The complete, up-to-date US passport photo specification — plus an online maker that crops, replaces the background, and checks compliance for you. Accepted by the US State Department,
Make a US Passport Photo →Per the US Department of State guidelines for passports, DS-160 visas, Green Card lottery and ESTA.
| Photo size | 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm), square |
|---|---|
| Head height | 1 – 1⅜ inch (25 – 35 mm) from chin to crown — 50%–69% of the photo |
| Eye position | 1⅛ – 1⅜ inch (28 – 35 mm) from the bottom edge |
| Background | Plain white or off-white, no shadows or patterns |
| Resolution | Min. 600 × 600 px at 300 DPI; 4×6 print layout optional |
| Digital format | JPEG, sRGB color, 600×600–1200×1200 px, ≤ 240 KB (online applications) |
| Recency | Taken within the last 6 months |
| Glasses | Not allowed (since 2016, except documented medical needs) |
| Expression | Neutral or natural smile, both eyes open, mouth closed |
No photographer needed — a phone camera and a plain wall are enough.
Stand 1–1.5 m from a plain white wall, facing daylight so both sides of your face are evenly lit. No shadows behind you.
Camera at eye level, arms-length away or use a tripod/timer. Look straight at the lens, shoulders square, no head tilt.
We crop to 2×2 in, remove the background, fix the print layout and verify head size, eye position and exposure.