Requirement guide
U.S. Passport Photo Requirements
U.S. passport photos must be recent color photos with correct 2x2 sizing, centered face, plain white or off-white background, even lighting, visible eyes, no glasses, and no filters, retouching, or AI changes.
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Requirements Summary
| 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.
Fast workflow
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 compliant output 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.
Rejection risks
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.
Quick answers
FAQ
What is the most common rejection risk?
The State Department says unacceptable photos are the top reason passport applications are put on hold.
Can I digitally remove the background?
No. Submit the original unchanged photo; background replacement can change the outline of the head, face, or neck.
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