US passport photo
2 × 2 inches, head between 1 and 1⅜ inches, plain white or off-white background.
The tool opens with the US passport preset: it finds the head, scales the picture so the head measures 30 mm (the middle of the 25–35 mm range), replaces the background with plain white and gives you a 600 × 600 pixel file at 300 dpi — exactly 2 × 2 inches when printed — plus a 4×6 sheet with six copies.
| Photo size | 51 × 51 mm (2 × 2 in) |
|---|---|
| Head height (chin to crown) | 25–35 mm |
| Background | white / off-white |
| Digital upload | 600–1200 × 600–1200 px, square · JPEG · ≤ 240 KB |
| Glasses | Not allowed |
| Taken within | The last 6 months |
| Prints needed | 1 photo |
| Official source | U.S. Department of State — Passport Photos ↗Checked against the official page on 2026-09-20 |
- 100% freeNo account, no paid download, no watermark.
- Nothing is uploadedYour photo is processed on your device and never reaches a server.
- Official rules, citedEvery size and head-height figure links to the government page it comes from.
- Cheap to printDownload a 4×6 sheet and print it at any photo kiosk instead of paying counter prices for two prints.
The rules, as the State Department writes them
A US passport photo must be 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm), with the head measuring between 1 inch and 1⅜ inches (25–35 mm) from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head. The background must be plain white or off-white with no shadows, textures or objects. Both eyes open and visible, a neutral expression with the mouth closed, facing the camera directly. Glasses must be removed — the State Department stopped accepting photos with eyeglasses in November 2016. The photo must have been taken in the last six months, printed on matte or glossy photo-quality paper, and must be the original, unedited picture: no filters, no retouching, no digital changes beyond cropping and a plain background.
The same photo is used for a passport card, and for USCIS applications such as the green card, work permit and naturalisation forms, which adopt the State Department standard. If you renew online, you upload a digital version instead of mailing a print; the digital rules are the same square JPEG the visa form uses.
What the template takes care of, and what you check
The tool finds the top of the head and the chin, sets the head to 30 mm and centres it, and draws the 25–35 mm rule on the frame as a crown line and a chin band. If a hat, a beard or hair over the jaw puts the automatic placement off, drag the photo or zoom until the crown touches the line and the chin sits in the band; the ruler tool measures any distance on the photo in millimetres. It also confirms that the source photo has enough pixels to print sharply — a phone picture nearly always does.
What it cannot judge is listed as reminders: eyes open, neutral expression, no glasses, no shadows across the face, taken within six months. A photo that fails those is rejected by the acceptance facility regardless of how well it is framed, so read the list before you print.
Printing it
Pharmacy and shipping-store counters charge a set price for two prints (it varies by store and changes over time). The photo itself costs nothing to make; only the print does. Download the 4×6 sheet — six 2×2 photos with cut lines on one 4 × 6 inch image — and order it as an ordinary 4×6 print at any photo counter or kiosk for the price of an ordinary 4×6 print, then cut along the lines. Use matte or glossy photo paper, never plain paper. The Walgreens printing guide has the exact steps; the 4×6 template page explains the layout.
Frequently asked questions
Is 51 × 51 mm the same as 2 × 2 inches?
2 inches is 50.8 mm; the State Department rounds it to 51 mm. The download is exactly 2.00 inches at 300 dpi (600 × 600 pixels) so that three photos fit across a 6-inch print.
Can I smile?
A natural, unexaggerated smile is tolerated, but the official wording asks for a neutral expression with the mouth closed. Neutral is the safe choice — it is the one thing an acceptance agent can reject without measuring anything.
White shirt on a white background — is that a problem?
Not for the rules, but the outline of your shoulders disappears and the photo looks odd. A darker top reads better. The tool replaces whatever was behind you, so the wall itself does not matter.
My photo was taken 7 months ago. Can I still use it?
No. The photo must be from the last six months and reflect your current appearance. Take a new one — it takes a minute with a phone and this tool.