US passport photo requirements
| Photo size | 2 × 2 inches (about 51 × 51 mm) |
|---|---|
| Head size | 1 to 1⅜ inches (25–35 mm) from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head. Measured to the top of the head, not the hair. |
| Position | Centered, facing the camera directly, head not tilted |
| Background | Plain white or off-white, free of shadows, texture, objects or lines |
| Expression | Neutral expression or a natural smile, both eyes open, mouth closed |
| Digital changes | Submit the original photo. Don't change it with software, apps or filters: altered photos are rejected |
| Glasses | Not allowed, except with a signed medical statement |
| Head coverings | Not allowed, except for religious or medical reasons with a signed statement; the face must stay visible |
| Color and quality | In color, sharp, no visible pixels, no filters or retouching |
| How recent | Taken in the last 6 months |
| Printing | Matte or glossy photo-quality paper |
Requirements verified on November 8, 2026 from travel.state.gov: Passport Photos, 8 FAM 402.1 (U.S. Department of State) and Form DS-82 instructions. Always check the official page before you apply, as rules can change.
How to take a US passport photo at home
- Stand a few feet in front of a plain white or off-white wall, or hang a white sheet. The State Department rejects edited photos, so the background must be right in the photo itself; we check it for you.
- Use soft, even light from the front, such as a window in daylight. Shadows on your face are a common reason for rejection.
- Have someone else take the photo from about 4 feet (1.2 m) away, camera at eye level. Include your head and the top of your shoulders, with space above your head.
- Look straight at the camera, head level, both eyes open, with a neutral expression or a natural smile.
- Take off glasses, hats and headphones. Keep hair away from your eyes.
- Upload the photo here. We size it to 2 × 2 inches, set the head height between 1 and 1⅜ inches, check that the background is plain white and list anything you should fix.
Baby and infant passport photos
Children of every age, newborns included, need their own passport photo, and a newborn passport photo follows the same size rules. For babies, the State Department allows a few exceptions:
- Eyes may be partly or fully closed for infants.
- You can lay the baby on a plain white or off-white blanket, or use a car seat covered with one, and take the photo from above.
- The head can be supported discreetly, but no parent's face or body should be visible in the photo.
Smooth the sheet so it has no folds or shadows: the photo check tells you if the background isn't plain enough. If the check warns that the eyes are closed, you can ignore that warning for an infant.
Digital photo for online renewal
If you renew online, your passport renewal photo is a digital file you upload instead of mailing a print. Download the digital photo: a sharp, square 1200 × 1200 px JPG in color, cropped from your original photo without other changes. The online renewal service checks your photo when you upload it, so follow any instructions it shows.
Don't apply filters, beauty apps or any other edits: the State Department checks photos for digital changes. That's why TidyBG only crops and sizes your photo and never replaces the background or retouches it.
Printing your 2x2 photo
The 4 × 6 print sheet holds two 2 × 2 inch photos with cut guides. Print it as a standard 4 × 6 inch photo:
- At a pharmacy or photo kiosk, upload the sheet and order a 4 × 6 print. Choose no cropping or "fit to page" off, so the photos stay exactly 2 × 2 inches.
- At home, print on matte or glossy photo paper at 100% scale. Plain paper is not accepted.
- Cut carefully along the guides. Don't bend, staple or sign the photo.
Check the size with a ruler before you mail your application: each photo should be exactly 2 inches wide and 2 inches tall.