US Passport Photo Requirements
The full US passport photo spec, straight from the State Department: 2x2 inch square, head height, background, glasses and recency rules, plus the separate online-upload limits.
A US passport photo has to be a 2 x 2 inch square (51 x 51 mm), in color, on a plain white or off-white background, with your head measured 1 to 1-3/8 inches (25 to 35 mm) from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head, a neutral expression with both eyes open, no glasses, and taken within the last 6 months. Those figures come from the U.S. Department of State, which sets and enforces them for every passport application and renewal.
Miss one and the application is sent back, adding weeks at the worst possible moment. This guide covers the US spec only; for the reasons behind the rules see what makes a passport photo biometric, and for how other countries differ, passport photo size by country.
The exact US passport photo spec
Every value below is published by the State Department. The size and shape are the part most people get wrong: the US uses a square, not the 35 x 45 mm rectangle most of the world prints.
| Size and shape | 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm), square |
| Head height (chin to crown) | 1 to 1-3/8 inches (25 to 35 mm) |
| Background | Plain white or off-white, no shadows or objects |
| Color and recency | Color photo taken within the last 6 months |
| Expression and eyes | Neutral expression or natural smile, both eyes open, facing the camera |
| Printed resolution | Sharp and in focus; a 2 x 2 in photo at 300 DPI is 600 x 600 pixels |
Head size is what gets US photos rejected
The single number that trips people is the head height. Your head, measured from the bottom of the chin to the very top, has to land between 1 and 1-3/8 inches (25 to 35 mm) inside a photo that is only 2 inches tall, so it fills more than half the frame. A phone selfie held at arm's length usually leaves the head too small; a tight crop pushes it too large. Stand a few feet back, keep the camera at eye level, and frame so your head and the top of your shoulders are both visible. Enlarging a too-small photo afterward does not help, because it adds no real detail (see image resolution).
Glasses, expression, and the rules people miss
- Glasses. Eyeglasses are not allowed in US passport photos and have been barred since November 2016. The only exception is a documented medical reason, which can require a signed statement from a doctor. If you can take them off, take them off.
- Expression. A neutral expression or a natural smile is fine, but keep your mouth closed and both eyes open and looking at the camera.
- Head coverings and hats. No hats or head coverings unless worn daily for religious or medical reasons, and they must not cast a shadow or hide any part of the face.
- Uniforms. No uniforms or clothing that looks like a uniform, and no camouflage. Everyday clothing only.
- No edits. The photo must be the original, unaltered image. Filters, beauty edits, and AI touch-ups are refused, so "fix the background later" is risky advice.
Printed photo versus online upload
A mail-in application uses a printed 2 x 2 inch photo attached to the form. If you renew through the State Department's online renewal path instead, you upload a digital photo: it must be a square image up to 1200 x 1200 pixels, in JPG, PNG, or HEIC format, and — like the printed one — an unedited original. The same visual rules apply either way; only the delivery changes. A US visa photo is a separate spec again, which is why a visa photo is not automatically a passport photo.
Make a compliant US photo without a studio
You can meet every rule at home with a plain wall and even light. Our guide on taking a passport photo at home covers the pose and lighting. For the exact square, use the US Passport Photo Maker: it locks the crop box to the 2 x 2 inch ratio and outputs 600 x 600 pixels (2 x 2 in at 300 DPI), then you check your head against the 1 to 1-3/8 inch band before submitting. It runs entirely in your browser, so a sensitive document like this is never uploaded to a server. For the wider rule set across countries, see passport photo requirements explained and the Passport Photo Maker hub.
FAQ
What size is a US passport photo?
2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm), square. At 300 DPI that is 600 x 600 pixels. It is not the 35 x 45 mm rectangle used across most of the world, so a photo cut for another country will not fit.
Can I smile in a US passport photo?
A natural smile is allowed as long as your mouth is closed and both eyes are open and looking at the camera. A wide, open-mouthed smile that distorts your features risks rejection.
Can I wear glasses?
No. Eyeglasses have not been permitted in US passport photos since November 2016, except for a documented medical reason that may require a signed doctor's statement. Remove them for the shot.
How recent does the photo have to be?
It must have been taken within the last 6 months and reflect your current appearance. If your look has changed significantly, take a new one even if an older photo is within the window.
What are the requirements for the online renewal photo?
A square digital image up to 1200 x 1200 pixels, in JPG, PNG, or HEIC, that is the original and unedited. All the usual visual rules — size of head, background, expression, no glasses — still apply.