What size is the US passport photo?

Printed, 51 x 51 mm (2 x 2 inches). The file: JPEG, PNG, HEIC, HEIF; 54 KB to 10,000 KB. The head takes 50% to 69% of the photo's height, from the chin to the top of the head. These are the official rules as checked on 4 November 2026. This page makes a 1,200 x 1,200 pixel JPEG file.

Can I wear glasses in my US passport photo?

No: the official rules do not allow glasses in the photo. If you cannot take them off, see the official page.

Can I smile in my US passport photo?

Print/paper: neutral expression or a smile with eyes open and mouth closed. Online renewal: neutral facial expression or natural smile, avoid showing teeth.

Can I wear a head covering in my US passport photo?

Not allowed, except religious attire worn daily in public (signed statement) or medical (signed doctor's statement); full face visible, no shadows, one colour, no patterns or small holes.

How recent must my US passport photo be?

Taken in the last 6 months. These are the official rules as checked on 4 November 2026.

Can I take my US passport photo at home?

The official rules, as checked on 4 November 2026, ask for no photographer or studio, so a photo taken at home can meet them if it meets every rule on this page.

Is my photo uploaded?

No. The photo is read and checked in your browser, and any file is saved on your device. The page tells our server only that a photo was checked, that it passed, or that a file was saved; never the photo, your face or any measurement. It finds where your face is in the photo; it never recognises who you are.

How is the head measured?

The page finds your chin and eyes in the photo and estimates the top of your head from your forehead, since hair hides it: the dashed line shows the estimate. If it is not at the top of your head, move it with Top of head and the checks follow.

Will my photo be accepted?

Only the issuing authority decides. A photo that passes every check here meets the published size, head and background rules as checked on 4 November 2026; you confirm the rest, such as glasses, expression and how recent the photo is.

Save the print sheet: a 4 x 6 inch (10 x 15 cm) photo at 300 dpi with as many copies as fit and thin lines to cut along. Have it printed at 100% (actual size) on 4 x 6 inch photo paper at a photo lab or shop, then cut out the copies you need.

What does buying your US passport photo add?

Your US passport photo, €6.99: the exact 1200 x 1200 px file, the 4 x 6 in print sheet, the acceptance report, the Detail check, unlimited retakes and the whole family's photos for this document for 30 days. Pay only once your photo passes. Refund if the authority rejects it. Paid once, with no subscription. In the Detail check our AI model, run in the EU, checks glasses, expression, shadows and more if you choose to send it the photo. Without buying you can check any photo and save a small preview with a watermark.

Passport, visa and ID photos · United States

US passport photo: check and make yours

Your US passport photo, checked against the official rules, framed and sized, ready to upload or print. Official size: 51 x 51 mm (2 x 2 inches). Background: plain white or off-white, free of shadows, textures, objects or lines. Rules read on travel.state.gov on 4 November 2026.

Take or choose a photo
We check it against the official rules and frame it
Download the exact file and a print sheet

Take the photo Choose a photo

Free check. Your US passport photo, €6.99, only once it passes: the ready file and print sheet, unlimited retakes for 30 days. Refund if the authority rejects it.

Your photo: 1200 x 1200 px

Your photo stays on your device: nothing is uploaded, and no face is recognised.

Before you take it

Stand a step in front of a plain white wall, with nothing behind you.
Face a window or soft light: even light on the face, no shadows on it or behind.
Phone at eye level, about 1.5 m away: ask someone, or hold it at arm's length.
Take your glasses off.
A neutral face or a natural smile, mouth closed, eyes open.

Check and make your photo

Drop a photo here, or choose one JPEG, PNG or WebP

The first photo loads the face finder and the background outline from this site, about 15 MB, once.

Guide lines Dashed: top of head. Solid: chin.

The official rules don't allow edited photos, so we only frame and resize yours: never its background.

Adjust the framing

Zoom

Left or right

Down or up

Top of head The top of your head is an estimate: move the dashed line to it.

See every measurement

Check	Measured	Result

Your US passport photo

€6.99

The exact 1200 x 1200 px file, ready to upload
A 4 x 6 in print sheet for any photo shop
The acceptance report
Detail check of glasses, expression, shadows and more (opt-in: our AI model, run in the EU)
Unlimited retakes and the whole family's photos for this document, for 30 days
Refund if the authority rejects it

Choose a photo first.

Pay only once your photo passes: the button turns on once it passes every check. One payment, no subscription. Rejected by the authority? Email us the rejection within 30 days and we refund you in full. While you pay, your photo waits in this browser on this device for up to 24 hours: it is never uploaded.

A small copy with a watermark, to look at before you buy. Not a file to send.

Before you download, confirm

Only you can see these: we never judge them from the photo.

I am not wearing glasses. My expression is as the rules ask (Expression, below). My eyes are open and clearly visible. The light on my face is even, with no shadow on my face or behind me. The photo was taken in the last 6 months.

The face finder and the background outline run in this page from files served by this site (sources and licences). They find where a face is in the photo; they never recognise who it is.

Meets the published spec as checked on 4 November 2026. WinPhoto is not affiliated with any government.

For a baby or young child: US baby passport photo

Upload refused? The published file limits, and the usual reasons a file is outside them.

Apply directly, and pay only the official fee

We never apply for you: you apply for the U.S. passport yourself, on the official site.

Open the official site: travel.state.gov

U.S. Department of State: how to apply for a passport (travel.state.gov). A first adult passport is applied for in person at a passport acceptance facility, such as a library or post office; a renewal can be made by mail, or online with the State Department if you qualify.

Official fee: pay only what the official site lists. We could not read its fee page when we last checked.

The State Department offers the only authorized place to renew your passport online.

From usa.gov, checked 9 November 2026.

Sites that look official may charge extra for the same form: use only the official site above.

What you need

Form DS-11, filled out online and printed, or by hand
Original proof of U.S. citizenship
An acceptable photo ID
A photocopy of your citizenship document
A photocopy of the front and back of your photo ID
A passport photo
The passport fee

Tick as you go: the ticks stay on this page and are not saved.

The photo: check it free on this page, then get the exact file the official site accepts, €6.99. Check your photo ↑

The steps on the official site

Fill out Form DS-11 online and print it, or download it and fill it out by hand.
Gather your documents, the photocopies, your passport photo and the fee.
Apply in person at a passport acceptance facility, such as a library or post office. Some need an appointment.
Sign Form DS-11 only at your appointment, when the acceptance official tells you to.

Sources

Official source: usa.gov, checked on 9 November 2026.

You must apply in person at a passport acceptance facility for a new passport. It cannot be done online or by mail.

Application - You will need Form DS-11.

You can Fill out Form DS-11 online and print it, or

Do not sign Form DS-11 until you are at your appointment and the passport acceptance official tells you to do so.

Original proof of citizenship

An acceptable photo ID

A photocopy of your citizenship document

A photocopy of the front and back of your photo ID

Passport photo

Passport fee

Apply in person. Find your local passport acceptance facility. This facility could be a library or post office. Some facilities require appointments or have limited hours.

Official source: usa.gov, checked on 9 November 2026.

The State Department offers the only authorized place to renew your passport online.

WinPhoto is not affiliated with any government and never applies for anyone. Fees and steps change: check the official site before you pay.

The rules at a glance

For the U.S. passport (book or card), as the official rules state them.

Size: 51 x 51 mm (2 x 2 inches)
The file we make: 1,200 x 1,200 pixels
Background: Plain white or off-white, free of shadows, textures, objects or lines.
Head size: 50% to 69% of the photo's height, chin to top of head
Glasses: Not allowed
Expression: A neutral face or a natural smile, mouth closed, eyes open.
Taken: In the last 6 months
Edits: None allowed by the official rules (“Do not change your photo using computer software, phone apps or filters.”): we only frame and resize.

All the official rules and sources

Printed size: 51 mm wide, 51 mm tall (2 x 2 inches)
Digital photo: No pixel size set
File: JPEG, PNG, HEIC, HEIF; 54 KB to 10,000 KB
This page makes: A 1,200 x 1,200 pixel JPEG file
Head height: 50% to 69% of the photo's height, from the chin to the top of the head
Background: plain white or off-white, free of shadows, textures, objects or lines
Glasses: Not allowed
Expression: Print/paper: neutral expression or a smile with eyes open and mouth closed. Online renewal: neutral facial expression or natural smile, avoid showing teeth.
Head covering: not allowed, except religious attire worn daily in public (signed statement) or medical (signed doctor's statement); full face visible, no shadows, one colour, no patterns or small holes
Taken: In the last 6 months
Colour: Colour only

no shadows on face or background; uniform lighting, not over- or under-exposed
face the camera directly, head not tilted, head and shoulders centred
no filters, retouching or digital changes; no red-eye (do not edit it out, retake)
no uniforms, camouflage, headphones or wireless devices; jewellery and piercings OK if face not hidden
print: matte or glossy photo-quality paper, no printer dots, no scans or photocopies, no damage
online: no photo of a printed photo, no scans, do not send the image via text message
glasses only with a signed doctor's note for medical reasons (paper applications)

For: passport application in person (DS-11); renewal by mail (DS-82); online renewal (digital upload).

Official source: travel.state.gov, checked on 4 November 2026.

Submit 1 color photo taken in the last 6 months.

Use a plain white or off-white background free of shadows, textures, or objects.

The correct printed size of a passport photo is 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm).

The size of your head in the printed photo must be between 1 -1 3/8 inches (25 - 35 mm) from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head.

Your hair may extend past the edges of the photo, as long as your entire head is shown and is the appropriate size.

Print your photo on matte or glossy photo-quality paper.

Do not submit photocopies or digitally scanned photos.

Avoid exaggerated facial expressions. You can smile in your photo. Just make sure your eyes are open and your mouth is closed.

Face the camera directly with a neutral expression, both eyes open and visible, and mouth closed.

Take off any eyeglasses, sunglasses, or tinted glasses. Do not rest them on your head for the photo.

If you cannot remove your glasses for medical reasons, please include a signed note from your doctor with your application.

If you wear one for religious purposes, submit a signed statement that says it is religious attire worn daily in public.

Do not change your photo using computer software, phone apps or filters. We check all photos to ensure they were not digitally enhanced or altered.

A friend or family member

Last Updated: March 24, 2026

Official source: travel.state.gov, checked on 4 November 2026.

The photo is a JPG, JPEG, PNG, HEIC, or HEIF file. Photos taken on a mobile device may automatically save in one of these formats.

The file size should be between 54 KB and 10 MB.

The photo must be in color and taken in the last 6 months.

Position yourself several feet away from a white background or wall. The bottom frame of the photo should be the edge of your shoulders near where they connect to your arms.

Do not take a photo of a printed photo or scan a physical photo to make a digital file.

You can reposition or crop your photo in the application.

Use a neutral facial expression or natural smile. Avoid showing teeth.

If you are wearing glasses or a hat, remove them and take the photo without them.

To avoid making your image quality worse, do not send the image via text message.

Last Updated: May 04, 2026

Meets the published spec as checked on 4 November 2026. WinPhoto is not affiliated with any government. Rules change: check the official page before you apply.

How to use it

Stand facing the camera in front of a plain, light wall, with even light on your face.
Tap Take the photo and follow the outline and the tips on screen, or choose a photo you have. The page finds your face and frames it to the rules.
Fix anything the page lists, each with its own tip. Adjust the framing if you need to, and move Top of head if the dashed line is not at the top of your head.
Tick what only you can confirm.
Save the file, or the print sheet to print at 100% on 4 x 6 inch photo paper.

Questions

What size is the US passport photo?: Printed, 51 x 51 mm (2 x 2 inches). The file: JPEG, PNG, HEIC, HEIF; 54 KB to 10,000 KB. The head takes 50% to 69% of the photo's height, from the chin to the top of the head. These are the official rules as checked on 4 November 2026. This page makes a 1,200 x 1,200 pixel JPEG file.
What background does the US passport photo need?: Plain white or off-white, free of shadows, textures, objects or lines.
Can I wear glasses in my US passport photo?: No: the official rules do not allow glasses in the photo. If you cannot take them off, see the official page.
Can I smile in my US passport photo?: Print/paper: neutral expression or a smile with eyes open and mouth closed. Online renewal: neutral facial expression or natural smile, avoid showing teeth.
Can I wear a head covering in my US passport photo?: Not allowed, except religious attire worn daily in public (signed statement) or medical (signed doctor's statement); full face visible, no shadows, one colour, no patterns or small holes.
How recent must my US passport photo be?: Taken in the last 6 months. These are the official rules as checked on 4 November 2026.
Can I take my US passport photo at home?: The official rules, as checked on 4 November 2026, ask for no photographer or studio, so a photo taken at home can meet them if it meets every rule on this page.
Is my photo uploaded?: No. The photo is read and checked in your browser, and any file is saved on your device. The page tells our server only that a photo was checked, that it passed, or that a file was saved; never the photo, your face or any measurement. It finds where your face is in the photo; it never recognises who you are.
How is the head measured?: The page finds your chin and eyes in the photo and estimates the top of your head from your forehead, since hair hides it: the dashed line shows the estimate. If it is not at the top of your head, move it with Top of head and the checks follow.
Will my photo be accepted?: Only the issuing authority decides. A photo that passes every check here meets the published size, head and background rules as checked on 4 November 2026; you confirm the rest, such as glasses, expression and how recent the photo is.
How do I print it?: Save the print sheet: a 4 x 6 inch (10 x 15 cm) photo at 300 dpi with as many copies as fit and thin lines to cut along. Have it printed at 100% (actual size) on 4 x 6 inch photo paper at a photo lab or shop, then cut out the copies you need.
What does buying your US passport photo add?: Your US passport photo, €6.99: the exact 1200 x 1200 px file, the 4 x 6 in print sheet, the acceptance report, the Detail check, unlimited retakes and the whole family's photos for this document for 30 days. Pay only once your photo passes. Refund if the authority rejects it. Paid once, with no subscription. In the Detail check our AI model, run in the EU, checks glasses, expression, shadows and more if you choose to send it the photo. Without buying you can check any photo and save a small preview with a watermark.
What is the official U.S. passport website?: The official site is U.S. Department of State: how to apply for a passport (travel.state.gov), at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply.html. A first adult passport is applied for in person at a passport acceptance facility, such as a library or post office; a renewal can be made by mail, or online with the State Department if you qualify. usa.gov warns: "The State Department offers the only authorized place to renew your passport online."