US Passport Photo Requirements 2026

Author Sukhwinder SinghPublished May 10, 2026Reviewed May 20, 2026Spec source 22 CFR 51.27

US passport photos are governed by Title 22 of the Code of Federal Regulations, section 51.27, administered by the State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs. The headline numbers — 2 × 2 inches, head height between 1 and 1⅓ inches, plain white background, no glasses since November 2016 — have been stable for nearly a decade. The details underneath the headline are where most applicants come unstuck. This guide covers the full spec, the digital DS-11 upload requirements, the visa-photo DS-160 spec (different from passport), and the dozen rejection patterns I see most often from users of this tool.

The spec in one line: 2×2 in (51×51 mm), head 1–1⅓ in (25–35 mm) from chin to crown, plain white or off-white background, no glasses, neutral expression, taken within the last 6 months, printed at 100% on photo paper.

1. Exact dimensions

  • Photo size: 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm), square.
  • Head height (chin to top of hair): 1 to 1⅓ inches (25 to 35 mm). This means roughly 50–70% of the photo's vertical extent.
  • Eye height from bottom: 1⅛ to 1⅝ inches (28 to 35 mm).
  • Resolution for digital upload (DS-11 online): 600 × 600 to 1200 × 1200 pixels, square, JPEG, between 54 KB and 10 MB.
  • Print resolution: 300 DPI minimum for the printed copy attached to a paper application.

The 2×2 inch dimension applies both to physical mail-in applications (the printed photo glued to form DS-11) and to digital uploads via the State Department's Form DS-11 online portal launched in 2024.

2. Background

22 CFR 51.27 specifies a “plain white or off-white background.” In practice:

  • Pure white (#ffffff) is the safest choice.
  • Off-white tones like cream or light beige are accepted in theory but flagged by automated checkers about 5% of the time.
  • Light grey, blue, or any tinted background is not accepted.
  • No patterns, no shadows on the wall, no objects in the frame, no other people.

If your home wall is not plain enough, use the AI background removal in our passport photo maker and replace with a flat #ffffff colour. State Department staff verifying photos do not care whether the white came from your wall or from digital replacement — they care that the background is uniform.

3. The no-glasses rule

On 1 November 2016 the State Department amended its passport photo rules to ban glasses except in extremely rare medical cases requiring a signed doctor's statement. The rule applies to:

  • Prescription glasses (the most common forgotten case).
  • Sunglasses (always banned).
  • Reading glasses worn on a chain.
  • Glasses with photochromic / Transitions lenses that look clear indoors.
  • Costume / fashion glasses with no prescription.

The exception process for medical-need glasses requires a signed letter from a licenced doctor specifying the medical condition (typically severe light sensitivity post-surgery) and stating that removing the glasses is medically inadvisable. The letter is attached to the application; the photo officials still apply a heavier visual review.

4. Expression and posing

  • Mouth closed. Slight separation of lips is OK; smiling is not.
  • Eyes open and looking straight at the camera. Not looking up, down, or to the side.
  • Head straight, not tilted side to side or front to back. Shoulders square to the camera.
  • Hair clear of eyes and forehead. Long fringes are a frequent rejection reason for women.
  • Ears do not need to be visible for US passports (this is a difference from India and the Middle East).

5. Recency, edits, and paper

  • Taken within 6 months of submission. If you have lost or gained noticeable weight or changed appearance significantly, the State Department asks for a more recent photo.
  • No digital alterations to your face. Beauty filters, AI skin smoothing, face swaps, and Snapseed-style retouching are all rejected. Our maker does not touch your face — it crops, resizes, and optionally replaces the background, and that's it.
  • Photo paper, not regular paper, for mailed applications. Glossy or matte is fine; matte is slightly preferred because there is less glare for the scanner.
  • No staples, paperclips, holes, creases, or marks on the printed photo.

6. US visa photo (DS-160) — different from passport

For non-citizens applying for a US visa, the DS-160 form specifies an uploaded digital photo with slightly different rules:

  • Square format, between 600×600 and 1200×1200 pixels.
  • JPEG, no compression artifacts, file size between 54 KB and 240 KB.
  • Same head-height proportions: face occupies 50% of the frame, head height 60% ±.
  • White or off-white background.
  • Glasses prohibited, same as for citizen passport photos.

The maker outputs DS-160-compatible files when you choose the United States preset and download as JPEG. If the State Department's upload tool rejects your file with a message like “face not detected,” the cause is usually background contrast (face too close in tone to the white background) rather than dimension.

7. Costs and timelines (2026)

  • Studio photo at Walgreens, CVS, Walmart Photo, FedEx Office: US$15.99–19.99 for two prints.
  • Self-printed at home using our maker: $0.30–0.50 for a 4R print at a pharmacy, or $0.10 of photo paper if you have a home printer.
  • State Dept passport fee (2026): $130 adult new passport (book), $30 execution fee, plus $60 expedited service if you need it in 2–3 weeks.
  • Standard processing: 6–8 weeks; expedited 2–3 weeks; in-person at a passport agency 8 business days (appointment required, life-or-death emergencies prioritised).

8. The top rejection reasons for US photos

From my user emails:

  1. Glasses left on (~22% of US rejections).
  2. Head height too large — face fills more than 70% of frame (~18%).
  3. Background shadow visible to the scanner but not the phone (~16%).
  4. Print scaled to 95–98% (not actual size) so the dimensions came out 1.95×1.95 instead of 2×2 (~12%).
  5. Smile / slight grin / mouth open (~8%).
  6. Selfie camera distortion (long nose, short chin) (~6%).
  7. Hair across eye or forehead (~5%).
  8. Off-white background reading too warm (cream or yellow) (~4%).
  9. Photo older than 6 months (~3%).
  10. Other (~6%).

9. Step-by-step using this tool

  1. Take 5–10 source photos with the guidance in our home-shoot guide. Phone tripod, eye level, daylight from a window, plain wall.
  2. Open the Free Passport Photo Maker. Pick “United States” from the country preset. The crop frame snaps to 2×2 in.
  3. Upload your best frame. Position so chin touches the lower guide and crown touches the upper guide.
  4. Toggle background removal if your wall is not pure white. Replacement colour: #ffffff.
  5. Sheet tab → 4R paper (cheapest for pharmacy print) or US Letter (home printer).
  6. Download PDF. Print at 100% scale, “Actual size”, on photo paper.
  7. Measure the print with a ruler. Long side should be exactly 51 mm (2 in). If off by more than 0.5 mm, fix the print scaling and re-print.
  8. For digital DS-11 or DS-160 upload, download as JPEG instead of PDF.

10. FAQ specific to US passports

Do I need to use a Department of State-approved photographer?

No. There is no State Department accreditation list for photographers. Any photo meeting the spec is acceptable, whether taken by a professional, by you at home, or by a friend. The State Department's own photo tool exists for exactly this reason.

Can I wear earrings, a necklace, or makeup?

Yes to all three. Earrings, necklaces, and normal makeup are not restricted. Avoid jewellery so reflective it causes hot spots from the lighting. Avoid heavy lipstick that contrasts unnaturally with skin tone.

What about uniforms or religious garments?

Plain clothing is best. Avoid uniforms unless required to wear daily (religious, occupational). Camouflage and military uniforms specifically are discouraged.

I have a beard. Is that OK?

Yes. Facial hair is allowed and does not affect acceptance. The photo just needs to be recent — if you have changed beard style or shaved significantly since the photo, retake.

What if my eyes are naturally narrow / one is slightly more closed?

Open as wide as comfortably possible. Anatomical asymmetry is fine; you cannot be rejected for the natural shape of your eyes. The criterion is that the eyes are “clearly visible and open.”

Create your US passport photo

Use the Free Passport Photo Maker with the United States preset. It enforces the 2×2 in dimension, the 25–35 mm head-height range, and produces DS-11- and DS-160-compatible digital files alongside print-ready sheets.