U.S. passport photo requirements
The U.S. Department of State publishes a precise specification for passport photos. Here is the whole list, in plain language, along with the checks PhotoPasseport runs for you.
The specification
- Photo size
- 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm)
- Resolution
- 600 × 600 px at 300 DPI
- Head height
- 1 in to 1 3/8 in (chin to crown)
- Eye height
- 1 1/8 in to 1 3/8 in from the bottom edge
- Background
- Plain white or off-white, with no shadows or patterns
- Expression
- Neutral, both eyes open, mouth closed
- Glasses
- Not accepted
- Head coverings
- Only for religious or medical reasons
- Photo age
- Taken within the last 6 months
- Accepted formats
- Digital upload · Printed
What must be true in the photo
- 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm), printed at 300 DPI or higher
- Head measures between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head
- Eyes sit between 1 1/8 and 1 3/8 inches from the bottom of the photo
- Plain white or off-white background with no shadows
- Taken within the last 6 months and reflecting your current appearance
- Face the camera directly with a neutral expression and both eyes open
- No glasses, and no hats or head coverings — unless worn daily for religious or medical reasons, which requires a signed statement
- Color photo, in focus, with no filters or digital retouching of your face
What will get a photo rejected
- Glasses of any kind, including thin frames
- Hats, headbands or head coverings, unless worn daily for religious or medical reasons
- Uniforms, camouflage or anything resembling a uniform
- Headphones, earbuds or wireless hands-free devices
- Filters, beauty modes, retouching or AI enhancement
- Shadows, glare, red-eye or reflections on skin
- Another person, a pet or an object in the frame
- Selfies taken with a fisheye or ultra-wide lens up close
Taking the photo yourself
Nothing in the specification requires a professional photographer. It requires a correctly sized, correctly lit, unedited photo. A modern phone camera is more than good enough — the hard part is framing, and that is exactly what our live guide handles.
Stand roughly half a metre in front of a plain white or off-white wall, facing a window or another soft, even light source. Hold the phone at eye level, at arm's length, or prop it up and use the three second timer. Keep a neutral expression with your mouth closed and both eyes open.
Official source
These rules come from the U.S. Department of State passport photo requirements. PhotoPasseport is a private service and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of State. No service can guarantee acceptance — the accepting agency always makes the final decision.