Will the post office take a passport photo? Many do. According to usps.com, most Post Offices that accept passport applications can also take your passport photo, including digital photos for online renewals. The USPS passport photo cost is $15 at the counter (as of October 2026); digital photos are available for a fee that USPS doesn't list on its passports page. Not every Post Office offers photos, so check your branch first. Here's how a passport photo at the post office works, what it costs, the State Department rules, and a $7 alternative you can do from home.
USPS lists a $15.00 Post Office photo fee on its passports page, charged only if you need a photo. That's separate from the passport fees themselves: the State Department's application fee and, for in-person applications, the acceptance fee you pay to the Post Office.
Fees can change, so confirm the passport photo at post office cost on usps.com or with your local branch before your appointment.
Photo service is offered at participating Post Offices — usually the ones that handle passport applications. To use it:
Passport and photo hours vary by Post Office and are often narrower than regular lobby hours. Check the hours for your location on usps.com or call the branch before you go.
Whether the photo comes from a Post Office or your own phone, it must meet the same State Department rules:
The State Department says unacceptable photos are the number one reason it puts applications on hold. Typical issues:
If you're renewing by mail or online and don't need to visit a Post Office, there's no reason to book an appointment just for the photo. 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.
Comparing options? Our CVS vs Walgreens vs Walmart passport photo comparison lines up the big chains, and passport photo near me vs online covers every in-person choice. We also have guides to the Walgreens passport photo, Walmart, The UPS Store and Costco.
Many will. USPS says most Post Offices that accept passport applications can take your photo. Use the USPS location tool to confirm your branch offers it.
USPS lists a $15 photo fee (as of October 2026). Digital photos for online renewal cost an additional fee that varies — ask your branch.
Appointments are the safest route. USPS lets you book photo-only appointments online or at a lobby kiosk.
Yes, at many USPS passport locations, for a fee. You can also take your own digital photo, as long as it meets the State Department's rules.
Yes. The State Department accepts photos from any photo vendor or taken by a friend or family member, as long as they meet the requirements.
Take a photo at home, upload it and see the cropped 2×2 in result before you pay: $7 digital, $10 with a print-ready 4×6 in layout. Start your US passport photo online.