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US passport photo
A U.S. passport photo is 2 × 2 inches, with the head between 1 and 1⅜ inches from chin to crown. PassOkay crops to that size and checks the usual rejection reasons on your device.
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.
The State Department page, updated March 24, 2026, says you can smile if your mouth stays closed and both eyes stay open. Eyeglasses come off. The background is plain white or off-white. Do not filter the photo or replace the wall. Cropping to size is the step their own photo tool does.
Paper applications need a color print on photo paper. Online renewal is a different upload, with its own file-size rules. If you are renewing on the website, use the digital passport photo page so the check matches that uploader.
Size and file
| Size | 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm) |
|---|---|
| Pixels | 1200 × 1200 px JPEG (600 DPI). 600 × 600 also falls in the usual digital range. |
| Head | 1–1⅜ in (25–35 mm) from chin to top of head, about 49–69% of the frame |
| Background | Plain white or off-white, no shadows or texture |
| File | Color JPEG. Paper applications use a print; online renewal has its own file rules. |
| How recent | Taken in the last 6 months |
| Glasses | No, unless you have a signed medical note |
How to do it
- Set the scene. Stand a few feet from a white wall. Light your face from the front. Take off glasses.
- Take one photo. Look straight into the lens. Mouth closed. Both eyes open. Keep the camera at eye level, not from above.
- Check the crop. Open this page, upload the photo, and move the frame until the head-size check passes. Then unlock the JPEG and the 4×6 sheet if you need prints.
Questions
What size is a US passport photo?
2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm). The head, from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head, is 1 to 1⅜ inches (25 to 35 mm).
Can I smile in a US passport photo?
Yes, if your mouth is closed and your eyes are open. Do not show teeth. The March 2026 State Department page says this directly.
Can I take my own US passport photo?
Yes. A friend or family member can take it. Acceptance facilities and photo counters also take them. The photo still has to meet the size, pose, and background rules.
Do you guarantee the passport agency will accept it?
No. PassOkay flags common problems. A person at the agency makes the decision.
Specs last checked . Checked against the State Department passport photo page.