yes. Use Helper mode and hold the phone at the child's eye level. Put a plain white sheet behind them (for a baby, lay a white sheet over a car seat). No hands, toys or pacifiers in the photo, and no one else in the frame. It's okay if a baby's eyes aren't fully open.
How do I print at CVS, Walgreens or Walmart?
Upload the 4×6 sheet (JPG) in the store's photo app or website. Order a regular 4×6 print, not a "passport photo" product, and turn off auto-crop and auto-enhance. A 4×6 print costs about $0.39 (typical price, Oct 2026; it varies by store). Cut on the guides: each photo is exactly 2×2 inches.
What do I get, and what does it cost?
Digital, $6.90: your digital photo and a single 2×2 photo file, to download for 7 days. Digital + Print, $9.90: both, plus a 4×6 print sheet as JPEG and PDF, to download for 30 days. You pay once. There's no subscription and no add-ons, and the preview is free.
Check your photo before you send it
Free preview, no account. You see every result before you pay.
Independent service — not affiliated with the U.S. Department of State or any government agency.