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United States Passport Photo Maker Online: Size & Requirements 2026

Q: What are the United States passport photo requirements?

Size 50.8 × 50.8 mm (2 × 2 in) (600 × 600 px at 300 dpi), a plain white or off-white background, head height 25.4–35.1 mm from chin to crown, eyes open and looking straight at the camera, a neutral expression and even lighting with no shadows. The photo must be recent, sharp and in colour.

A passport photo for the United States must be 50.8 × 50.8 mm (2 × 2 in) (600 × 600 px at 300 dpi) with a white or off-white background. The head (chin to crown) should measure 25.4–35.1 mm. Make your United States passport photo online with our free passport photo maker — upload a selfie and get a digital photo and a print sheet in seconds.

Size: 50.8 × 50.8 mm (2 × 2 in)
Pixels: 600 × 600 px
Resolution: 300 dpi
Background: White or off-white
Head height: 25.4–35.1 mm
File size: 54–10000 KB

1. Choose your document

Country

Document

2. Add your photo

Drop a photo here or click to upload JPG, PNG or WebP · face the camera · even light · at least 1000 px

Face detection runs on your device. Photos sent for background removal are kept for up to 7 days for quality control, then deleted automatically.

United States u.s. passport book / passport card (paper ds-11 / ds-82 and online renewal) photo size explained

Size: 50.8 × 50.8 mm (2 × 2 in) — 600 × 600 pixels for a digital file (300 dpi).
Head height: 25.4–35.1 mm from chin to the top of the head (50–69% of the photo height).
Eye line: 28–35 mm above the bottom edge, face centred horizontally.
Background: White or off-white, plain, evenly lit, no shadows or patterns.
Recent: taken within the last 6 months.
Digital file: JPEG, 54–10,000 KB.

Upload or take a photo above — the tool places your head and eyes inside these ranges automatically and shows the guides on the preview.

United States passport photo requirements (2026)

U.S. Passport book / passport card (paper DS-11 / DS-82 and online renewal)

Print size: 50.8 × 50.8 mm (2 × 2 in)
Pixels: 600 × 600 px
Head height: 25.4–35.1 mm
Eye line from bottom: 28–35 mm
Background: White or off-white
Taken within: 6 months
File size: 54–10,000 KB

Expression: Neutral expression or natural (unexaggerated) smile, mouth closed; online page adds 'avoid showing teeth'; both eyes open, irises visible

Glasses: Not allowed (only with signed doctor's statement for medical reasons; frames must not cover eyes, no glare)

Head covering: Not allowed unless worn daily for religious or medical reasons (signed statement for paper applications); full face visible, no shadows; one colour, no pattern, no small holes

Children: Child alone in photo; no other person (parent's hands/face must not be visible); plain white/off-white sheet or covered car seat; infants' eyes may be partly closed; head may be discreetly supported; neutral expression, full face visible.

• Size: 2×2 inches (51×51 mm)

• Printed at 300 DPI minimum

• Plain white or off-white background

• Neutral facial expression, mouth closed

• Both eyes open and clearly visible

• No glasses (since 2016)

Official source: travel.state.gov (U.S. Department of State) · travel.state.gov (U.S. Department of State)

U.S. Nonimmigrant Visa (DS-160 / DS-1648 digital upload) and Immigrant Visa (DS-260 printed photos)

Print size: 50.8 × 50.8 mm (2 × 2 in)
Pixels: 600 × 600 px
Head height: 25.4–35.1 mm
Eye line from bottom: 28–35 mm
Background: White or off-white
Taken within: 6 months
File size: up to 240 KB

Expression: Neutral facial expression, both eyes open, full-face view directly facing the camera

Glasses: Not allowed since 1 Nov 2016 except rare medical cases with signed medical statement

Head covering: Not allowed if it obscures hair/hairline unless worn daily for religious purpose; full face visible, no shadows

Children: No other person in the photo; child looking at camera with eyes open; baby can lie on plain white/off-white sheet or sit in a car seat covered with a white sheet; no shadows on face.

• Size: 2×2 inches (51×51 mm)

• Plain white or off-white background

• Neutral expression, mouth closed

• Both eyes open and clearly visible

• No glasses

• Taken within the last 6 months

Official source: travel.state.gov (U.S. Department of State) · travel.state.gov (U.S. Department of State)

USCIS paper filings needing passport-style photos (I-485 green card/adjustment, I-765 EAD, I-131 travel documents, etc.)

Print size: 50.8 × 50.8 mm (2 × 2 in)
Pixels: 600 × 600 px
Head height: 25–35 mm
Eye line from bottom: 28–35 mm
Background: White or off-white

Expression: Full face, frontal view (no expression wording in instructions)

Head covering: Head must be bare unless headwear is required by religious denomination

• Size: 2×2 inches (51×51 mm)

• Plain white or off-white background

• Neutral expression, mouth closed

• Both eyes open and clearly visible

• No glasses

• Taken within the last 6 months

Official source: uscis.gov · uscis.gov

USCIS Naturalization (Form N-400)

Print size: 50.8 × 50.8 mm (2 × 2 in)
Pixels: 600 × 600 px
Head height: 25–35 mm
Eye line from bottom: 28–35 mm
Background: White or off-white

Expression: Full face, frontal view

Head covering: Bare head unless religious headwear required

Official source: uscis.gov

Diversity Visa (DV / Green Card Lottery) electronic entry photo (E-DV)

Print size: 50.8 × 50.8 mm (2 × 2 in)
Pixels: 600 × 600 px
Head height: 25.4–35.1 mm
Eye line from bottom: 27.9–35.1 mm
Background: White or off-white
Taken within: 6 months
File size: up to 240 KB

Expression: Neutral facial expression, both eyes open, full-face view directly facing the camera

Glasses: Not allowed

Head covering: Not allowed if it obscures hair/hairline unless worn daily for religious purpose; full face visible, no shadows

Children: Separate individual photo required for spouse and every eligible child (unmarried, under 21), same specs; baby on white sheet or white-covered car seat, no other person in photo, eyes open.

Official source: travel.state.gov (U.S. Department of State) · travel.state.gov (U.S. Department of State)

How the photo check works

Every photo goes through the same steps a passport office would apply — only faster:

Face detection — 478 facial landmarks are located on your device to find your eyes, chin and head outline, and to make sure exactly one face is in the photo.
Geometry — head height and eye line are measured and the photo is cropped and scaled so they fall inside the official range for your document; a tilted head is straightened automatically.
Quality — resolution, sharpness, exposure, even lighting on both sides of the face and red eyes (corrected automatically when found).
Background removal — the background is cut out and replaced with the exact colour your document requires.
AI review — a vision AI model checks expression, open eyes, glasses and glare, head coverings, shadows, other people or objects, and signs of filters or a photo of a screen.

Tips for a photo that passes

Face a window or a soft light so both sides of your face are evenly lit. Keep your head straight, look into the lens with a neutral expression and your mouth closed. Take off glasses and hats, keep hair away from your eyes and wear a top that contrasts with the background. Hold the phone at eye level about an arm's length or 1–1.5 m away; a self-timer or a helper works best.

What size is a United States u.s. passport book / passport card (paper ds-11 / ds-82 and online renewal) photo?

The official United States u.s. passport book / passport card (paper ds-11 / ds-82 and online renewal) photo size is 50.8×50.8 mm (2 × 2 inches). For a digital file that is 600 × 600 pixels at 300 dpi, or 1200 × 1200 pixels at 600 dpi if you want extra sharpness for printing. From chin to the top of the head the face must measure 25.4–35.1 mm, which is 50–69% of the photo height. The eyes should sit 15.8–22.8 mm below the top edge.

The background must be white or off-white, evenly lit and without shadows or patterns. Online applications accept files of 54–10000 KB. Look straight at the camera with a neutral expression and your mouth closed, keep both eyes open and visible, and remove glasses if they reflect light or hide your eyes.

Same size in other countries

Few countries use exactly this format, so a generic passport photo from another country will usually be rejected. Worldwide the most common passport photo size is 35×45 mm (127 countries), so do not reuse a 35×45 mm photo for a United States u.s. passport book / passport card (paper ds-11 / ds-82 and online renewal).

United States also sets photo rules for u.s. nonimmigrant visa (ds-160 / ds-1648 digital upload) and immigrant visa (ds-260 printed photos) (50.8×50.8 mm), uscis paper filings needing passport-style photos (i-485 green card/adjustment, i-765 ead, i-131 travel documents, etc.) (50.8×50.8 mm), uscis naturalization (form n-400) (50.8×50.8 mm) and diversity visa (dv / green card lottery) electronic entry photo (e-dv) (50.8×50.8 mm) — pick the document in the tool above to get the right crop.

How to make and print a United States passport photo at home

Take a well-lit photo against a plain wall, upload it to the free photo maker above and choose United States — U.S. Passport book / passport card (paper DS-11 / DS-82 and online renewal). The tool detects your face, crops it to the exact 50.8×50.8 mm size, replaces the background with white or off-white and checks sharpness, lighting, red-eye and head position. Download the digital file for an online application, or the print sheet: one standard 10×15 cm (4×6 in) photo print holds 2 United States passport photos, which costs a fraction of a photo booth.

Frequently asked questions

What are the United States passport photo requirements?

Size 50.8 × 50.8 mm (2 × 2 in) (600 × 600 px at 300 dpi), a plain white or off-white background, head height 25.4–35.1 mm from chin to crown, eyes open and looking straight at the camera, a neutral expression and even lighting with no shadows. The photo must be recent, sharp and in colour.

What size is a United States passport photo?

A passport photo for the United States must be 50.8 × 50.8 mm (2 × 2 in) (600 × 600 px at 300 dpi) with a white or off-white background. The head (chin to crown) should measure 25.4–35.1 mm.

What background is required for a United States passport photo?

White or off-white (#FFFFFF), plain and evenly lit, with no shadows, patterns or objects. Our tool replaces the background automatically.

Can I wear glasses in a United States passport photo?

not allowed (only with signed doctor's statement for medical reasons; frames must not cover eyes, no glare)

Can I smile in a United States passport photo?

neutral expression or natural (unexaggerated) smile, mouth closed; online page adds 'avoid showing teeth'; both eyes open, irises visible

Are head coverings allowed in a United States passport photo?

not allowed unless worn daily for religious or medical reasons (signed statement for paper applications); full face visible, no shadows; one colour, no pattern, no small holes

What are the rules for a baby or child's United States passport photo?

Child alone in photo; no other person (parent's hands/face must not be visible); plain white/off-white sheet or covered car seat; infants' eyes may be partly closed; head may be discreetly supported; neutral expression, full face visible.

Are United States visa and ID photos the same size as passport photos?

U.S. Passport book / passport card (paper DS-11 / DS-82 and online renewal): 50.8 × 50.8 mm (2 × 2 in), white or off-white background; U.S. Nonimmigrant Visa (DS-160 / DS-1648 digital upload) and Immigrant Visa (DS-260 printed photos): 50.8 × 50.8 mm (2 × 2 in), white or off-white background; USCIS paper filings needing passport-style photos (I-485 green card/adjustment, I-765 EAD, I-131 travel documents, etc.): 50.8 × 50.8 mm (2 × 2 in), white or off-white background; USCIS Naturalization (Form N-400): 50.8 × 50.8 mm (2 × 2 in), white or off-white background; Diversity Visa (DV / Green Card Lottery) electronic entry photo (E-DV): 50.8 × 50.8 mm (2 × 2 in), white or off-white background.

How do I make a United States passport photo online?

Upload a selfie or any front-facing photo to our free United States passport photo maker above. It finds your face, removes the background, crops the photo to 50.8 × 50.8 mm (2 × 2 in) and checks it with AI — then download the digital photo or a print sheet. No sign-up, no app to install.

Can I get a digital United States passport photo?

Yes — download the 600 × 600 px JPEG at 300 dpi (under 10000 KB) for an online application, or a 10 × 15 cm (4 × 6 in) sheet to print at any photo shop.

Can I take a passport photo at home?

Yes. Stand facing a window for soft, even light, ask someone to take the photo from about 1.5 m at eye level, keep a neutral expression and look straight into the lens. Upload it here — we check it, remove the background and crop it to the exact size.

Photo sizes of all countries United States visa requirements