If you'd rather get a passport photo at a store than make one online, the usual options are pharmacies (CVS, Walgreens), Walmart, shipping stores (The UPS Store, FedEx Office) and Post Offices. Prices change and often differ by location, so below we list only prices we could confirm on the companies' own websites and mark the rest "check current price".
| Where | Price | What the official page says |
|---|---|---|
| Walgreens | $16.99 | Two 2×2 printed passport photos; a free digital copy by email with purchase |
| USPS (Post Office) | $15.00 | "Post Office photo" fee; most USPS passport locations can take photos, including digital photos for online renewal; book an appointment online |
| The UPS Store | Varies by store | Stores are independently owned franchises; one Charlotte, NC store lists $19.99 plus tax for a U.S. set of 2 photos |
| CVS Pharmacy | Check current price | — |
| Walmart | Check current price | — |
| FedEx Office | Check current price | — |
Prices exclude tax and can differ between locations. Call ahead or check the store's page for your location before you go.
What about Costco? Costco's customer service pages say its online Photo Center services are no longer available and point members to a Shutterfly discount for photo printing. We couldn't find a current Costco passport photo service on its official site — check with your local warehouse.
The State Department doesn't publish acceptance rates by store, and we don't either. Whoever takes your photo, it is checked against the same rules: 2×2 inches, head 1–1⅜ inches from chin to top of head, plain white or off-white background, no glasses, taken within the last 6 months, printed on matte or glossy photo-quality paper, and not altered with filters or editing software. The State Department says unacceptable photos are the number one reason it puts passport applications on hold. Before you leave the store, look at the print yourself: check the background, shadows, head size and sharpness.
Pros: easy to find in most neighborhoods. Walgreens includes a free digital copy by email with its passport photo purchase. Cons: one of the more expensive options; quality depends on the staff member and lighting at your store.
Availability and price vary by store — check your local Walmart before you go.
Pros: you can get the photo and submit a first-time passport application in one visit; many locations also take digital photos for online renewal. Cons: USPS asks you to make an appointment for first-time passport and photo services; not every Post Office offers passport services.
Pros: convenient if you're already there. Cons: prices are set per store and can be higher than at pharmacies — confirm before you go.
The online workflow:
The digital file can also be used for online passport renewal, which requires a digital photo. Keep in mind that the State Department asks for the original, unedited photo without filters or digital changes and checks photos for digital alteration — so the best result comes from a sharp, evenly lit shot against a plain white background that only needs to be cropped to size.
If a passport photo is rejected, the application is put on hold until you provide an acceptable photo, so a store refund of the photo cost doesn't make up for the delay. Store refund policies vary — ask before you pay.
Photo-Visa.Online refunds you in full if the agency rejects the photo. You can also replace the original photo once, free, within 30 days.
Online + photo lab print: $13 at Photo-Visa.Online plus the cost of a 4×6 print, with no trip to a photo counter.
A USPS Passport Acceptance Facility ($15 photo fee) if you're applying in person anyway — you can take care of the photo and the application in one appointment. Otherwise, compare current prices at the stores near you.
At franchise and pharmacy counters, ask for the price first and check the print before you leave.
In-store passport photos cost $15 at the Post Office and $16.99 at Walgreens according to their official sites; other chains vary by location. The online route ($13 for a digital file and a print layout, plus the print itself) is usually cheaper and skips the trip. Whichever you choose, the photo has to meet the same State Department rules.
See also: passport photo near me vs online, how to take a passport photo at home, and complete 2×2 inch photo specifications.