US Passport Photo Requirements
Updated 2026-09-25 · 6 min read
A US passport photo is a 2 × 2 inch square (51 × 51 mm), in colour, on a white or off-white background. The US Department of State's rules are stricter than people expect on a few points - glasses and head size in particular - so here is the whole list.
Size and head position
- Photo: 2 × 2 inches. As a file, that is 600 × 600 pixels at 300 DPI.
- Head height: 1 inch to 1⅜ inches (25–35 mm), measured from the bottom of the chin to the top of the hair. That is 50–69% of the photo's height.
- Eye line: 1⅛ to 1⅜ inches (28–35 mm) up from the bottom edge.
- Centered: the face in the middle, looking straight at the camera.
The US passport template uses exactly these numbers, and the editor warns you when the head falls outside them.
Background and light
The background must be plain white or off-white, with no pattern, texture or shadow. Light the face evenly - a shadow under the chin or behind the ears is a common reason for rejection. Background removal in the editor replaces the wall with white and removes the shadow on the wall along with it.
Expression and eyes
A neutral expression or a natural smile, both eyes open, mouth closed or nearly closed. Look directly into the lens.
Glasses
No glasses, since 1 November 2016. The only exception is a medical reason, with a signed statement from a doctor sent with the application.
Clothes and head coverings
Normal clothes are fine. Uniforms, camouflage and anything that looks like a uniform are not. Hats and head coverings are refused unless worn daily for religious or medical reasons, with a signed statement, and the face from the chin to the forehead must be fully visible. Headphones and wireless earbuds must come off.
Age of the photo
It must have been taken in the last six months and look like you today. If you have had significant facial surgery, a major weight change or have added or removed large facial tattoos, take a new one.
Digital photos
For online passport renewal the upload is checked automatically, and the site gives its own file instructions - follow them. For a US visa (DS-160), the photo must be a square JPEG between 600 × 600 and 1200 × 1200 pixels and no larger than 240 KB. The compress-to-KB tool will find the best JPEG quality under that limit.
No editing of the face
Filters, skin smoothing and face reshaping are not allowed. Cropping, background replacement and a small brightness correction are not edits to your likeness, and are what every photo booth does too.