Can I use a passport photo from another country for a US application?

Only if the dimensions match exactly. UK photos (35x45mm) cannot be used for US (51x51mm) - the aspect ratios are different.

Can I wear glasses in a US passport photo?

No. The US State Department banned glasses in passport photos in November 2016. The only exception is a documented medical condition with a doctor letter.

What dimensions are required for a US passport photo?

2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm). For digital submissions, between 600 x 600 and 1200 x 1200 pixels, JPEG format, between 54 KB and 10 MB.

How big should my face be in a US passport photo?

1 to 1 3/8 inches (25-35 mm) from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head, which is 50-69% of the photo height.

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US Passport Photo Requirements 2026 (Complete Guide)

Q: Are infant passport photos different?

Yes. Infants and young children have separate, more lenient rules. A sleeping infant photo is sometimes accepted. The full face must still be visible and no other people in the frame.

May 3, 2026 · 8 min read

US passport photo specifications: 51 by 51 mm (2 by 2 inches), face occupies 50 to 69 percent of frame, pure white background, neutral expression, no glasses

The US State Department's photo requirements are the most thoroughly documented in the world - and also the most strictly enforced. A photo that's even slightly off will delay your application by 2-3 weeks. This guide goes through every official requirement for 2026, in detail, with what each one actually means in practice.

All requirements below are sourced from the US Department of State's photo requirements as of 2026.

At-a-glance specifications

Specification	Requirement
Size	2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm)
Resolution (digital)	600 × 600 to 1200 × 1200 pixels
Color	Color photo, not black and white
Head size	1 to 1⅜ inches (25-35 mm) from chin to top of head
Background	Plain white or off-white
Expression	Natural, neutral, mouth closed
Glasses	Not allowed (since November 2016)
Head covering	Not allowed except religious or medical
Recency	Within 6 months of application
Quality	Sharp, no shadows, no glare

Size requirements explained

2 × 2 inches. This is exactly 51 × 51 millimeters at 300 DPI. The photo must be square - not rectangular, not landscape. A photo that's slightly off-square (50 × 51 mm, for example) will be rejected by automated systems.

If you're submitting digitally:

Minimum: 600 × 600 pixels
Maximum: 1200 × 1200 pixels
File size: between 54 KB and 10 MB
File format: JPEG only

Head size requirements

The single most common rejection reason for US applications is incorrect head size.

Required: the height from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head must be 1 to 1⅜ inches (25-35 mm). In percentages of the frame, that's 50-69% of the photo height.

Common mistakes:

Photo zoomed too far in: head fills the entire frame (rejection)
Photo zoomed too far out: head occupies less than 50% (rejection)
Forehead cropped: top of head not visible (rejection)
Chin cropped: bottom of chin not visible (rejection)

The State Department's automated system measures head height in pixels and compares to expected ranges. A few millimeters off is enough for rejection.

How to get this right: use a tool that auto-detects your face and applies the correct US-specific crop. IDPhotoSnap does this automatically. Manual cropping is possible but unforgiving - even a 5% error in the crop will fail.

Background requirements

Plain white or off-white.

Specific clarifications from the State Department:

No patterns, textures, or designs
No shadows on the background
No other people, pets, or objects visible
No "scenery" - no walls with art, no curtains, no doors with knobs visible

The most common background failure is a shadow on the wall behind you, caused by standing too close to it. The fix is to stand 2-3 feet away from any wall and use even lighting. Full diagnostic in Why Was My Passport Photo Rejected.

Expression and pose

Required:

Natural, neutral expression
Mouth closed
Eyes open, looking directly at the camera
Both ears visible (or at least clearly the same)
Head straight, not tilted left or right
Shoulders facing the camera, not turned

Smiling is rejected. This trips many people. The State Department specifically rejects:

A wide smile showing teeth (always)
A closed-mouth smile that lifts the cheeks (usually)
A "natural smile" - there's no such category in US rules

If you genuinely cannot keep a neutral expression (some people can't), take 20 photos and pick the one where your default smile is least pronounced.

Glasses (banned since 2016)

Glasses are not allowed in US passport photos as of November 2016. Even glasses without glare, even thin frames, even prescription glasses you wear daily - they must be removed for the photo.

The only exception: a documented medical condition that prevents glasses removal. You must submit a signed letter from your doctor with the application.

Photo paper requirements (printed photos)

If you're submitting a printed photo with a Form DS-11 (in-person renewal), it must be:

Printed on photo paper (glossy or matte) - never plain printer paper
Single photo, with no borders
Cut to exactly 2 × 2 inches
Not folded, not creased, not damaged

A photo printed on regular paper, even high-quality paper, will be rejected. The texture matters for biometric scanning. Full guide to printing at home or a lab for under $1.

How to make a US passport photo at home

The process that works:

Set up: plain white wall, stand 2-3 feet away, large window in front of you, good daylight
Camera: at eye level, 6 feet away (use a tripod or have someone hold it)
Pose: neutral expression, mouth closed, glasses off, looking straight ahead
Take 10 photos - variation gives you options
Pick one with eyes open, mouth closed, even lighting
Crop to US specs: IDPhotoSnap auto-detects your face and applies the exact 2×2 inch / 50-69% face-height crop the State Department requires
Verify dimensions: the file should be exactly 51 × 51 mm at 300 DPI (or 600 × 600 to 1200 × 1200 pixels for digital submission)
Save as JPEG, sRGB color profile, between 54 KB and 10 MB

For phone-specific instructions, see How to take a passport photo with iPhone.

FAQ

Can I use a passport photo from another country's application?

Only if the dimensions match exactly. UK photos (35×45mm) cannot be used for US (51×51mm) - the aspect ratios are different.

What if I'm renewing and look similar to my old photo?

Even close to identical, you need a new photo within 6 months. The State Department rejects "passport renewal" submissions that reuse old photos.

Are infant passport photos different?

Yes - infants and young children have separate, more lenient rules. The full face must be visible, eyes open if possible (a sleeping infant photo is sometimes accepted), and no other people in the frame.

Can I edit lighting in Photoshop?

Minor exposure correction is fine. Skin smoothing, removing blemishes, eye-color changes, or anything that alters your appearance is not allowed and will result in rejection plus a possible fraud flag.

The US State Department publishes the most detailed photo specs in the world. The trade-off: they're strictly enforced, with no human leniency for "close enough." Use IDPhotoSnap to handle US-specific dimensions and face-coverage rules automatically - free, no signup, runs in your browser.