The requirements
Verified on 2026-08-10 against travel.state.gov — Passport Photos . Always check the official page before you submit — requirements change, and this is your application, not ours.
| Requirement | Value |
|---|---|
| Printed size | 51 × 51 mm |
| Head height (chin to crown) | 25–35 mm |
| Head as share of photo | 49–69% |
| Digital minimum | 600 × 600 px |
| File size | — to 10 MB |
| What this tool produces | 600 × 600 px |
Rules the tool cannot check for you
| Rule | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Background | Plain white or off-white. Unlike the UK, white is what is asked for here |
| Expression | Neutral or a natural smile, with both eyes open |
| Head position | Facing the camera directly, full face in view |
| Glasses | Not permitted since November 2016, except with a signed medical statement |
| Head coverings | Only for religious or medical reasons, with a signed statement, and the full face must be visible |
| Clothing | Everyday clothes. No uniforms, and nothing resembling one |
| Eye height | 1⅛ to 1⅜ inches (28–35 mm) from the bottom of the photo |
| Age of photo | Taken within the last six months |
| Infants | May have their eyes closed. Nobody else may appear in the photo, including a supporting hand |
Why the head height matters more than the photo size
A US passport photo is square: 2 × 2 inches, or 51 × 51 mm. That squareness is the first thing that catches people out, because almost every other country uses a rectangle and almost every camera produces one.
Within that square, your head must measure between 1 inch and 1⅜ inches — 25 mm to 35 mm — from the bottom of your chin to the top of your head. That is a wider window than most countries allow: the UK, by comparison, permits a five-millimetre range where the US allows ten. It is more forgiving, but it is still a requirement rather than a suggestion.
There is a second geometric rule the UK does not have. Your eyes must sit between 1⅛ and 1⅜ inches — 28 mm to 35 mm — above the bottom edge. In practice this follows automatically from placing the head correctly, because eye level falls at a predictable point on any adult face, and this tool checks that it does rather than assuming it.
The background requirement differs from Britain's in a way worth noticing if you have made a photo for both. The US asks for plain white or off-white; the UK explicitly prefers light grey and advises against white. A photo that satisfies one will often be rejected by the other for exactly that reason.
Two more rules trip people up. Glasses have not been allowed since November 2016 — not "avoid if possible", not allowed, unless you have a signed medical statement. And the photo must have been taken within the last six months, which is more generous than the UK's one month but still means an old photograph will be refused.
For the digital file, the State Department accepts between 600 × 600 and 1200 × 1200 pixels — note that there is a maximum here, not just a minimum. For prints, the standard arrangement is two photos on a 4 × 6 inch sheet, which is exactly what this tool produces: two squares at precisely 51 mm, with marks to cut along.
Why photos get rejected
- The head is outside the 1 to 1⅜ inch range, or the eyes are outside the required height band
- Glasses worn without an accompanying signed medical statement
- A background that is not plain white or off-white, or that shows shadows
- Shadows across the face, or uneven lighting from one side
- The photo is more than six months old, or is a reprint of an older photograph
- A filter has been applied, or the image has been retouched or digitally altered
- Another person, or a hand supporting an infant, is visible in the frame
- The photo is a scan of a printed copy rather than an original digital image
Printing
The printable sheet is 6 × 4 inches at 300 DPI and carries 2 photos in a 2 × 1 grid, each exactly 51 × 51 mm with faint corner marks to cut along.
One thing matters when you print it: choose 100% scale, or “actual size”, and turn off “fit to page” or “scale to fit”. Those options shrink the image by a few percent to clear the printer’s margins, which would put the head outside the permitted range even though everything looked right on screen. Any high-street photo counter that prints 6 × 4 will reproduce the sheet correctly.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a US passport photo?
2 × 2 inches — 51 × 51 mm — and it must be square. Within it, your head measures 1 to 1⅜ inches (25–35 mm) from chin to the top of your head, and your eyes sit 1⅛ to 1⅜ inches above the bottom edge. For a digital submission the file must be between 600 × 600 and 1200 × 1200 pixels.
Can I wear glasses in a US passport photo?
No. Glasses have been prohibited since November 2016. The only exception is for medical reasons, and it requires a signed statement from a doctor submitted with your application. This is a stricter rule than most countries and is a common reason for rejection among people who wear glasses daily and forget.
White or grey background?
White or off-white for the US. This differs from the UK, which prefers light grey and advises against white — so a photo made to British requirements can be rejected by the US and vice versa. Check which country you are applying to before you choose a wall.
How old can the photo be?
Six months, which is more generous than many countries. It must also reflect your current appearance: if you have grown or removed a beard, or changed significantly, a technically recent photo can still be refused.
How many photos fit on a print?
Two, on a standard 4 × 6 inch sheet. Three squares of 2 inches would need 6 inches exactly, leaving no margin, so two across and one down is what actually fits — and two is what US passport photo services conventionally supply.
Can I smile?
Yes, unlike many countries. The State Department accepts a neutral expression or a natural smile, provided both eyes are open and your mouth is not exaggerated. A broad open-mouthed grin will be refused.
A disclaimer that is not boilerplate
This site is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to any government or passport authority. The tool sets the geometry to the published specification, and the geometry is verified by an automated test on every change. It cannot judge your lighting, your background, your expression or whether your glasses reflect — and those account for most rejections. We cannot guarantee that any photo will be accepted. Read the official guidance linked above before you submit.