A good U.S. passport photo sample has the same few traits every time: a 2×2 inch color photo, the head 1 to 1⅜ inches tall from chin to top of head, a plain white or off-white background, even lighting with no shadows, a straight-on pose with both eyes open and mouth closed, and no glasses. The State Department publishes its own acceptable and unacceptable photo examples. This guide describes them in words, side by side, so you can check your own shot against them before you submit.
Picture the State Department's model "acceptable" example. This is what it shows:
These pairs mirror the State Department's own examples. The left column is what passes; the right is what gets an application put on hold.
| Area | Acceptable | Unacceptable |
|---|---|---|
| Lighting | Even light, accurate skin tones, no shadows | Underexposed (too dark), overexposed, color cast, shadows on the face or wall |
| Distance | Head centered and correctly sized | Too close (head too big), too far or zoomed out (head too small), head cut off or off-center |
| Quality | Sharp, printed on matte or glossy photo paper | Blurry, grainy, wrong size, photocopy or scan of a photo |
| Expression | Neutral or natural closed-mouth smile, eyes open | Mouth open, eyes closed, exaggerated expression |
| Head position | Facing the camera, head level | Looking down, head tilted to the side, head rotated, shoulders turned |
| Glasses | No glasses | Glasses on, sunglasses, glasses resting on the head |
| Hair and coverings | Full face visible | Hair across part of the face, hat, scarf or head covering blocking the face |
| Background | Plain white or off-white | Blue or colored, textured, with lines or objects |
| Editing | Original, unchanged image | Filters, retouching, background cut out with a tool that changes the outline of the head, red-eye removal, images created with digital technology |
That last row is now one of the most important. The State Department says it checks all photos for digital enhancement or alteration. Its rules say not to change your photo using computer software, phone apps or filters — one of its own unacceptable examples is an image that "may appear acceptable" but was generated digitally from another photo. Fix lighting and background in the room and take a new picture instead of editing.
The rules are the same, but the format differs depending on how you apply:
| Paper application (DS-11, DS-82) | Online renewal | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Printed 2×2 in photo on matte or glossy photo paper | JPG, JPEG, PNG, HEIC or HEIF file |
| File size | — | 54 KB to 10 MB |
| Framing | Head 1–1⅜ in in a 2×2 in print | Bottom of the frame at the edge of your shoulders; the application lets you reposition and crop |
| Not allowed | Damaged photos with holes, creases or smudges | A photo of a printed photo or a scan |
The rules are the same for everyone, but a few details come up more often in women's passport photos:
More detail is in our guide on what to wear in a passport photo.
For babies and toddlers, the State Department's acceptable examples show the child alone on a plain white or off-white sheet (a car seat covered with a white sheet works), facing the camera with no shadows. A baby's eyes don't have to be fully open; older children's eyes must be open. Unacceptable examples include another person in the frame, hands or a pacifier covering the face, and exaggerated expressions.
If anything looks off, read our list of passport photo rejection reasons or our guide to taking a passport photo at home.
Upload your shot on the US Passport Photo page. Photo-Visa.Online does automated cropping to the right size, background and compliance check — we don't change your face. You see the result before paying.
For the exact print dimensions, see our 2×2 inch photo specifications.
The State Department's passport photo page on travel.state.gov shows acceptable and unacceptable examples for lighting, size, quality, digital changes, pose, attire, background and children.
Between 1 and 1⅜ inches (25–35 mm) from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head, in a 2×2 inch photo.
Yes. The background must be white or off-white, plain and free of shadows, texture, objects or lines. Blue or other colored backgrounds are not accepted.
Only if it was taken within the last 6 months and meets all other requirements. See how long passport photos are valid.
A natural, closed-mouth smile is fine. Open mouths and exaggerated expressions are on the unacceptable list. Details: can you smile in a passport photo.