Verified against an official source
US passport photo requirements
A concise guide to the current US Department of State requirements for printed passport photos.
Last checked:
Official resource language: English
Key requirements
- Printed size
- 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm)
- Head height
- 25–35 mm from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head
- Background
- Plain white or off-white
- Pose
- Face the camera directly with a neutral expression and both eyes open
Digital editing restrictions
The Department of State says not to change a passport photo with computer software, phone apps, filters, or other digital editing tools.
MyIDPhoto can help you preview a 2 × 2 crop, but a background replacement or other automated edit may make the result unsuitable for a US passport application. Follow the official instructions and use an unaltered photo.
Official sources
- U.S. Passport PhotosU.S. Department of State