US Passport Card 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 US Passport Card

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

The US passport card uses exactly the same photo as the passport book: 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm), colour, plain white or off-white background, taken in the last 6 months. There is no separate card photo spec because the State Department uses the same application forms for both documents, and you tick a box for book, card, or both. If you apply for both at once you only submit one photo.

United States Passport Card photo requirements

United States Passport Card photo specification
Print size2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm), square - identical to the passport book photo
Head height1 to 1 3/8 inches (25-35 mm) chin to top of hair, which is 50-69% of the image height
Eye height1 1/8 to 1 3/8 inches (28-35 mm) up from the bottom edge, 56-69% of the image height
BackgroundPlain white or off-white, no shadows, texture or objects
Age of photoColour photo taken within the last 6 months
ExpressionFace the camera directly, eyes open, mouth closed. A natural closed-mouth smile is fine
GlassesRemoved. Documented medical exception requires a signed note from your doctor
Number of photos1 photo per application, whether you are applying for the card, the book, or both together
Digital file (online renewal)JPG, JPEG, PNG, HEIC or HEIF between 54 KB and 10 MB, uploaded at opr.travel.state.gov
Print qualityMatte or glossy photo paper, sharp, no printer dots, no scans or photocopies

Mistakes that get this photo rejected

  • Card-to-book cannot be done online. The State Department's eligibility table says a passport card holder who wants only a book must renew by mail. Card-to-card and card-to-book-plus-card are both fine online, and so is book-to-book-plus-card.
  • There is no cheaper or smaller "card-sized" photo. Even though the card itself is credit-card sized, the photo you submit is still a full 2 x 2 inch print - the printing is done by the State Department, not you.
  • The no-AI, no-filter rule applies here too. State says "Do not change your photo using computer software, phone apps or filters, or artificial intelligence" and now checks every photo for AI use. Background removal on an otherwise real photo is the most common way people fail this.
  • The passport card is not valid for international air travel - only land and sea entry from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and some Caribbean destinations. It is, however, accepted for domestic flights as a REAL ID alternative.
  • Applying for both documents on one form saves you $35 versus applying separately, but you have to tick both boxes on the same form - going back later for the second document costs the execution fee again.

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

Is the passport card photo different from the passport book photo?

No, they are identical. The State Department uses the same forms for both documents and publishes a single photo standard: 2 x 2 inches, colour, white or off-white background, head 1 to 1 3/8 inches from chin to crown, taken in the last 6 months.

Can I use one photo if I apply for both the book and the card?

Yes. You submit one photo per application, and the first step on the form is choosing book, card, or both. Applying for both together also saves you $35 compared with applying for them separately.

How much does a US passport card cost?

A first-time adult card is $65 and a first-time card for a child under 16 is $50, both paid as two separate payments - one to the acceptance facility and one to the State Department. Renewing an adult card is $30. Making the photo here is free with no watermark.

Can I renew my passport card online?

Yes, if you are renewing a card and want a card, or a card and want a card plus a book. If you hold only a card and want only a book, you must renew by mail. Online renewal also requires you to be 25 or older, located in a US state or territory, and not travelling for at least 6 weeks.

Can I print the photo at Walgreens or CVS?

Yes. Print the 4x6 sheet, which fits six 2 x 2 photos, at any drugstore photo kiosk on glossy or matte photo paper and cut out the one you need. A 4x6 print is normally well under a dollar, far less than the roughly $15-17 in-store passport photo service.

Can I reuse the photo from my current passport card?

No. The photo must have been taken in the last 6 months. You also need a new photo, not just a recent one, if your appearance has changed significantly through major facial surgery or trauma, large new facial tattoos or piercings, or significant weight change.

Can I fly with a passport card?

Not internationally. The card only covers entry to the United States by land or sea from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and some Caribbean destinations, and it lets you use Ready Lanes at Mexican and Canadian land borders. It is valid for domestic air travel as a REAL ID alternative.

Do I have to take my glasses off?

Yes. Eyeglasses, sunglasses and tinted glasses all have to come off, and you cannot rest them on your head. If you cannot remove them for a medical reason, include a signed note from your doctor with the application.

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.