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US Passport Photo Requirements 2026

Need a US passport photo? The United States requires a 2x2 inch (51x51mm) photo with a white background for passports, visas, green cards, and citizenship applications.

Create your compliant US passport photo online in minutes – no studio visit needed. Our AI ensures your photo meets all US Department of State requirements.

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US passport and compliant photo illustration
✓ Full face, front view required
✓ White or off-white background
✓ Color photo in sRGB color space
✕ No glasses allowed

straighten US Passport Photo Specifications

Annotated US passport photo dimension diagram showing 2x2 inch frame, head height, and centering guides
straighten
Photo Size
2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm)
face
Head Height
1 – 1⅜ in (25 – 35 mm)
palette
Background
Plain white or off-white
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Photo Recency
Taken within the last 6 months
sentiment_neutral
Facial Expression
Neutral expression with both eyes open
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Glasses
Not allowed (since November 2016)
high_quality
Min. Resolution
600 × 600 px (min)
image
File Format
JPEG

checklist Detailed Requirements

✓ Correct
Example of a correct US passport photo
✕ Incorrect
Example of an incorrect US passport photo with common mistakes

photo_camera Photo Quality

  • Photo must be in color (no black & white)
  • No filters, edits, or excessive retouching
  • Even lighting with no harsh shadows
  • Printed on photo-quality paper if submitting physically

person Appearance

  • Face directly facing the camera
  • Neutral expression, mouth closed
  • Both eyes open and visible
  • Normal everyday attire (no uniforms unless religious)

warning Common Mistakes

  • Wearing glasses (rejected since 2016)
  • Shadows on face or background
  • Photo too old (must be within 6 months)
  • Head tilted or not centered

description US Documents Requiring This Photo

The same 2x2 inch photo format is used across all major US travel and immigration documents:

menu_book

US Passport / Passport Card

2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm)
2 photos
description

US Visa (all types)

2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm)
2 photos
badge

Green Card (Permanent Resident)

2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm)
2 photos
account_balance

Citizenship / Naturalization

2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm)
2 photos

rocket_launch How We Create Your US Passport Photo

Our service automatically formats your photo to the correct 2x2 inch US standard:

1
Upload your photo step illustration

Upload

Take a selfie or upload a photo from your gallery

2
AI compliance check step illustration

AI Check

Our AI verifies compliance with US Department of State standards

3
Auto-format and crop step illustration

Auto-Format

Photo is cropped and formatted to 2x2 inches with white background

4
Download result step illustration

Download

Get your digital file + print-ready templates instantly

Ready to Create Your US Passport Photo?

Get a compliant 2x2 inch US passport photo in minutes. Accepted for passports, visas, green cards, and more. Just €6.99.

photo_cameraCreate My US Passport Photo
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