US Passport Photo Size Requirements
The US Department of State requires passport photos to be exactly 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm) at a minimum of 300 DPI. The photo must be printed on photo-quality paper.
Head Position & Size
- Your head must be between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches (25–35 mm) from chin to top of head
- Face the camera directly — full front view
- Eyes must be open and clearly visible
- Neutral expression or natural smile
- Mouth closed
Background Requirements
The background must be plain white or off-white. No patterns, shadows, or other people. Our tool automatically sets the correct background color for US passports.
What to Wear
- Everyday clothing — no uniforms or camouflage
- No hats or head coverings (except for religious reasons)
- Glasses are not permitted since 2016
- Headphones, wireless hands-free devices, and similar items not permitted
Photo Quality
- Color photo — no black and white
- No filters or heavy editing
- In focus and properly exposed — no shadows on face
- Taken within the last 6 months
Submission
You need two identical photos when applying by mail or in person. Digital submissions (DS-5540 online renewal) require a single digital file, minimum 600×600 pixels, maximum 1200×1200 pixels, JPEG format under 240 KB.
Create Your US Passport Photo Free
Use our free tool to create a compliant US passport photo in under 2 minutes. We automatically configure the correct 2×2 inch size, white background, and 300 DPI resolution.