Requirement guide
Passport Photo Sample
A good passport photo sample is sharp, evenly lit, centered, recent, unedited, and taken against a plain white or off-white background with both eyes visible.
Use examples to spot rejection risks.Check lighting, face position, and background first.Then validate the actual photo, not just the crop.
Photo rules
What the photo needs
| Photo size | 2 x 2 inches for printed U.S. passport photos |
|---|---|
| Head position | Centered face with head sized 1 to 1 3/8 inches from chin to top of head |
| Background | Plain white or off-white background with no shadows, texture, lines, or objects |
| Lighting | Even light with no harsh shadows, washout, blur, grain, or pixelation |
| Expression | Face the camera directly with eyes visible and mouth closed |
| Digital changes | Original photo only, with no filters, retouching, background replacement, or AI changes |
Reviewed against U.S. State Department passport photo guidance. Last reviewed July 16, 2026.
Steps
How to get it done
- Take a color photo in even light against a plain white or off-white wall.
- Upload it to PassportSnapper and let the tool check size, crop, background, lighting, expression, and quality.
- Download the prepared file for your selected application type.
- Use the upload-ready JPEG for eligible online renewal or print the 4x6 sheet on photo-quality paper for paper applications.
Before you submit
Common mistakes
- Head is too large, too small, tilted, cropped, or off-center.
- Background has shadows, texture, objects, wall lines, or non-white color.
- Photo uses glasses, filters, retouching, AI cleanup, red-eye correction, or background removal.
- Image is blurry, grainy, too dark, washed out, scanned, or printed on regular office paper.
- Mouth is open, teeth are showing, eyes are closed, or hair covers the eyes.
Common questions
FAQ
What makes a passport photo acceptable?
Clear face, correct size, centered pose, even lighting, plain background, and no prohibited edits.
Are AI-cleaned samples acceptable?
No. The State Department says not to use AI or editing tools to change the photo.
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