US Passport Photo Maker
Official 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm) for passport, visa and green card in United States — cropped correctly, then 6 copies on one printable sheet.
A photo of your face never leaves your deviceDrop your photo here
or click to browse — a phone selfie against a plain wall works
JPG · PNG · WebP · HEIC from iPhone
Requirements change. Confirm with US Department of State before printing — official specification.
Three steps
No account at any point, and the photo never leaves your device.
Add your photo
A phone photo against a plain white or off-white works. HEIC straight from an iPhone is fine — it is converted here.
Match 25–35 mm (1 to 1⅜ inches)
Drag and zoom until your chin and the top of your head sit on the two dashed lines. That range is what US Department of State measures, and getting it wrong is the usual reason a photo comes back.
Print 6 at once
Download a 4 × 6 sheet holding 6 photos at 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm), then cut along the guides. One cheap print instead of a booth.
US requirements at a glance
| Photo size | 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm) |
| Head height | 25–35 mm (1 to 1⅜ inches) |
| At 300 dpi | 600 × 600 pixels |
| Background | Plain white or off-white, no shadow. |
| Glasses | Not allowed. Not allowed. The State Department banned eyeglasses in passport photos in November 2016 — prescription, reading and tinted lenses alike. The only exception needs a signed medical statement. |
| Expression | Smile allowed. Unusually, a natural smile is accepted as long as your mouth is closed and both eyes are open. Most countries insist on a neutral face; the US does not. |
| Authority | US Department of State |
| Per 4 × 6 sheet | 6 photos |
What makes United States different
The US is the odd one out twice over: it is one of the few countries that still accepts a closed-mouth smile, and its square 2 × 2 inch format is shared only with India's visa photos and a handful of others. A photo made for a UK or Schengen application is the wrong shape here and will be refused.
What catches people out
- Photos must have been taken within the last six months.
- You submit one photo with a paper DS-11 application, or upload a digital one when renewing online.
- Uniforms and camouflage are not accepted; everyday clothing only.
The most frequent rejection is a shadow on the background, usually because the applicant stood too close to the wall. The second is glasses, which people forget were banned in 2016.
Where the photo goes
One printed photo goes with a paper DS-11 at an acceptance facility, or you upload a digital one when renewing online through the State Department. Renewals by mail need the printed photo stapled to the form.
Printing 6 for the price of one
At 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm), 6 photos fit on a single 4 × 6 inch print — the cheapest product at any kiosk or online print service, against a booth that charges for a set of four.
Print at actual size and turn off "fit to page", "scale to fit" and borderless printing. Each of those resizes the image by a few percent, which is enough to push the head outside the 25–35 mm (1 to 1⅜ inches) that US Department of State requires.
Our main passport photo page covers the general advice on lighting, distance and expression that applies wherever you are applying. The rules above are the ones specific to United States.
Common questions
What size is a US passport photo?
2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm), with the head measuring 25–35 mm (1 to 1⅜ inches). At 300 dpi that is 600 × 600 pixels.
Can I wear glasses in a US passport photo?
Not allowed. The State Department banned eyeglasses in passport photos in November 2016 — prescription, reading and tinted lenses alike. The only exception needs a signed medical statement.
Can I smile?
Unusually, a natural smile is accepted as long as your mouth is closed and both eyes are open. Most countries insist on a neutral face; the US does not.
What background colour is required?
Plain white or off-white, no shadow.
Is my photo uploaded anywhere?
No. The cropping happens inside your browser using your own device. A photo of your face is never transmitted, which is also why there is no account and no watermark.
Other countries
The rules genuinely differ — background colour, glasses and expression are not the same everywhere.