US passport photo requirements — and a free way to meet them
Everything the US Department of State asks for in a passport photo, plus a tool that produces a 2 x 2 inch, white-background photo from your selfie in seconds.
51 x 51 mm, head 25–35 mm, white background
Drag & drop your selfie
JPG or PNG — processed securely, never stored
demo-photo-1.jpg
Live preview demo photo
- Face detected, centred and correctly scaled
- Background replaced with a compliant plain colour
- Cropped to the exact required dimensions
- Even lighting — no harsh shadows behind the head
Free, unlimited downloads. No sign-up, no watermark.
The official US passport photo specification
- Size: 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm), square.
- Head height: 1 to 1 3/8 inches (25–35 mm), chin to crown.
- Eye position: 1 1/8 to 1 3/8 inches from the bottom edge.
- Background: plain white or off-white, no shadows.
- Recency: taken within the last six months.
- Colour and resolution: full colour, at least 600 x 600 pixels, 300 DPI for printing.
- Dress: normal street clothing. No uniforms, camouflage or headphones.
Rules people trip over
Glasses are not allowed
Since November 2016 eyeglasses must be removed for US passport photos. There is no exception for thin frames or anti-glare lenses — only a documented medical reason.
Head coverings
Hats and head coverings are only permitted for religious reasons or medical treatment, and you must submit a signed statement. The covering must not cast a shadow or obscure any part of your face from hairline to chin.
No digital retouching
Cropping, resizing and replacing a plain background are fine. Filters, skin smoothing and any change to your features are not, and are a common cause of rejection.
Photos for children and babies
The same 2 x 2 inch size applies. Infants may have their eyes closed or partly closed and can be laid on a plain white sheet, but no other person, hand or car seat may appear in the frame.
Printing your photo
For a paper application, print on matte or glossy photo paper at 2 x 2 inches. A simple trick is to place two copies on a 4 x 6 inch sheet and cut them out — most pharmacy print kiosks accept that layout for under two dollars.
Also see the UK requirements and the most common reasons photos are rejected.
US passport photo FAQ
- What size is a US passport photo?
- 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm), square. Your head must measure between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches (25–35 mm) from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head, and your eyes should sit between 1 1/8 and 1 3/8 inches from the bottom of the photo.
- What background does the US State Department require?
- A plain white or off-white background with no shadows, patterns or objects behind you.
- Can I wear glasses in a US passport photo?
- No. Glasses have not been permitted in US passport photos since November 2016, except with a signed medical statement.
- Can I smile in a US passport photo?
- A natural, neutral expression or a normal smile with the mouth closed is acceptable. Avoid a wide or exaggerated smile — both eyes must be open and clearly visible.
- What are the digital file requirements?
- For online submission the image must be at least 600 x 600 pixels (2 x 2 inches at 300 DPI or more), in JPEG format, under 10 MB, in colour at 24 bits per pixel, and taken within the last six months.