US Passport Photo Size — 2×2 Inch Requirements (2026)

Unacceptable photos are a leading reason U.S. passport applications are delayed. Use the Department of State’s rules as the source of truth, then crop and compress locally before you print or upload.

Official source

U.S. Department of State — Passport Photos: travel.state.gov passport photo requirements

Online renewal and paper applications can differ slightly (printed vs digital). Follow the checklist for your channel.

Official specifications (summary)

Requirement	Specification
Printed size	2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm)
Head height	About 1 to 1⅜ inches (25–35 mm) chin to top of head
Background	Plain white or off-white
Expression	Neutral; both eyes open; mouth closed
Recency	Within the last 6 months
Glasses	Generally not allowed
Edits	No filters or digital alterations that change appearance

How to create a compliant photo in your browser

Stand several feet from a plain light wall in even daylight or bright indoor light.
Have someone else shoot straight-on (or use a tripod); no tilt.
Open Passport Size Photo and crop to the 2×2 / square preset.
If a portal states a max JPEG size, finish with Compress Image.
Compare against the examples on travel.state.gov before printing or uploading.

Photo dos and don’ts

Do

Face the camera directly with a neutral expression
Keep both eyes open and visible
Use a plain white or off-white background
Ensure even lighting without shadows on the face or backdrop
Wear everyday clothing (avoid uniforms that look like official costumes)

Don’t

Wear glasses (unless an official exception applies)
Use filters, beauty modes, or heavy retouching
Include other people or busy backgrounds
Submit a screenshot of an old passport photo page

Digital vs print

Paper applications need a correctly sized physical print on photo-quality paper. Online flows need a digital file that meets resolution and file-size rules published for that form. Crop once from a sharp original; do not repeatedly recompress a tiny JPEG.

Related guides

Privacy

Passport photos are identity images. PDFUtilKit crops and compresses in your browser so the pixels are not uploaded to our servers for processing.

Ready to crop?

Use Passport Size Photo, then re-check State Department photo rules before you submit.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size is a US passport photo?

Printed photos must be 2×2 inches (51×51 mm). Digital submissions typically need a square JPEG meeting State Department resolution and file-size rules—confirm on travel.state.gov for your application type.

What background is required?

Plain white or off-white, free of shadows, textures, or other people.

Can I wear glasses?

Eyeglasses are generally not allowed for U.S. passport photos unless an exception documented by State Department guidance applies. Remove glasses when in doubt.

Can I take the photo at home?

Yes if you meet composition, lighting, and background rules. Many applicants use a phone plus an online cropper—prefer tools that keep the image on-device.

How recent must the photo be?

Taken within the last six months, reflecting your current appearance.