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Passport renewal photo
A renewal uses the same face rules as a first passport. The delivery changes. Online renewal wants a digital file. A paper renewal wants a 2 × 2 inch print.
Start with a photo
Drop a photo here, or use the buttons.
JPEG or PNG. The file is read in this browser and is not uploaded.
Live view is mirrored on a front camera. The photo you keep is not.
Drag to move the crop. Arrow keys nudge. Plus and minus zoom.
Compliance check
PassOkay crops and checks. It does not replace the background, apply filters, or retouch the face.
These checks are estimates. They are not an acceptance decision, and PassOkay is not a government site. Head height is guessed from the chin and forehead, so nudge the crop if the guides miss the hair.
Online, you upload a color photo taken in the last 6 months. Accepted types are JPG, JPEG, PNG, HEIC, and HEIF, from 54 KB to 10 MB. The site crops the photo and runs a basic check. An employee can still ask for a new one later.
By mail, you attach a printed 2 × 2 inch photo. The head is 1 to 1⅜ inches. Do not staple through the face. If you are not sure which path you are on, make the digital file here and the 4×6 sheet. Use the one your form actually asks for.
Size and file
| Size | Same head-size rules as a passport photo. State’s uploader crops the file. |
|---|---|
| Pixels | 1200 × 1200 px JPEG from this tool, inside the 54 KB–10 MB upload limit |
| Head | 1–1⅜ in (25–35 mm) chin to crown if it were printed at 2 × 2 in |
| Background | Plain white or off-white |
| File | JPG, JPEG, PNG, HEIC, or HEIF, 54 KB–10 MB. PassOkay exports a JPEG. |
| How recent | Taken in the last 6 months |
| Glasses | No |
How to do it
- Check the form. Online renewal uploads a file. Form DS-82 by mail uses a print. The pose rules match.
- Take a current photo. Last 6 months, and it has to look like you. A beard or new hair color is usually fine. Major facial surgery is not.
- Pre-check, then submit. Run the photo through this page. Upload it on the State site, or print the 2×2, depending on the form.
Questions
Do I need a new photo to renew my passport?
Yes. It has to be from the last 6 months. You do not need a new passport book only because of a small appearance change, but the renewal itself needs a current photo.
Can I reuse my old passport photo?
No. The photo has to be recent, and a scan of an old printed photo is a poor file. Take a new one.
What is the difference between online and mail?
Online is a digital upload that State crops. Mail is a physical 2×2 print. Both reject glasses, filters, and a busy background.
Specs last checked . Online rules checked May 4, 2026. Print size checked March 24, 2026.