{"id":16194,"date":"2023-12-12T14:41:22","date_gmt":"2023-12-12T19:41:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thepassportoffice.com\/blog\/?p=16194"},"modified":"2026-10-09T11:42:00","modified_gmt":"2026-10-09T16:42:00","slug":"passport-picture-requirements","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thepassportoffice.com\/blog\/passport-picture-requirements\/","title":{"rendered":"Passport Photo Requirements"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A U.S. passport photo must be 2 x 2 inches<\/strong>, in color, and taken in the last 6 months. You need a plain white or off-white background, a neutral expression or a natural closed-mouth smile, both eyes open, and no glasses. Those are the State Department’s passport photo rules<\/a>, and a photo that misses one of them puts your application on hold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We’re The Passport Office, and we see photo problems every day. If you want it done right the first time, we take passport photos at our offices for $10<\/strong>. Call us<\/a> to set it up at the office nearest you, or keep reading for every rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n

Need the passport soon, too?<\/strong> We’re a registered courier service, and we hand-carry applications to a U.S. passport agency. With our Emergency service, we can get your passport in as fast as 2 to 3 business days. You still pay the government fees, and our service fee is on top of that. We can only take on an application we submit from the start, so call us before you mail anything. See our pricing<\/a> or call us to book<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Passport photo requirements at a glance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Rule<\/th>What the State Department asks for<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Size<\/td>2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm)<\/td><\/tr>
Head size<\/td>1 to 1 3\/8 inches (25 to 35 mm) from chin to top of head<\/td><\/tr>
Age of photo<\/td>Taken in the last 6 months<\/td><\/tr>
Color<\/td>Color only, no black and white<\/td><\/tr>
Background<\/td>Plain white or off-white, no shadows, texture or objects<\/td><\/tr>
Expression<\/td>Neutral or a natural smile, mouth closed, both eyes open<\/td><\/tr>
Glasses<\/td>Not allowed, unless a doctor’s signed note says you can’t remove them<\/td><\/tr>
Head coverings<\/td>Not allowed, unless worn for religious or medical reasons, with a signed statement<\/td><\/tr>
Editing<\/td>No filters, apps, retouching or AI<\/td><\/tr>
Print<\/td>Matte or glossy photo paper. No photocopies or scans<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Want to see what passes and what fails? Our passport photo examples<\/a> page shows the common cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Size and head position<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The printed photo is 2 x 2 inches. Your head, measured from the bottom of your chin to the top of your head, should take up 1 to 1 3\/8 inches of that. Face the camera straight on, with your head level. Don’t tilt it up, down, or to the side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most rejections for size come from a photo cropped by hand or taken too close or too far away. A photo booth, a pharmacy, or our office will size it for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Background, lighting and print quality<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Stand in front of a plain white or off-white wall. The background can’t have shadows, patterns, or anything behind you. Light your face evenly, so there are no shadows across it or on the wall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The photo has to be sharp and true to your skin tone. Blurry, grainy, or pixelated prints get rejected. So do photos printed on regular paper, photocopies, and scans of an older print.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can you smile in a passport photo?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Yes, a little. The State Department accepts a neutral expression or a natural smile, as long as your mouth is closed and both eyes are open. A big, toothy smile is the problem, along with raised eyebrows, squinting, or closed eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you’re unsure, go neutral with a relaxed face. It’s the safest choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Glasses, head coverings and what to wear<\/h2>\n\n\n\n