US Passport Photo Size — 2×2 inch (51×51mm)

The US is one of the few countries that still uses a square photo. At 2×2 inches it looks generous, but the head must sit between 25 and 35mm from chin to crown — get that wrong and the application comes back, however sharp the picture is.

United States passport photo specifications

Printed size

51 × 51 mm · 600 × 600 px

Head height (chin to crown)

25 – 35 mm

Background

Background: plain white

Photo age limit

Taken within 6 months

Glasses

Not allowed

Prints to submit

1 print

Rules specific to United States

• The photo is square: 2×2 inches, or 51×51mm. Digital submissions must be at least 600×600 pixels.
• Head height from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head must be 25–35mm (1 to 1⅜ inches).
• Glasses have not been permitted since November 2016, even if you wear them every day. Take them off.
• Plain white or off-white background. Nothing behind you, no shadow on the wall.
• Taken within the last 6 months, and it must look like you do now.
• Uniforms are not allowed. Everyday clothing only, and no camouflage-pattern garments.
• Hair may extend past the edges of the frame, as long as the whole head is visible and within the size range.

Why passport photos get rejected

• Head too large or too small. This is the single most common reason, and the one people notice least — the canvas size can be perfect while the head is out of range.
• Shadow behind the head, usually from standing too close to a wall. Step a metre away from the background.
• Smiling, or mouth slightly open. Neutral expression means neutral.
• Hair covering an eye, or a fringe casting a shadow across the eyes.
• Uneven lighting that leaves one side of the face darker than the other.
• A photo that has been retouched, filtered, or run through an AI beauty tool. Most authorities now check for this and reject it outright.

Other countries