A US passport photo is a 2 × 2 inch colour square on a white or off-white background, with the head measuring 1 to 1⅜ inches from the chin to the top of the hair. This page opens the photo maker with those rules loaded, so the guides show the allowed head size and turn green when your photo fits.
The photo is cropped, sized and given a clean background inside your browser, so a picture of your face never leaves your device.
How to make a US passport photo
- Country and Document are already set to United States and Passport.
- Drop a photo taken in the last six months, facing the camera, without glasses.
- Let Auto-fit size the head, or drag and zoom until the head guides turn green.
- Keep Background on "As required" for white, choose Print on (4 × 6 in suits most pharmacies), and select "Make photo".
- Print at actual size, or use the online copy for an online renewal.
The rules in brief
- Size: 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm), in colour.
- Head: 1 to 1⅜ inches (25 to 35 mm) from the bottom of the chin to the top of the hair.
- Background: plain white or off-white, without shadows.
- No glasses. Neutral expression or a natural smile, mouth closed.
- Taken within the last 6 months; matte or glossy photo paper.
- Online renewal upload: JPEG between 54 KB and 10 MB.
Printing it
A 4 × 6 inch sheet holds two 2 × 2 inch photos with room for cut lines, which is what most photo kiosks print. The PDF version prints at exactly 2 × 2 inches from a home printer if you choose "Actual size". Read the full rules on the State Department's photo page before you send your application.
Frequently asked questions
How many pixels is a 2 × 2 inch photo?
At 300 dpi, 600 × 600 pixels. The tool can also make it at 600 dpi (1200 × 1200 px) for sharper prints.
Can I smile in a US passport photo?
A natural smile is accepted, but keep your mouth closed and both eyes open. A neutral face is the safest choice.
Is this the same as a US visa photo?
The print size is the same, but the visa form has its own upload rules. Use the US visa photo page for a DS-160 upload.