Passport & visa
How to make a 2 × 2 inch US passport photo at home
The US passport photo is a 2 × 2 inch square. Here’s how to take, crop and size one correctly, for print or online.
The size: 2 × 2 inches
US passport photos are square, 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm). The head, measured from the bottom of the chin to the top of the hair, should be between 1 and 1⅜ inches. For digital submissions a square image of at least 600 × 600 pixels is commonly requested.
Take the photo
Stand in front of a plain white or off-white wall in even light, facing the camera with a neutral expression and both eyes open. Glasses are no longer allowed in US passport photos. Have someone else take it from about four feet away, at eye level, so your face isn’t distorted.
Crop and size it
Open the passport photo maker, choose “United States — Passport”, and position the crop so your head fills the right portion of the square. The tool sets the 2 × 2 inch shape and a 600 × 600 pixel output; download it as a JPEG.
Printing it
To print, set the print size to exactly 2 × 2 inches with scaling turned off, or place the image on a 4 × 6 inch print layout. Always check the result with a ruler before you submit.
Check the official rules
Requirements are set by the US Department of State and can change. Confirm the current rules on travel.state.gov before applying.
Frequently asked questions
What pixel size is a US passport photo?
A 2 × 2 inch photo at 300 PPI is 600 × 600 pixels. Digital submissions commonly accept square images between 600 × 600 and 1200 × 1200 pixels.
Can I wear glasses in a US passport photo?
No, glasses are not allowed except in rare medical cases with a signed statement.
Passport & visa photos
Passport size photo maker
Choose a country and document to set the photo size, pixels and file limit, then crop. Free, and your image never leaves your browser.
Open Passport size photo maker