U.S. Passport Photo Requirements
A U.S. passport photo must be a recent, unedited color photo measuring 2 × 2 inches, with your head centered, facing the camera, against a plain white or off-white background. Below is every requirement from the U.S. Department of State, summarized in plain language.
Last reviewed
Requirements at a glance
| Size | 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm) |
|---|---|
| Head size | 1 to 1 3/8 inches (25–35 mm), chin to top of head |
| Taken | Within the last 6 months |
| Color | Color photo with accurate skin tones |
| Background | Plain white or off-white, no shadows |
| Expression | Neutral or natural smile, mouth closed, eyes open |
| Glasses | Not allowed, except with a signed doctor’s note |
| Head coverings | Religious or medical only, with a signed statement |
| Editing | None — no filters, apps or AI |
| Paper | Matte or glossy photo-quality paper |
Source: U.S. Department of State — Passport Photos(opens in a new tab). Page last updated March 24, 2026; our summary reviewed September 22, 2026. PhotoPasseport is a private service and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of State.
Photo size
A U.S. passport photo must measure 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm) when printed.
- The printed photo is 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm).
- Do not stretch or compress a photo to make it fit the size.
Head size
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.
- Measure from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head.
- Hair may extend past the edges of the photo, as long as your entire head is shown and is the correct size.
- Standing too close or too far from the camera makes the head the wrong size.
Head position
Your head and shoulders must be centered, with your head fully visible and not tilted.
- Center your head and shoulders in the photo.
- Face the camera directly, with your full face in view.
- Do not tilt your head up, down or to the side, or rotate it away from the camera.
How recent the photo must be
The photo must have been taken within the last 6 months.
- Submit a photo taken in the last 6 months.
Color
The photo must be in color, with skin tones reproduced accurately.
- Submit a color photo.
- The image must reproduce skin tones accurately. Inaccurate color is an unacceptable example.
Looking at the camera
You must face the camera directly with your full face in view.
- Face the camera directly.
- Do not look down, and do not turn your head or shoulders away.
Expression
Keep a neutral expression or a natural smile, with both eyes open and your mouth closed.
- You can smile, as long as your mouth is closed and your eyes are open.
- Avoid exaggerated facial expressions.
Eyes
Both eyes must be open, and the colored parts of your eyes must be clearly visible.
- Your pupils and irises must be clearly visible.
- Your hair must not cover your eyes.
- Photos with red eye are not accepted. Do not edit red eye out, because that changes your eye color and shape; retake the photo instead.
- A baby’s eyes do not have to be fully open. All other children must have their eyes open.
Glasses
Take off all eyeglasses, sunglasses and tinted glasses. Glasses are only allowed if you cannot remove them for medical reasons.
- Remove eyeglasses, sunglasses and tinted glasses.
- Do not rest glasses on top of your head for the photo.
- If you cannot remove your glasses for medical reasons, include a signed note from your doctor with your application.
Hats and head coverings
Remove hats and head coverings, unless you wear one for religious or medical purposes and include a signed statement.
- For religious purposes, submit a signed statement that it is religious attire worn daily in public.
- For medical purposes, submit a signed statement from your doctor that you wear it for medical purposes.
- If you wear one, your full face must be visible, with no shadows or parts of your face blocked.
- The head covering should be one color, without patterns or small holes.
- Remove any face covering or medical mask.
Clothing and accessories
Wear everyday clothing. Uniforms, clothing that looks like a uniform, and camouflage are not allowed.
- No uniforms, clothing that looks like a uniform, or camouflage.
- No headphones or wireless hands-free devices in or on your ears.
- Jewelry and facial piercings are fine, as long as they do not hide your face.
Background
The background must be plain white or off-white, with no shadows, texture, objects or lines.
- Use a white or off-white background that is free of shadows.
- The background must be plain, without texture, objects or lines.
- Stand several feet away from the wall.
- If you use a wheelchair, part of the head support may appear. Include a note explaining why the background is not completely white.
Shadows
There must be no shadows on your face or on the background.
- No shadows on your face.
- No shadows on the background.
Lighting
Lighting on your face must be even, and the photo must be neither too bright nor too dark.
- Use uniform lighting on your face.
- Avoid overhead lights and lights placed far off to the side, which cast shadows across your features.
- Avoid lighting so bright the photo is overexposed, or so dim it is underexposed.
Resolution and image quality
Submit a high-resolution photo that is not blurry, grainy or pixelated.
- The photo must be sharp, not blurry, grainy or pixelated.
- Set your camera to its highest quality setting before taking the photo.
Editing, filters and AI
Submit the original photo. Do not change it with software, phone apps, filters or artificial intelligence.
- Submit the original, unedited photo.
- Do not use editing software, phone apps, filters or AI tools to change your appearance or the background.
- Do not cut out or replace the background with a retouching tool.
- The State Department checks photos for the use of AI tools.
Printing
A printed passport photo must be on matte or glossy photo-quality paper, with no visible printer dots.
- Print on matte or glossy photo-quality paper.
- The photo should not have visible printer dots.
- Do not submit photocopies or digitally scanned photos.
- Do not submit a damaged photo with holes, creases or smudges.
- Paper applications need 1 printed color photo.
Digital photos
If you renew your passport online, you upload a digital photo to your application instead of mailing a printed one.
- The printed-photo rules above apply to applications made with a paper form.
- For online renewal, the photo is uploaded digitally.
- The State Department publishes separate upload instructions on its “Uploading a Digital Photo” page, linked from its Passport Photos page.
Babies and young children
A child’s photo follows the same rules, with no other person in the frame. A baby’s eyes do not have to be fully open.
- Lay the child on a plain white or off-white sheet, or cover a car seat with one.
- No other person can appear in the photo, including a hand holding the child.
- The child must face the camera with a neutral expression and full face visible.
- No shadows on the child’s face.
Where these requirements come from
Every rule on this page is summarized from the U.S. Department of State. Items marked PhotoPasseport tip are our own advice, not government requirements. The State Department makes the final decision on every photo, so no service can guarantee acceptance.
Source: U.S. Department of State — Passport Photos(opens in a new tab). Page last updated March 24, 2026; our summary reviewed September 22, 2026. PhotoPasseport is a private service and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of State.
To meet these requirements at home, follow our guide on how to take a passport photo at home, then see how to print a 2x2 passport photo.
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