US passport photo requirements are among the most specific in the world — the 2 × 2 inch square format, strict head size rules, and no-glasses policy mean getting it right requires attention to detail. This guide covers everything you need to know and shows how PicToPassport helps you create a compliant photo for free.
What Rejects a US Passport Photo
Photo rejection means delays to your passport, visa, or green card application. The US State Department enforces their rules strictly — wrong dimensions, wearing glasses, or a non-compliant background will all result in rejection. Getting the details right the first time saves you from extra trips and waiting.
Photo Size: The 2 × 2 Inch Square
The US passport, visa, DV lottery, and green card photo size is 51 mm × 51 mm (2 inches × 2 inches) — a square format unique to the United States. This is different from the rectangular 35 × 45 mm format used by most countries. The head must measure 25–35 mm from bottom of chin to top of head (1–1.375 inches). Make sure your photo is exactly square — rectangular photos will be rejected. Always verify with the official US Department of State before submitting.
Upload portals measure the file in kilobytes, and an oversized image is rejected outright: Compress Image to KB
Background Color: Off-White, Not Pure White
A white or off-white background is required. Avoid pure white (#FFFFFF) as it may appear too bright. The background must be free of patterns, shadows, and objects. Lighting should be even across the face, with no harsh shadows behind the head. Stand 2–4 feet from a plain white or off-white wall for best results. Natural daylight or even indoor lighting works well.
Neutral Expression, Closed Mouth
US rules are strictest on the eyes: no glasses at all since 1 November 2016, and the medical exemption no longer exists. Beyond that, keep a neutral expression with the mouth closed, head level, eyes open and looking straight ahead. Head coverings are accepted for religious reasons only, and tribal or national costumes are refused. Contacts are permitted because nothing sits over the eye, and the square frame must show a face that reads instantly at arm's length.
Glasses: The 2016 Federal Ban
No glasses are allowed in US passport photos — this has been the rule since November 1, 2016. Even medical exemption certificates are no longer accepted. This includes prescription glasses, sunglasses, and reading glasses. Head coverings are permitted for religious reasons only. Tribal or national costumes are not allowed.
Face Height and Chin-to-Crown Position
American officers measure 25 mm to 35 mm from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head, inside a square 51 mm × 51 mm print — 2 × 2 inches exactly. Rectangular photos are rejected on sight, so a 35 mm × 45 mm European print will not fit. Keep the face centred with even space at the sides, no shadow on the face or background, and use white or off-white rather than a bleached #FFFFFF that flattens the image.
Photo Age: The Six-Month Limit
Every American application shares one six-month rule: the passport book filed at an acceptance facility, the visa interview and the DV lottery upload all ask for an image taken within the last 6 months. The portals check the upload date and an officer checks by eye, so an older photograph costs you a wasted appointment. Retake before you book, then reuse the same digital file across the visa, lottery and green-card checks.
How Many Copies You Submit
US passport applications require 2 photos. When you use PicToPassport, you receive a digital file sized exactly for the 2 × 2 inch (51 × 51 mm) format plus a print-friendly layout with multiple copies on a single page. The digital file can be uploaded directly or taken to a photo shop for professional printing. You can also use it for visa, DV lottery, and green card applications.
Rejections and Common Mistakes
The most frequent reasons for rejection are using rectangular photos instead of square 2 × 2 inch, wearing glasses, and non-white backgrounds. Other issues include head tilting, smiling, photos older than six months, and shadows on the face or background. Always check the US passport photo requirements before submitting.
Passport rules and green card rules are not the same, so a visa photo is judged differently: DV Lottery Photo Checker
Baby and Child Photos
The United States is the rare authority that lets a baby's eyes stay closed — there is no need to wake or coax an infant into an open-eyed stare, as long as the baby faces forward. Everything else holds: the square 2 × 2 inch frame, white or off-white background, head measuring 25 mm to 35 mm, and no cropping of the crown. Lay the baby on a white sheet, shoot from above, and support the head from outside the frame.
Framing an infant is where most adults go wrong, and this one measures the head for you: Baby Passport Photo Maker
Checking the Crop With PicToPassport
A US photo is square: 2 × 2 inch, or 51 mm × 51 mm, with head height 25 mm – 35 mm. PicToPassport crops to that square free in your browser and sets a white or off-white background — never pure white — while you hold a neutral expression with no glasses. Output covers both uses: print at 300 dpi as 600 × 600 px for the 2 photos required, or export a JPEG under 240 KB for upload. Nothing leaves your device.
Make the Photo, Skip the Booth
The U.S. State Department charges $130 for a passport book plus a $35 execution fee — $165 in total — and publishes no verified processing figure, so its expedited page holds the current times. Your photo needs no appointment: PicToPassport squares the frame to 2 × 2 inch, keeps the white or off-white background, and runs free and private in your browser with nothing leaving your device.
