US Passport Photo 2x2 Inches – Make It Online

US Passport Photo (2 × 2 Inches)

Make a 2×2 inch US passport photo with a 1–1⅜ inch head size, as a 1200 px digital file and a 4×6 print sheet. Free, no upload.

Your files are processed in your browser and never uploaded.

Document

51 × 51 mm · head 25–35 mm from chin to crown · digital 1200 × 1200 px

Background: plain white, with no shadows or patterns.

Drop images here

Choose an image

HEIC, JPG, PNG, WebP, AVIF, GIF, BMP · up to 50 megapixels each · you can also paste

How to use

Take a photo against a plain white wall, facing the camera, without glasses, and add it to the tool.
The US passport size is already selected. Move and resize the frame so your head fills the space between the blue line and the green band.
Click "Create passport photo".
Download the 1200 × 1200 pixel photo for online forms, or the 4 × 6 inch sheet with six photos to print.

Features

Exactly 2 × 2 inches: The print sheet places six 51 × 51 mm photos on one 4 × 6 inch print, the standard size at US pharmacies and photo labs.
Right head size: The guides keep the head between 1 inch and 1⅜ inches (25–35 mm) from chin to top of head, as the State Department requires.
Ready for online renewal: The 1200 × 1200 pixel JPG is the highest resolution the State Department accepts for digital photos, and prints sharply at 2 × 2 inches.
Private: Your photo is cropped in your browser and is never uploaded anywhere.

US passport photo requirements

The US Department of State asks for a colour photo, 2 × 2 inches in size, taken in the last six months. Your full face must be visible, looking straight at the camera with a neutral expression or a natural smile and both eyes open. The background must be plain white or off-white, with no shadows on your face or behind you.

The head must measure between 1 inch and 1⅜ inches (25 to 35 mm) from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head, including hair. In practice this means your head fills roughly half to two-thirds of the photo’s height. A photo where the head is too small – the most common mistake with self-taken photos – is rejected even if everything else is right.

Glasses are not allowed. Hats and head coverings are only allowed for religious or medical reasons, with a signed statement, and must not cast shadows on the face. Headphones and wireless earbuds must be removed.

Using the photo

For a paper application (form DS-11 or a renewal by mail on DS-82) you need one printed photo. Order the 4 × 6 inch print sheet at a drugstore or photo lab – ask for a standard print, not a passport photo service – and cut one photo out along the grey lines. The six copies give you spares for visas or other documents. The photo must be on matte or glossy photo paper; a photo printed on plain office paper is not accepted.

Online passport renewal asks for a digital file instead: a square JPEG between 600 × 600 and 1200 × 1200 pixels. Upload the digital photo created here. Applying for a visa rather than a passport? The DS-160 visa form and the Diversity Visa lottery also limit the file to 240 KB, so use the US visa photo page, which keeps the file under that limit for you.

Tips for a photo taken at home

Have someone else take the photo from about four feet away, with the camera at your eye level. Face a window for soft, even light and avoid the flash, which causes glare and red eyes. Wear normal everyday clothes – uniforms and camouflage are not allowed – and avoid white tops that blend into the background. Photos from an iPhone in HEIC format can be added directly.

Frequently asked questions

What size is a US passport photo?

2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm). The head, measured from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head, must be between 1 inch and 1⅜ inches (25–35 mm).

Can I wear glasses in a US passport photo?

No. Since 2016 glasses are not allowed in US passport photos, except in rare cases with a signed medical statement. Take them off before the photo is taken.

What background is required?

A plain white or off-white background with no shadows, patterns or objects. A white wall or door in daylight usually works; stand a little away from it so your shadow does not fall on it.

What pixel size do I need for a digital US photo?

Digital photos must be square, between 600 × 600 and 1200 × 1200 pixels. This tool creates 1200 × 1200, the highest accepted resolution, which also prints sharply at 2 × 2 inches.

How recent does the photo have to be?

It must have been taken in the last six months and show how you look now.