US passport photo specification
| Requirement | Official value |
|---|---|
| Print size | 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm) |
| Head size | 1 to 1 3/8 in (25–35 mm), bottom of chin to top of head |
| Eye height | 1 1/8 to 1 3/8 in (28–35 mm) from the bottom of the photo. This figure is from the State Department’s photo composition template, published on its visa pages; the passport photo page does not repeat it. |
| Digital image | Square, minimum 600 × 600 px, maximum 1200 × 1200 px (State Department digital image requirements). For online passport renewal the upload page asks for JPG, JPEG, PNG, HEIC or HEIF between 54 KB and 10 MB and does not state a pixel size. |
| Background | Plain white or off-white, no shadows, texture or lines |
| Other | Colour, taken in the last 6 months, no eyeglasses, neutral expression, no filters or edits |
Things to watch
- Glasses off. Eyeglasses are not allowed in US passport photos unless you have a documented medical reason.
- Printing at home. The State Department asks for matte or glossy photo-quality paper and no visible printer dots. Print the 4 × 6 sheet at 100% (“actual size”), not “fit to page”.
- Online renewal. The renewal system lets you crop again and checks the photo itself; a person reviews it afterwards.
Official sources
Checked October 24, 2026. Requirements change; the official pages always win over this summary.
- U.S. Department of State: Passport Photos
- U.S. Department of State: Uploading a Digital Photo (online renewal)
- U.S. Department of State: Photo Composition Template (eye height)
- U.S. Department of State: Digital Image Requirements (600–1200 px square)
A guide, not a guarantee
This tool sets the size and helps you place the head. Whether a photo is accepted is decided by the issuing authority. The background hint is a simple brightness and evenness check, not an official test.
Frequently asked questions
Is my photo uploaded?
No. It is cropped on a canvas in your browser and saved as a local download. You can check the Network tab, or go offline after the page has loaded and it still works.
Will my photo be accepted?
We cannot promise that. The tool gets the size and proportions right and helps you place the head, but lighting, expression, glasses, shadows and background are judged by the issuing authority.
Can it remove or whiten the background?
No. Passport authorities generally reject digitally altered photos, so the tool deliberately does not edit the background. Take the photo against a plain white or light wall instead.
How do I print the sheet?
Download the print sheet and print it at a photo kiosk or shop as a 4 × 6 in (10 × 15 cm) photo at 100% size, then cut along the grey lines.