What size is a US passport photo?
A US passport photo is 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm), with the head measuring 1 to 1 3/8 inches (25 to 35 mm) from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head, on a white or off-white background, taken in the last 6 months. Glasses must be removed. FixDoks crops your photo to this size and makes a print sheet.
US Passport Photo at a glance
| Size | 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm) |
|---|---|
| Head height | 1 to 1 3/8 in (25 to 35 mm), chin to top of head |
| Processing | In your browser; your files are not uploaded |
| Price | Free to use, no watermark |
| Download | First download free, then ₹49 for 2 months of unlimited downloads (US$3 outside India) |
| Files at once | 1 free, up to 30 with a plan |
| Works on | Chrome, Edge, Safari and Firefox on Windows, Mac, Android and iPhone |
How to use US Passport Photo
- Take a photo against a plain wall in even light, facing the camera, or pick a recent one.
- Click Select your photo. The size for this document is already chosen.
- Move and zoom the frame so the head fits the dashed oval. Use Make background white if the wall is not plain.
- Click Create passport photo and download the photo or the print sheet.
Why a US passport photo gets put on hold
The State Department says unacceptable photos are the number one reason passport applications are put on hold. Its checklist is short: one colour photo taken in the last 6 months, your head centred and fully visible, your face turned directly to the camera without tilting, a neutral expression or a closed-mouth smile with both eyes open, and a plain white or off-white background free of shadows, textures or objects. Stand several feet from the camera and from the wall. If the person taking the photo is too close or too far, your head will not come out at the right size.
Do not edit the photo
The State Department asks for the original, unchanged photo. Do not change it with computer software, phone apps, filters or artificial intelligence, and do not stretch or compress the image to resize it. Its own examples of unacceptable photos include one where the background was cut out with a retouching tool, which changes the outline of the head, face and neck, and one that looks like an AI recreation of an earlier photo. It also says every photo is checked for AI use. Red-eye cannot be fixed in an editor either: turn off the flash or adjust it instead. If your wall is not white, the State Department suggests hanging a white blanket or sheet behind you and standing a few feet in front of it.
Paper prints
For a paper application, print on matte or glossy photo-quality paper. Photocopies and digitally scanned photos are not accepted, and the photo must not show visible printer dots, creases, holes or smudges. Set the camera to its highest quality setting before you shoot. The printed size is 2 x 2 inches, with the head between 1 and 1 3/8 inches from chin to top of head. Your hair may extend past the edge of the photo as long as your whole head is shown at the correct size.
Babies and toddlers
Place a baby on a plain white or off-white sheet, or cover a car seat with the sheet and photograph the child in the seat. No other person may be in the photo, the child must face the camera with a neutral expression, and the whole face must be visible, so keep hands and pacifiers out of the frame. The State Department accepts a baby whose eyes are not entirely open; all other children must have their eyes open.
Source: U.S. Department of State: Passport Photos, checked October 2026.
US Passport Photo requirements at a glance
| Size | 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm) |
|---|---|
| Head height | 1 to 1 3/8 in (25 to 35 mm), chin to top of head |
| Background | White or off-white |
| Taken | Within the last 6 months |
| Glasses | Not allowed (medical note needed if they cannot be removed) |
| Online renewal file | JPG, JPEG, PNG, HEIC or HEIF, 54 KB to 10 MB |
Rules checked on the official website in September 2026. Requirements can change, so confirm on the official page before you apply. Source: travel.state.gov: Passport photos.
Expression, glasses and head coverings
Look straight at the camera with both eyes open. The State Department allows a natural smile with the mouth closed. Glasses must come off for the photo; if you cannot remove them for medical reasons, you need a signed doctor's statement. A religious head covering is allowed with a signed statement; it must be a single colour with no pattern. Uniforms, headphones and earbuds are not allowed.
Printed photo or online renewal
For a paper application, print the photo at 2 × 2 inches on photo paper. For online renewal, upload the single JPG from this tool; the State Department asks for a file between 54 KB and 10 MB. It also checks photos for digital alterations, so do not use beauty filters or AI edits.
A note on the white background button
The State Department says photos should not be edited with software, and a retouched or replaced background is on its list of unacceptable photos. The Make background white button is there for convenience, and many people use it, but the safest photo is one taken against a plain white or off-white wall so no background change is needed. If you do use the button, check the edges around your hair and shoulders closely before you print or upload.
How this tool helps
The tool crops your photo to the exact size above at 300 DPI, so a print comes out at the right physical size, and it can fill a 4 × 6 inch sheet with copies and cut lines for a photo shop. For online applications it makes a file with the exact pixel size and file size the form asks for. It cannot judge whether your expression, lighting or pose meets the rules, so check the photo against the list before you submit it.
FixDoks is an independent tool and is not affiliated with any government. You submit your application yourself on the official website.