U.S. passport photo requirements
Your passport photo must meet strict State Department specifications. Here are the requirements and where to get a compliant photo taken.
Photo specifications
The State Department is specific about every dimension. Unacceptable photos are the single most common reason passport applications are put on hold — more common than missing documents.
Size: 2×2 inches (51×51 mm). The printed photo itself must be exactly this size.
Head size within the photo: Your head, measured from chin to the top of the head, must be between 1 inch and 1⅜ inches (25–35 mm). Too close to the camera and your head fills the frame; too far and it falls below the minimum. Most rejections on this dimension come from being too close.
Background: Plain white or off-white — no patterns, gradients, textures, or objects. The State Department also prohibits shadows on the background. Position yourself several feet from the wall; standing directly against it almost always creates a shadow. A white bedsheet can substitute for a white wall.
Age of photo: Taken within the last 6 months.
Color: Color photos only. Black-and-white photos are not accepted.
Expression and pose: Face the camera directly — no tilting. Neutral expression or a natural smile with mouth closed. Both eyes must be open and clearly visible, including the pupils and irises.
Eyeglasses: Not permitted. Remove all glasses, including prescription glasses and tinted lenses. Glasses resting on top of your head also fail. If you cannot remove glasses for medical reasons, you must submit a signed statement from your doctor with the application. There are no other exceptions.
Head coverings: Not permitted, with two exceptions: documented religious attire worn daily in public (requires a signed statement) and medical items (requires a signed doctor's statement). If worn for either reason, your full face must still be visible, and the covering must be a single, solid color without patterns.
Clothing: No uniforms, clothing that resembles a uniform, or camouflage. No headphones or wireless earpiece devices. Jewelry and facial piercings are fine as long as they do not obscure your face.
Print quality: Photo must be printed on matte or glossy photo-quality paper. Regular inkjet paper prints are rejected. No visible printer dots, blurriness, or graininess.
No digital alterations: Submit the original, unedited photo. The State Department explicitly states that it checks all photos for AI-generated content or enhancement, and photos produced with AI tools will be rejected — regardless of whether they otherwise appear compliant. Filters and background replacements applied via phone apps also fail.
One counterintuitive rule: your hair may extend beyond the edges of the photo frame. What matters is that your entire head — from chin to crown — is present and correctly sized. You do not need to force your hair into the frame.
Why passport photos get rejected
These are the specific reasons the State Department puts applications on hold for a photo issue:
- Glasses — any glasses, any lens type. Rejected since November 2016 with no exceptions beyond a medical statement. This remains the most surprising rejection for first-time applicants who wore glasses in a prior passport photo.
- Photo older than 6 months — a photo from a previous application, even if it looks recent, will not pass.
- Background not plain white or off-white — blue, gray, and off-white-with-texture are all rejected. Shadows on the background fail too.
- Shadows on the face — overhead lighting or side lighting that creates dark patches under eyes, nose, or chin.
- Head too close to the camera — head size exceeding 1⅜ inches in the 2×2 frame is the most common sizing failure.
- Head not centered or tilted — your shoulders should be square to the camera and your head level.
- Eyes not clearly visible — hair across the face, closed eyes, or looking downward.
- Mouth open — a natural smile is allowed, but the mouth must be closed.
- Printed on standard paper — must be photo-quality paper (matte or glossy). Inkjet-on-copy-paper prints are refused.
- Digitally altered or AI-generated — the State Department verifies photos for AI manipulation. Background removal and AI-generated faces are specifically called out.
- Red eye — do not use software to correct red eye; it alters the eye color and shape.
- Head covering without documentation — arriving with a hat and no signed statement attached.
Where to get passport photos
USPS
Many USPS passport acceptance facilities offer photo services on-site when you apply. Typical price is around $15, though it varies by location. Not all post office locations take photos — confirm when you book your appointment. Getting your photo taken at the same facility where you submit your application is convenient but not required.
CVS Pharmacy
CVS offers passport photos at select locations with a photo center. The price is $17.99 for two 2×2 printed photos. No appointment is needed — walk in and a CVS photo team member takes your photo using the Kodak Moments Passport & ID Photo System, which automatically verifies compliance against State Department requirements. Photos are ready within minutes.
A digital copy sent to your email is available for an additional $3.99. You can also purchase your photos on a Kodak Moments 8 GB USB drive for $10.99. Note that CVS is not a passport acceptance facility and does not process passport applications.
If your photo fails government compliance after submission, return it with your receipt to any CVS Pharmacy for a refund per their return policy.
Walgreens
Walgreens takes passport photos at select locations with photo departments. The price is $16.99 for two 2×2 prints, and a digital copy is included at no extra charge, delivered by email. No appointment needed; photos are typically ready in around 15 minutes.
Not all Walgreens locations offer photo services. Use the store locator on walgreens.com and filter for "Passport Photos" to find a location near you. If your photo is rejected by a passport agent, Walgreens will refund the cost or retake the photo at no charge.
Other options
- AAA offices — available to members at many branch locations, often at lower cost
- FedEx Office — most locations offer walk-in passport photo service
- The UPS Store — many locations take passport photos
- Some public libraries — a few library systems offer free or low-cost passport photo services; call ahead
- Professional photographers — portrait studios and dedicated passport photo services
Can you take your own passport photo?
Yes. The State Department accepts self-taken photos if they meet all specifications. A phone photo taken at home can be approved — it does not need to come from a professional service. Many people assume otherwise, but the requirement is compliance with the specs, not the source of the photo.
To take your own:
- Use a plain white wall or hang a white bedsheet as the background
- Natural daylight from a window works well — position it in front of you, not behind you, to avoid shadows
- Have someone else take the photo; selfie angles rarely center the head correctly
- Print on glossy or matte photo paper at exactly 2×2 inches — a standard 4×6 print is too large
- Do not apply any filters, background replacements, or AI tools to the photo before printing
The State Department's website links to a photo tool at travel.state.gov that lets you check whether your digital photo meets specifications before printing.
Digital photos for online passport renewal
Online passport renewal requires uploading a digital photo rather than mailing a print. The same content requirements apply — white background, correct head size, no glasses, no editing. The technical specs for the upload differ.
The State Department's online renewal portal has built-in photo upload guidance at the time of submission. It checks the file before you complete your application.
Both CVS and Walgreens offer digital passport photos alongside their print service. CVS charges $3.99 for a digital copy delivered by email. Walgreens includes a digital copy at no additional cost with any in-store photo session. Either can be used for online renewal submissions.
If you took your own photo, any image that meets the size and content requirements can be used for online upload. The key difference from print is that you submit the digital file directly — you do not need to print it first.