US Passport Photo Requirements: Size, Head Position and Background

A bad photo is one of the most common reasons a U.S. passport application gets delayed. The rules are simple, but they’re specific about size, head position, background and expression. Here’s what the State Department asks for, the mistakes to avoid, and how to check your photo before you send it.

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The short version

• Size: 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm), square, in color.
• Head size: between 1 and 1⅜ inches (25–35 mm), measured from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head.
• Eye position: your eyes sit between 1⅛ and 1⅜ inches (28–35 mm) up from the bottom edge of the photo.
• Background: plain white or off-white, with no shadows or patterns.
• Age of the photo: taken within the last 6 months.
• Face: looking straight at the camera, both eyes open, a neutral expression or a natural smile.
• Glasses: not allowed.
• Format: a printed photo on matte or glossy photo paper, or a digital JPEG if you renew online.

These numbers come from the State Department’s photo page at travel.state.gov. Rules can change, so check that page before you apply.

Head size and position

Your whole face should be visible and centered, from the top of your head to your chin, with a little space above. The head height rule (1 to 1⅜ inches) is what catches most home photos. A selfie taken at arm’s length makes the head too big and distorts the face. A photo taken from too far away makes it too small.

Look straight at the camera, with your head level. Tilting your chin up or down, or turning slightly to one side, can fail the photo even if the size is right.

Background and lighting

The background has to be plain white or off-white. That means no pattern, no picture frames, no door edges and no visible shadow behind you. Stand a little way in front of the wall so your own shadow doesn’t fall on it.

Light your face evenly. Daylight from a window in front of you works best. Avoid a single lamp from one side, overhead lights that cast shadows under your eyebrows, and flash, which causes glare and red-eye. Anything that hides part of the face or leaves uneven shadows can lead to a rejection.

Expression, glasses and what you wear

Keep your eyes open and your mouth either closed or in a relaxed, natural smile. A big grin or raised eyebrows isn’t what the State Department wants.

Glasses aren’t allowed. The State Department has narrow medical exceptions that need a signed statement from your doctor, so read the official page if that applies to you. Hats and head coverings aren’t allowed either, except when worn daily for religious or medical reasons, in which case you need a signed statement and your face must still be fully visible. Wear everyday clothes, not a uniform, and no headphones or wireless devices.

Mistakes that get photos rejected

• Filters or retouching. Skin smoothing, “beauty” modes and other edits that change how you look aren’t allowed. The State Department asks for an unfiltered, unretouched photo.
• An old photo. It has to show how you look now, taken within the last 6 months.
• Wrong size after printing. If a print dialog shrinks the image to “fit the page,” your 2 × 2 inch photo isn’t 2 × 2 anymore. Print at 100% (“Actual size”).
• Shadows. On the face, or on the wall behind you.
• Printing on plain paper. Use photo paper.
• A head that’s too big or too small. Measure it. Don’t guess.

Printed or digital

If you’re applying by mail or in person, you need a printed photo. A common trick is to put a 4 × 6 inch sheet with several 2 × 2 inch photos on it, order one standard print at a pharmacy or photo kiosk, and cut the photos out.

If you’re renewing online, you upload a digital JPEG instead. The official page lists the exact file requirements, so check it for the current limits.

Doing it with Passport Photo Studio

The app does the sizing, the background and the checks for you, and you see the result before you pay.

1. Open the app and search for United States on the home screen. Choose Passport. (Passport Card, Visa, DV Lottery and Green Card / USCIS forms are listed too.)
2. Read the Requirements card. It shows the photo size, head height, eyes from bottom, background, digital file, glasses and expression for that document. Tap Official requirements to open the government page.
3. Tap Take Photo for the camera with live guidance (it has a timer and a front/back camera switch), or Choose from Photos.
4. On the Your Photo screen, the app straightens and crops the photo, swaps in the right background and runs its Automatic checks. If something is marked in red, follow the tip, tap Retake, or use Adjust (pinch to resize, drag to move; keep the top of your head inside the shaded band and your chin on the solid line).
5. The preview is free and carries a PREVIEW watermark. When you’re happy, tap Save & Print and unlock that photo.
6. On the next screen, share or save the Digital photo for online applications, or pick a paper size for the Print sheet (4×6, A4 or Letter) and tap Save or Print.

The app checks your photo against the published requirements, but the State Department makes the final decision. Read the official page before you apply.

Related guides

• DV Lottery Photo Requirements: Size, File Size and Common Mistakes
• How to Take a Passport Photo at Home With Your iPhone

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