US Passport Photo Maker - 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

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

A US passport photo must be 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm), in color, taken in the last 6 months, on a plain white or off-white background. Your head, measured from the bottom of your chin to the top of your hair, has to fill between 50% and 69% of the picture's height, and your eyes must sit between 56% and 69% of the way up from the bottom edge. The State Department says unacceptable photos are the number one reason passport applications get put on hold, so it is worth getting the crop right before you submit.

United States Passport (Book) photo requirements

United States Passport (Book) photo specification
Print size2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm), square
Head height1 to 1 3/8 inches (25-35 mm) from 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, which is 56-69% of the image height
BackgroundPlain white or off-white, no shadows, texture, lines or objects
Age of photoTaken within the last 6 months and reflecting your current appearance
ExpressionFace the camera directly, both eyes open, mouth closed. A natural closed-mouth smile is allowed
GlassesNot allowed. Remove eyeglasses, sunglasses and tinted glasses, and do not rest them on your head. Medical exception needs a signed note from your doctor
Hats and head coveringsNot allowed except for documented religious or medical reasons, and then only one plain colour with no patterns or holes
ClothingNo uniforms, uniform-like clothing or camouflage. No headphones or earbuds. Jewellery and piercings are fine if they do not hide your face
Digital file (online renewal)JPG, JPEG, PNG, HEIC or HEIF, between 54 KB and 10 MB
Paper and print qualityMatte or glossy photo paper, sharp, no visible printer dots, no photocopies or scans

Mistakes that get this photo rejected

  • No digital editing at all. State says: "Do not change your photo using computer software, phone apps or filters, or artificial intelligence", and it now warns "We check all photos to ensure you are not using artificial intelligence tools." This ban was tightened at the start of 2026 and it covers phone beauty modes, skin smoothing, AI background replacement and AI-generated headshots - even ones that look perfectly normal.
  • Do not fake the white background. State's own example page shows an otherwise fine photo failing purely because the background was replaced or cleaned up with software. Hang a white sheet over a coloured wall and stand a few feet in front of it instead.
  • The head-size window is narrow. Chin-to-crown must be 1 to 1 3/8 inches on a 2 inch photo. Arm's-length selfies almost always come out with the head too big and the face distorted - have someone stand several feet back instead.
  • Glasses resting on top of your head are a rejection, not just glasses on your face. So are earbuds and a work ID lanyard.
  • A home inkjet print on plain paper will be rejected for visible printer dots. Print the 4x6 sheet at a drugstore photo counter on glossy or matte photo paper.
  • Reusing the photo from your current passport does not work - it must have been taken in the last 6 months.

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

What size is a US passport photo?

It is 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm), perfectly square. Inside that square, your head from the bottom of your chin to the top of your hair must measure 1 to 1 3/8 inches (25-35 mm), and your eyes must sit 1 1/8 to 1 3/8 inches up from the bottom edge. As percentages of the image height that is 50-69% for head size and 56-69% for eye level.

Can I take my own passport photo with a phone?

Yes. The State Department explicitly lists "a friend or family member" as an acceptable place to get your photo taken. Stand several feet in front of a plain white wall, have someone else hold the phone at your eye level a few feet away, and use even daylight rather than flash. Turn off portrait mode, beauty filters and any automatic retouching.

Am I allowed to smile?

Yes, a natural closed-mouth smile is fine. State's guidance says "You can smile in your photo. Just make sure your eyes are open and your mouth is closed." What gets rejected is an exaggerated expression, visible teeth, an open mouth, or squinting that hides your irises.

Can I wear glasses in my passport photo?

No. You must take off eyeglasses, sunglasses and tinted glasses, and you cannot rest them on your head. The only exception is if you cannot remove them for medical reasons, in which case you must include a signed note from your doctor with your application.

Can I print passport photos at CVS or Walgreens?

Yes, and it is the cheapest route. Download the 4x6 sheet, which holds six 2x2 photos, and print it as an ordinary 4x6 photo at any drugstore kiosk or one-hour lab, then cut out the two you need. Ask for glossy or matte photo paper - the standard drugstore photo paper is fine, plain office paper is not.

How much does a US passport photo cost?

Making and downloading the photo here is free with no watermark. A 4x6 print at a US drugstore is normally well under a dollar, versus roughly $15-17 for the in-store passport photo service. Government fees are separate: $130 to renew an adult passport book and $165 for a first-time adult book.

How recent does the photo have to be?

It must have been taken within the last 6 months and must look like you do now. You also need a new photo if your appearance has changed significantly - major facial surgery or trauma, adding or removing many large piercings or tattoos, or significant weight change. Growing a beard, colouring your hair or normal ageing do not count.

What happens if my photo is rejected?

Your application is put on hold and the State Department sends you a letter or email asking for a new photo. You have 90 days from the date of that letter to respond. There is no extra fee, but it typically adds several weeks to your processing time.

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.