Searching "passport photo near me" usually surfaces the same handful of places: pharmacies (CVS, Walgreens), the Post Office, big-box photo centers (Walmart, Costco) and shipping stores (The UPS Store, FedEx Office). The State Department accepts a photo from any of them — or one taken by a friend or family member — as long as it meets the official requirements. Online services like Photo-Visa.Online take a different route: you take the photo yourself and the service sizes it to 2×2 in for $13. This guide compares the options on price, what you get, and convenience.
| Service | Price | Notes | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walgreens Photo | $16.99 for two 2×2 prints (walgreens.com, Oct 2026) | Photo usually ready in minutes; digital copy included | Walk-in convenience |
| USPS / Post Office | $15 (usps.com) | Only at some Post Offices that accept passport applications — check your branch first | Combining photo + DS-11 application |
| CVS Pharmacy | Check current price on cvs.com | Walk-in service at stores with a photo counter | Walk-in convenience |
| Walmart Photo Center | Check current price on walmart.com | Usually one of the cheaper in-store options | Low-cost in-store photo |
| Costco Photo | Check with your local warehouse | Services differ by warehouse | Costco members |
| The UPS Store / FedEx Office | Check with your local store | Prices set by location | If you're already there |
| Online (Photo-Visa.Online) | $13 for the digital file and a print layout | You take the photo; the service crops and sizes it | Digital file for less than a store visit |
At a pharmacy or photo counter the process is similar everywhere: an associate photographs you against a plain light background, prints two 2×2 in photos and hands them over. Quality depends on the location — lighting, how carefully the shot is framed and whether the associate retakes a photo with closed eyes or shadows. Check the prints before you leave.
Walgreens lists $16.99 for two printed 2×2 photos on its website and says the photos are typically ready a few minutes after they're taken. CVS offers a similar walk-in service; check the current price on its site or in store. If a store offers a guarantee, read what it covers — at most it gets you a new photo, not back the time lost if your application is put on hold.
Big-box photo centers are often cheaper than pharmacies, but prices and availability change and differ by location, so check the retailer's site or call your local store before you go.
If you're applying for a first-time passport (DS-11), you must apply in person at a passport acceptance facility; many of them are Post Offices. According to USPS, many Post Office facilities that accept passport applications can take your photo for a $15 fee — check with your local branch that it offers photo service, and book an appointment in advance.
An online service has no store, no counter staff and no printer to run. You take the photo yourself (or a friend does), upload it, and the service detects your face and crops the image to exactly 2×2 in with the head sized to the State Department's 1–1⅜ in range. You see the result before paying.
The State Department checks passport photos for digital changes and does not accept photos that have been enhanced or altered, so the best results come from a well-lit original shot against a white or off-white wall. Cropping to the right size is fine — the State Department's own visa photo tool does exactly that.
Neither option guarantees acceptance — a State Department employee decides. Unacceptable photos are the number one reason the State Department puts passport applications on hold, so what matters is that the photo itself is right: correct size, white or off-white background, no shadows, eyes open, no glasses. An in-store photo depends on the associate; a DIY photo depends on your lighting and setup. Online tools help most with the part people often get wrong at home — sizing and framing.
Three cases where "passport photo near me" beats online:
If you're comfortable taking a photo at home, the cheapest workflow is:
That usually costs less than a pharmacy photo. If you'd rather not deal with lighting and printing, a store or Post Office photo is the simpler option.