US passport photo online
Take a photo with your phone and get a 2×2 inch US passport photo cropped by your eye line, checked against State Department rules and ready to print.
Fit your face in the oval and your shoulders under the line. Look straight at the camera, mouth closed, no smile. Best by a light wall, facing a window.
Photo requirements
Print the 4×6 in (10×15 cm) sheet at any photo lab or kiosk: 4×6 size, borderless, no scaling (100%). Then cut along the gray lines.
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US passport photo requirements
A US passport photo is a 2×2 inch square (51×51 mm). Unlike most countries, the US positions the photo by your eyes, not by the top of your head: the eye line must sit at a set height from the bottom edge. That's exactly how our tool crops it.
| Rule | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Size | 2×2 in (51×51 mm) |
| Head | 1 to 1 3/8 in (25-35 mm), chin to top of hair |
| Eyes | 1 1/8 to 1 3/8 in (29-35 mm) from the bottom |
| Background | plain white |
| Glasses | not allowed |
| Age of photo | taken in the last 6 months |
| How many | 1 photo with your application; we fit 2 on a 4×6 sheet |
Glasses have been banned in US passport photos since 2016, even if you wear them every day. Take them off for the shot; the checks will remind you.
How to take a passport photo at home
- Have someone else take the photo. Selfies held at arm's length distort your face and usually miss the shoulders.
- Stand about 4-5 ft (1.5 m) from the camera, facing a window, with a light wall behind you. Daylight beats ceiling lights and flash.
- Keep a neutral expression with both eyes open and your mouth closed. Pull hair away from your eyes.
- Upload the photo and keep US passport selected. We find your eyes, set the head to 25-35 mm and replace the background with clean white.
- Read the checks. Green is good; fix anything red by nudging the crop or retaking the picture.
What you get
- a 2×2 in photo at 600 dpi for printing;
- a 600×600 JPEG for online passport renewal;
- a 4×6 in sheet with 2 photos and cut lines;
- an A4 PDF with 12 photos for a home printer.
Print the 4×6 sheet at any drugstore or big-box photo counter. It's a standard photo print, so it usually costs well under a dollar, compared with the $15 or more many stores charge for passport photos. Order it borderless, at actual size, with no cropping or fitting.
Common reasons photos get rejected
- glasses, even clear ones;
- head too small, often because a regular photo was simply cropped square;
- shadows on the face or behind the head;
- a smile with teeth, squinting, or a tilted head;
- a filter or retouching. We never change your face, only the crop and background.
The full rules are on travel.state.gov. Checking and previewing is free with a watermark. The clean files are part of a $6.99 passport photo set (24 hours, up to 3 downloads) or Pro Photo from $2.99 a day if the whole family needs photos.
FAQ
What size is a US passport photo?
2×2 inches (51×51 mm), with the head 1 to 1 3/8 inches from chin to top of hair.
Can I wear glasses in a US passport photo?
No. Glasses have not been allowed since 2016.
Can I take my own passport photo at home?
Yes, as long as it meets the rules. Have someone else take it rather than shooting a selfie.
Where can I print it?
Print the 4×6 sheet at any photo lab or drugstore kiosk, borderless and at 100% scale, then cut along the gray lines.
Do I need a digital file for online renewal?
The set includes a 600×600 JPEG made for online renewal.