2x2 Photo Converter - Make a 2 x 2 Inch (51 x 51 mm) Photo

Size2 x 2 inches
BackgroundPlain white or off-white, no shadows
Head height50–69% of the photo
GlassesNot allowed

Add your photo
We check it
Download & print

Add a photo for your 2x2 Photo (51x51 mm)

Take a photo or choose oneOn a phone you can use your camera. JPEG, PNG or HEIC.

For the best result

Plain wallCleaner edges around hair
Face the lightA window or lamp, no side shadow
Neutral faceEyes open, look at the lens
No glassesBanned on this document. Hats too
Arm's lengthHead and shoulders in frame

Your photo stays on your device. It is processed here in your browser — we don't upload it, and we can't see it.

About this photo

A 2 x 2 inch (51 x 51 mm) square is the photo size the United States uses for almost every passport, visa and immigration form, and India uses the same square for e-Visa and OCI uploads. This page turns a photo you already have into that exact square, with your head sized and positioned the way the published rules require. You get a print-ready 2 x 2 image and a 600 x 600 pixel file for online uploads.

2 x 2 Inch (51 x 51 mm) Passport Photo photo requirements

2 x 2 Inch (51 x 51 mm) Passport Photo photo specification
Print size	2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm), perfectly square
Digital size	600 x 600 to 1200 x 1200 pixels, square (width must equal height)
File format	JPEG for DS-160, the DV Lottery and most portals; the online passport renewal page also accepts PNG, HEIC and HEIF
File size	240 KB or less for DS-160 and the DV Lottery; 54 KB to 10 MB for online passport renewal
Head height	1 to 1 3/8 inches (25-35 mm) chin to crown, which is 50%-69% of the image height
Eye height	1 1/8 to 1 3/8 inches above the bottom edge, which is 56%-69% of the image height
Background	Plain white or off-white, evenly lit, no shadow behind the head
Expression	Neutral or a natural smile, facing the camera, both eyes open
Glasses	Not allowed for US passport and visa photos; a documented medical exception requires a signed statement
Age of photo	Taken within the last 6 months
Editing	No filters, no AI, no background replacement - submit the original photo

Mistakes that get this photo rejected

The DS-160 visa form and the DV Lottery cap the upload at 240 KB. A 600 x 600 JPEG saved at maximum quality often lands well above that, so the file usually has to be re-saved at a lower quality even though the pixel dimensions are already correct.
The State Department's wording on editing is blunt: do not change your photo using computer software, phone apps or filters, or artificial intelligence. That covers phone beauty modes, AI background removal and skin smoothing, not just obvious retouching.
2 x 2 inches is 50.8 mm, rounded to 51 mm. A photo trimmed to a neat 50 mm square measures short against a template and can be refused at an interview window, so always print at 51 mm.
Glasses are banned outright for US passport and visa photos, including clear prescription lenses. People who wore glasses in every previous passport photo are caught by this constantly.
India uses the same 2 x 2 square but a different file window - JPEG between 10 KB and 300 KB - and the OCI portal asks for a plain light-coloured background rather than pure white. The same file is not always interchangeable between US and Indian forms.
600 x 600 is a floor, not a target. A small selfie enlarged to 600 x 600 hits the pixel count while staying visibly soft, and softness is something a human reviewer sees immediately.

Printing it for about 40¢

The 4×6 sheet this tool gives you holds several copies of your photo at exactly 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm). Order it as an ordinary 4×6 photo print — about 19¢ at Walmart, 39¢ at Walgreens or 42¢ at CVS — then cut them out. That is the same print the store charges $7.64 to $16.99 for at the counter.

The one thing that goes wrong: letting the store’s website or kiosk crop, zoom or “fit” your image. That changes the photo’s physical size and is the most common reason a printed photo is rejected. Always choose the option that prints the whole sheet at actual size.

Common questions

Which documents use a 2 x 2 inch photo?

In the US: the passport book and card, the DS-160 visa application, the DV Lottery, green card and USCIS forms, EAD applications and citizenship filings. India uses the same square for e-Visa uploads and OCI registration. The geometry is the same across all of them, but the file-size limits differ by portal.

Can I print a 2 x 2 photo at CVS or Walgreens?

Yes. Put four 2 x 2 photos on a 4 x 6 inch sheet, upload it as an ordinary photo print, and pick it up the same day for roughly 29 to 39 cents. Then cut them apart. You are using the regular photo print service, not the passport photo counter, which is why it costs so little.

How much should a 2 x 2 photo cost?

The passport photo counter at CVS charges about $17.99 and Walgreens about $16.99 for two prints, and prices vary by store. Printing your own 4 x 6 sheet at the same store costs about 39 cents for four photos. The photo itself is identical - you are paying for someone else to press the shutter.

Is 2 x 2 inches the same as 51 x 51 mm?

Effectively yes. Two inches is 50.8 mm, which every government document rounds to 51 mm. Do not cut to 50 mm or to a 5 x 5 cm square - both measure short and can be rejected.

What pixel size should my file be?

Between 600 x 600 and 1200 x 1200 pixels, square. 600 x 600 is exactly 2 x 2 inches at 300 DPI, which is also the right resolution for printing. If you only need a digital upload, 600 x 600 keeps the file comfortably under the 240 KB DS-160 ceiling.

Can I wear glasses?

No. Glasses have not been permitted in US passport and visa photos since 1 November 2016. The only exception is a medical one, and it requires a signed doctor's statement submitted with the application. Take them off, wait a minute for the nose marks to fade, then take the photo.

Can I smile?

A natural smile is acceptable for US photos, but a neutral expression is the safer choice. Keep your mouth closed, do not show teeth widely, and do not squint - a broad grin narrows the eyes, and eyes have to be clearly open and visible.

Does using my phone camera cause rejections?

No. Phone cameras are fine and are what most accepted photos are taken with. Rejections come from editing, not from the device - turn off portrait mode, beauty filters and any automatic enhancement, and shoot in even light against a plain wall.

Other photos you can make free

Checked August 2026 Specifications and prices on this page come from the sources below. Rules and prices change — if you spot something out of date, please tell us.