The US passport photo rules, in plain words
The State Department says unacceptable photos are the most common reason passport applications get put on hold. The rules are specific, not hard. Here is every one that matters, from travel.state.gov.
- Recent. Taken in the last 6 months, in color. An old photo that still looks like you is still an old photo.
- Size. 2 x 2 inches. Head between 1 and 1 3/8 inches from chin to top of head, centered, the whole head in the frame.
- Background. Plain white or off white. No shadows, texture, pattern, objects or lines. We replace whatever is behind you with plain white, but a clean wall gives the AI a cleaner edge.
- Pose. Face the camera directly, head not tilted, shoulders square.
- Expression. Neutral or a natural smile, mouth closed, both eyes open and visible.
- Glasses. None. Not on your face, not on your head. A medical exception needs a signed doctor's note with the application.
- Head coverings. None, unless worn daily for religious reasons or on medical grounds, with a signed statement. The full face has to show.
- Clothing. No uniforms, camouflage, headphones or earpieces. Jewelry is fine if it does not hide the face.
- Quality. Sharp, evenly lit, natural skin tones. No red eye, no filters, nothing that changes how you look.
The software measures the size, the background, the pose, the expression, glasses, head coverings and the light before you pay, and shows you every result. The one thing it cannot see is when the photo was taken, so you confirm the date yourself before checkout.
Digital or printed: which one do you need
Renewing online at travel.state.gov? You need the digital file only. Our JPEG is inside the upload limits: square, 600 to 1200 pixels, 54 KB to 10 MB.
Applying in person, or renewing by mail? You need one printed 2 x 2 photo on photo paper. Choose the digital plus prints option and we mail two prints free by USPS, in 2 to 3 business days. Or pick them up at a location near you, ready in about an hour. You can also print the 4 x 6 sheet yourself at CVS, Walgreens or Walmart for well under a dollar.*
Not sure? Take the digital file. Every option includes it, and you can print the sheet later.
*Listed stores are not affiliated with our service.
What it costs
The digital photo is $16.99. The digital photo plus two printed photos shipped free is $19.99; four or six prints cost a little more. At checkout you can add the Acceptance guarantee for $6.99 and photo retouching for $4.99. Tax is included in the total you see. You pay once, after the initial check has passed, and never before.
Why photos get rejected, and how we catch it
The State Department publishes its own examples of rejected photos: head too small or too large, shadows across the face, a colored or patterned background, glasses, eyes closed, mouth open, head tilted, a filter, and a photo older than six months. Our software measures the head, the eye line, the tilt, the light and the background against the State Department's own numbers, and shows you every result before you pay. A photo that fails a check cannot be bought; you retake it, free, until it passes. That matters, because a rejection costs you weeks.
What we do not do to your photo
We crop it, size it, place your head correctly and put it on plain white. We do not change your face, your features, your eyes or your expression. The State Department rejects altered photos, and a photo that looks like you is the whole point. If you add photo retouching, we remove temporary blemishes, shadows under the eyes, stray hairs and dust spots, and nothing else.
Sources: U.S. Passport Photos, travel.state.gov and Upload a Digital Photo for Online Renewal, travel.state.gov.