U.S. passport and visa photos must be taken within the last 6 months. USCIS rules are different: most forms that still require photos ask for photos "taken recently", while the I-130 spouse petition requires photos taken within 30 days of filing. And many USCIS forms no longer require photos at all — USCIS takes your photo at a biometrics appointment. Here's the breakdown.
| Document / Form | Photo Age Rule | Issuing Agency |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Passport (DS-11, DS-82, DS-5504) | Taken in the last 6 months | State Department |
| U.S. Visa (DS-160, DS-260) | Taken in the last 6 months | State Department |
| DV Lottery | Taken in the last 6 months | State Department |
| Green Card / Adjustment of Status (I-485) | "Taken recently" | USCIS |
| Petition for Alien Relative (I-130), spouse petitions | Within 30 days of filing (petitioner and spouse) | USCIS |
| Green Card Renewal (I-90) | No photos sent — taken at biometrics | USCIS |
| Travel Document (I-131: advance parole, refugee travel document) | "Taken recently" | USCIS |
| Employment Authorization (I-765) | "Taken recently" | USCIS |
| Naturalization (N-400) | Photos only for applicants residing outside the U.S. — "taken recently" | USCIS |
| Asylum (I-589) | Photographed at a biometrics appointment | USCIS |
| REAL ID (state DMV) | Usually taken at the DMV | State DMV |
USCIS updates form instructions regularly — always check the current edition of the instructions for your form on uscis.gov before filing.
The State Department asks for a photo taken in the last 6 months so that it reflects your current appearance. Passports for children under 16 are valid for only 5 years, because children's appearance changes quickly.
For forms that still need photos, USCIS asks for two identical color passport-style photos: 2×2 inches, white to off-white background, printed on thin paper with a glossy finish, unmounted and unretouched, with head height of 1 to 1⅜ inches. Lightly print your name and A-Number (if any) on the back in pencil or felt pen. Only the I-130 spouse petition instructions set a hard 30-day limit; the others say "taken recently" — in practice, use a fresh photo.
The rule refers to when the photo was taken, not when it was printed. A phone photo taken months ago and printed today is still an old photo. If you're close to the limit, take a new one.
For an existing passport, the State Department separates small and big changes. You only need a new passport if you can no longer be identified from your current photo:
For a new application, the photo simply needs to reflect how you look now.
The same 6-month rule applies to children, but babies change fast, so take the photo as close to the application date as you can. See our baby passport photo guide.
One 2×2 in photo can serve a U.S. passport and a USCIS form if it meets both sets of rules — including the stricter age rule (30 days for an I-130 spouse petition) and USCIS's print requirements. If in doubt, take a fresh photo for each filing.
Unacceptable photos are the number one reason the State Department puts passport applications on hold. If that happens, you'll be asked for a new photo and processing waits until you send one. With USCIS, a missing or non-compliant photo can lead to a request for evidence or a rejected filing — either way, a delay.
Take a fresh photo shortly before each application rather than reusing an old print. With an online service like Photo-Visa.Online, a new 2×2 in photo from a home shot costs $13, digital file and print-ready layout included.
For U.S. passports and visas: taken in the last 6 months. For USCIS: check your form's current instructions — I-130 spouse petitions need photos taken within 30 days, most other forms that require photos say "taken recently", and several forms no longer take mailed photos at all.