US Passport Photo Requirements
US Passport Photo Requirements: size, pose, background and editing rules
Printed photo size and head position
For a paper U.S. passport application, the printed photo is 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm). The head should be centered and measure about 25–35 mm from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head.
Background, pose and quality
- Use a plain white or off-white background without shadows, texture or objects.
- Face the camera directly with your head centered and both eyes visible.
- Use a recent, high-resolution colour photo that is sharp and in focus.
- Remove eyeglasses for a standard passport photo unless an applicable exception is documented.
Do not digitally alter the photo
The U.S. Department of State says passport photos must be original and unchanged. It specifically warns against filters, retouching, artificial intelligence and digitally changing the background or appearance. For a U.S. passport, use ImgFixAll only for non-destructive planning or printing when that use remains consistent with the current official instructions; do not use its AI background replacement or enhancement on the submitted image.
Before you submit
The government makes the final acceptance decision. Check the official page immediately before applying because digital renewal and paper-application workflows can have different file and cropping requirements.