US passport photo size
A 2 × 2 inch square, saved at 600 × 600 pixels so it prints at the right size.
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A United States passport takes a square photo, which surprises people used to the taller European format. The rules published by the U.S. Embassy in France, repeating those of the State Department, give the size as 2 by 2 inches, or 51 by 51 millimetres, in colour and printed on photo quality paper. This page opens the photo maker with that square already chosen.
The file it saves is 600 by 600 pixels with 300 DPI written into it, so a photo lab or kiosk prints it at exactly two inches on each side. If you switch on the printable sheet, two copies are placed on a 4 by 6 inch print with a small gap around each, ready to cut out.
The table below shows the size and the background rule, the date we read them, and a link to the page. Everything else about an acceptable passport photo, such as your expression, the lighting and what you wear, depends on how the picture was taken. No resizing tool can fix those, so read the official list before you apply.
What the official source states
United States passport, printed photo
- Photo size
- 50.8 × 50.8 mm
- Pixels at 300 DPI
- 600 × 600 px
- Background
- Plain white or off-white
Requirements checked on October 15, 2026. Official source
Check the official requirements before you submit. We resize to the numbers shown; we do not check face position, expression, glasses, lighting or background rules.
Getting the head size right
The official wording asks for the head to measure between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches, which is 25 to 35 millimetres, from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head. On the 600 pixel square that works out at roughly 295 to 413 pixels. A face that fills too little of the square is a common reason for being asked to send a new photo.
Drag the frame so the chin sits a little above the lower third and the top of the hair stays inside the square. Then look at the result at full size. If the head looks small, make the frame smaller around it and try again; the picture is cut from your original, so nothing is lost by repeating.
Off-white is allowed, patterns are not
The background must be plain white or off-white, with no shadows, texture or lines. A light wall a metre or two behind you is usually enough, as long as nothing hangs on it. Stand away from it so your head does not throw a shadow onto it, and light your face from the front.
The tool has a switch that replaces the background with white. Think twice before using it here. The State Department's visa photo page says photos must not be digitally enhanced or altered to change your appearance, and a cut-out around hair can look unnatural. A real white wall is the safer route.
Glasses must come off
The embassy page puts this in capitals: eyeglasses are no longer allowed in passport photos. The only exception is a medical one, and it needs a signed statement from a doctor or other health practitioner sent with the application. Hats and head coverings are refused too, unless worn every day for religious reasons, and headphones of any kind are not accepted.
Printing it at home or at a store
The rules ask for photo quality paper and say that snapshots and low quality vending machine or mobile phone photos are not acceptable. A well lit picture from a modern phone, properly framed and printed by a photo lab, is not a casual selfie, but the passport agency makes the decision. The embassy also recommends a professional passport photo service if you are unsure.
If you print it yourself, choose the sheet option, order the file from a lab as a standard 4 by 6 inch print, and switch off any "fit to page" or borderless setting so nothing gets scaled.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a US passport photo in pixels?
2 by 2 inches printed at 300 DPI is 600 by 600 pixels, which is what this page saves.
What background colour is needed?
Plain white or off-white, without shadows, texture or lines, according to the page linked below the table.
Can I wear glasses in my passport photo?
No. Glasses are refused unless you need them for a medical reason and send a signed statement from a medical professional.
How recent must the photo be?
It must have been taken within the last six months, so it shows how you look now.
Is the US visa photo the same?
The printed size and background are the same. Online visa applications also ask for a digital file with its own limits, which has a separate page.
Does this page check whether my photo will be accepted?
No. It makes the size and the file correct. Expression, lighting and pose are judged by the passport agency.
Related tools
- US visa photo sizeA square digital file for the online application and a 2 × 2 inch print, both from one picture.
- Make a 2 × 2 inch photoA square photo, 51 × 51 mm on paper and 600 × 600 pixels on screen.
- Print passport photos on a 4 × 6 sheetOne ordinary photo print, several ID photos. Crop once and cut them out.