Global Entry Photo - 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm)

  • Size2 x 2 inches
  • BackgroundPlain white or off-white
  • Head height50–69% of the photo
  • GlassesNot allowed
  1. Add your photo
  2. We check it
  3. Download & print

Add a photo for your Global Entry

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 glassesHats and headphones off 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

CBP does not publish its own photo specification for Global Entry, and its official application pages do not ask you to mail or upload a passport-style photo - the photo on your membership record is taken by an officer at your enrolment interview or on arrival. Where a photo is needed anyway, the US passport standard is what applies: 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm), plain white background, head filling 50-69% of the frame. You do also need a valid US passport to apply for Global Entry, and that passport needs a compliant photo of its own.

Global Entry / CBP Trusted Traveler Programs photo requirements

Global Entry / CBP Trusted Traveler Programs photo specification
Photo size2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm), square - the US passport standard, since CBP publishes no separate Global Entry spec
Head height1 to 1 3/8 inches (25-35 mm) chin to top of hair, which is 50-69% of the image height
Eye height56-69% of the image height, measured up from the bottom edge
BackgroundPlain white or off-white, no shadows or objects
ExpressionFace the camera directly, eyes open, neutral expression or a natural closed-mouth smile
GlassesRemove them - the same rule CBP's biometric matching relies on
Age of photoTaken within the last 6 months
Enrolment photoTaken by a CBP officer at the enrolment centre, at Enrollment on Arrival, or during a remote interview - not supplied by you
Required documentA valid passport must be listed on the application if you are applying for Global Entry
Application fee$120 non-refundable, paid at the time of submission through the TTP system

Mistakes that get this photo rejected

  • CBP does not publish a Global Entry photo specification. Its How to Apply page and Global Entry FAQ list no photo you must supply - the enrolment photo is captured by an officer at the interview or on arrival. Any site quoting an "official CBP Global Entry photo spec" is repeating the US passport standard, which is what this page uses.
  • The photo that really matters is the one in your passport. Global Entry applicants must include a valid passport on the application, so a passport that is expiring or was issued with a marginal photo is the actual blocker, not a separate Global Entry headshot.
  • The login.gov identity check is not a passport photo. Creating and verifying the account asks for photos of your government ID and a live selfie taken with your camera. A scan or an upload of a printed 2 x 2 will not satisfy it.
  • The $120 fee is non-refundable even if your application is denied, and CBP notes that while about 80% of applications are approved within two weeks, some take 12 months or longer.
  • Remote interviews have their own photo rule: you must be a renewing member, at least 18, and already have a photo on file with CBP taken within the past 10 years and after you turned 14. First-time applicants are not eligible.
  • Apply only at the official portal, ttp.dhs.gov. Third-party sites charge fees on top of the $120 and cannot submit an application on your behalf.

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

Does Global Entry actually require a photo?

CBP's official Global Entry pages do not list a passport-style photo among the things you supply. Your membership photo is taken by a CBP officer at the enrolment centre interview, at Enrollment on Arrival, or during a remote interview. If a step in your TTP application or a partner programme does ask you for a photo, use the US passport 2 x 2 standard.

What size should a Global Entry photo be?

Use the US passport standard: 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm), square, plain white or off-white background, with your head measuring 50-69% of the image height from chin to the top of your hair and your eyes 56-69% of the way up from the bottom edge.

Can I use my passport photo for Global Entry?

Yes, as long as it was taken within the last 6 months and still looks like you. The specification is the same, so a compliant passport photo is compliant here. Do not use a photocopy or a phone snapshot of the printed photo in your passport.

How much does Global Entry cost?

CBP charges a $120 one-time, non-refundable application fee, paid at the time of submission by credit card or electronic bank transfer. It is not refunded if your application is denied. Creating the photo here is free with no watermark.

Do I need to bring photos to my Global Entry interview?

No. Bring your valid passport and one other form of identification such as a driver's licence or ID card - or your machine-readable permanent resident card if you are an LPR. CBP takes your photograph and fingerprints at the appointment.

Can I print a Global Entry photo at CVS or Walgreens?

Yes, if you want a physical copy for your records or for a passport application. Print the 4x6 sheet, which fits six 2 x 2 photos, at a drugstore photo kiosk on glossy or matte paper for well under a dollar and cut them out. Nothing needs to be posted to CBP.

What is the selfie login.gov asks for?

That is identity proofing for your Trusted Traveler account, not a Global Entry photo. It asks for photos of the front and back of your government-issued ID plus a live selfie taken on the spot so the system can match your face to the ID. You cannot substitute a prepared 2 x 2 image.

Can I renew Global Entry without going to an enrolment centre?

Possibly. CBP runs a remote interview pilot over video for conditionally approved renewing members who are at least 18, already have a photo on file taken within the past 10 years and after age 14, and have previously given fingerprints. First-time applicants are not yet eligible and must interview in person or at Enrollment on Arrival.

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.