Does Costco have passport photo service? Not anymore. Costco closed its in-store photo centers in the U.S. in February 2021, and passport photos ended along with them, as Fox Business reported at the time. So there's no Costco passport photo fee to compare today — but members still have easy options: get the photo at a nearby pharmacy, the Post Office or a shipping store, or make it at home and print it as a regular 4×6 in photo. This guide explains what changed, where to go instead, the State Department rules and a $7 online alternative.
Costco shut down its in-store photo departments at all locations in February 2021. According to Fox Business, customers lost access to ink refills, photo restoration, home movie transfers and passport photos, and Costco cited the continued decline of prints in its email to members. Today, Costco's customer service site points members to a member discount with Shutterfly for photo printing.
If you see a Costco listing near you that mentions passport photos, call the warehouse to confirm before you go. Online directories and older blog posts sometimes still show the service.
Hours and prices vary by location for all of these, so check the store's own site or call ahead:
For a quick side-by-side, see our CVS vs Walgreens vs Walmart passport photo comparison and passport photo near me vs online.
Whichever route you choose, the State Department's requirements are the same:
If you take the photo at home instead of at a store, these are the mistakes that most often get a photo rejected:
Since Costco no longer takes passport photos, the cheapest replacement is often a photo you take at home. With Photo-Visa.Online you take the photo yourself (a friend with a phone is enough), upload it and get a file that is cropped to 2×2 in with the head sized to the State Department range. We do automated cropping to 2×2 in, a background check and a compliance check — we don't change your face. You see the result before paying.
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Digital photo | $7 | 2×2 in digital file, automated crop and checks |
| Print-ready layout | $10 | Digital file plus a 4×6 in sheet you can print at any photo lab and cut into 2×2 in photos |
| Manual processing | $10 | A specialist reviews the photo; includes an acceptance guarantee |
The acceptance guarantee applies only to the Manual processing plan — the $7 and $10 automated plans do not include it. Every order includes one free re-upload of the source photo within 30 days, so if your first shot has a shadow or closed eyes you can replace it. For setup tips, read how to take a passport photo at home, and check the full 2×2 inch photo specifications.
No. Costco closed its in-store photo centers in February 2021, and passport photos were discontinued along with them.
There's no current fee because the service no longer exists. Prices you find online refer to the old in-store service.
Costco points members to Shutterfly for photo printing. We couldn't confirm passport-format prints there; a standard 4×6 in print of a correctly sized layout is the usual workaround — print at actual size on photo paper.
Yes. The State Department accepts photos taken by a friend or family member. Put two 2×2 in photos on a 4×6 in sheet at exact size, print it on photo paper at any photo lab, and cut them out carefully.
A walk-in pharmacy such as Walgreens, a participating Post Office, or a Walmart Photo Center. Or make the photo at home and have it sized online for $7.
Upload a photo taken against a plain white wall and see the cropped 2×2 in result before paying — $7 digital, $10 with a print-ready 4×6 in layout. Start your US passport photo online.