US Passport Size Photo Maker — Perfect 2×2 Inch Photos Online

Upload a selfie and get a compliant US passport photo online in 3 minutes — exact 2×2 inch size, plain white background, official rules checked.

US passport size photo maker turning a selfie into a compliant 2×2 inch passport photo with a plain white background
3 minSelfie2×2 inch
Official US passport rulesReady in 3 minutesYour photo stays on your device

US Passport Photo Requirements: Size, Background & Digital Specs

The official rules every US passport photo must follow — yours is checked against each one automatically.

Print size

Exact size
2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm)
Head height
1 – 1⅜ inches (25 – 35 mm), chin to crown
Framing
Full head centered, shoulders visible

Background

Color
Plain white or off-white
Shadows
None on the face or background
Texture
Even, no patterns or objects

Recency & quality

Photo age
Taken within the last 6 months
Print
Photo-quality paper, no creases or holes
Color
Full color only

Pose & expression

Expression
Neutral, both eyes open
Headwear
Religious or medical only, face fully visible
Attire
Everyday clothing — no uniforms or camouflage

Digital file

Minimum size
600 × 600 pixels, square
Format
JPEG, 24-bit color
Use
Online applications, e.g. Form DS-82

Glasses

Everyday glasses
Not permitted
Sunglasses, tinted
Not permitted
Exception
Medical documents signed by a doctor

Taken within the last 6 months to reflect your current appearance.

— U.S. Department of State — Passport photos

Compiled 24 September 2026 from U.S. Department of State photo guidance at travel.state.gov.

Why do US passport photos get rejected?

The State Department rejects photos for reasons no crop can fix. Every one of these is screened before you download.

01

Wrong head size

The head must measure 1–1⅜ inches from chin to crown. Too close or too far away and the application bounces.

02

Glasses

Glasses have not been allowed in US passport photos since 2016 — even without glare. Take them off before you shoot.

03

Shadows on the face or background

Uneven light leaves shadows the acceptance check flags immediately. Shoot facing a bright window or under soft, even light.

04

Smiling or edited photos

Keep a neutral expression with both eyes open. Filters, retouching and red-eye fixes are all grounds for rejection.

How to make a passport size photo online

Create your online passport photo in 3 minutes.

One photo. The right size. A clean background.

Take a clear portrait with your phone — the first step to make a passport photo online

Start with a clear portrait

Upload a recent, front-facing photo. Keep your full head and shoulders visible.

AUTO badge icon: passport size photo size, head positioning and background adjusted automatically

Automatic size, positioning & background

Choose your document. The system automatically adjusts photo dimensions, subject positioning and background to the selected format.

Checklist illustration: check the passport photo size and requirements, then save or print your passport photos

Check, then save or print

The system checks your photo against the selected application requirements. Once it passes, save or print it. Final acceptance rests with the issuing authority.

Why make your US passport photo with RadiantSnaps?

Built around the U.S. State Department's photo rules, so your application moves through without surprises.

01

Exact 2×2 inch output

Every download matches the official US passport photo dimensions — 2 × 2 inches with the head between 1 and 1⅜ inches.

02

Built-in compliance checker

Before you pay, your photo is screened against the published US passport photo requirements: head size, background, glare and expression.

03

Digital and print-ready

Get the 600 × 600 px digital file for online applications plus a print sheet at photo quality for the post office.

What US passport holders say

Amanda R. — Austin, TX

“Renewed my passport online and the digital file uploaded on the first try. The 2 × 2 inch sizing was handled for me — no guessing at the crop.”

Derek M. — Chicago, IL

“Compared this with CVS — faster, cheaper, and I never left the house. The checker caught the shadow on my first attempt and told me how to fix it.”

Priya S. — New Jersey

“Applied for my daughter's first passport. The rules for babies are strict, but the guides made it easy to get her head position right.”

Jordan K. — Seattle, WA

“The 600 × 600 digital copy went straight into the DS-82 form. Took about three minutes on my lunch break.”

Melissa T. — Denver, CO

“My drugstore passport photo got rejected for glare on my glasses. This time the rules were checked before I downloaded — approved, no issues.”

Sam W. — Miami, FL

“Used it for both my passport and my visa photos. Same 2 × 2 format, done at home, and it still looks like me.”

US passport photo questions, answered

Straight answers about the US passport photo size, the digital file, renewals and how this compares to the pharmacy counter.

What size is a US passport photo?

A US passport photo must be exactly 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm), with your head between 1 and 1⅜ inches from chin to crown, centered on a plain white or off-white background. RadiantSnaps sizes every photo to these US passport photo dimensions automatically — you never have to crop by hand.

What are the official US passport photo requirements?

The photo must be taken within the last 6 months, in color, against a plain white or off-white background. You need a neutral expression with both eyes open, no glasses, and no head covering unless it is worn for religious or medical reasons. Prints go on photo-quality paper; online applications take the digital file instead.

What size should a digital US passport photo be?

The digital file must be square and at least 600 × 600 pixels, saved as a 24-bit color JPEG. Every download from RadiantSnaps already meets these digital passport photo specs, so you can upload it to the online application as-is.

Can I use this photo to renew my US passport?

Yes. Passport renewals — by mail with Form DS-82 or through the online renewal pilot — use the same 2 × 2 inch photo rules as first-time applications, so a photo made here works for your renewal without changes.

Is the photo valid for a US visa application?

Yes. US visa photos follow the same 2 × 2 inch, white-background format as passport photos. Pick the US visa document in the selector and the same sizing rules are applied.

How does this compare to CVS or Walgreens passport photos?

Pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens charge $15 or more for a set of prints and mean a trip during opening hours. Here you take one selfie at home and get the compliant 2 × 2 inch photo plus the digital file in about 3 minutes, for a fraction of the price.

Do I need a photographer, or can I use my phone?

Your phone is enough. Have someone shoot you from eye level (or prop the phone up), stand facing a bright window for even light, and keep a neutral expression. The app handles the US passport photo size, background and head positioning from there.

What happens if my passport photo gets rejected?

The most common reasons are head size, shadows, glasses and edited faces — none of them fixable by cropping. RadiantSnaps runs a compliance check against the official US passport photo requirements before you download, so problems surface while they are still cheap to fix.

Passport photo requirements for 208 countries & regions

Width × height. Resolution and background reflect what this tool outputs; the official link points at the issuing authority.

North Korea passport photo

Size
35 × 45 mm
Resolution
400 dpi
Background
White
Quick reference: passport photo requirements for 10 popular passports
CountrySizeResolutionBackgroundOfficial guidance
U.S. Passport2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm)High resolution; no numeric DPI specifiedWhite or off-whiteOfficial
UK Passport35 × 45 mm (print)At least 600 × 750 px (online)Plain, light-colouredOfficial
Canada Passport50 × 70 mmSharp print; no numeric DPI specifiedWhite or light-colouredOfficial
Australia Passport35–40 mm wide × 45–50 mm highQuality print; no numeric DPI specifiedWhite or light greyOfficial
India PassportPortrait, 7:9 ratio630 × 810 pxWhiteOfficial
China Passport33 × 48 mm (print)JPEG; no pixel count or DPI stated in this guideWhiteOfficial
France Passport35 × 45 mmSharp photo; no numeric DPI specifiedLight blue or light grey; not whiteOfficial
Japan Passport35 × 45 mm (print)600 × 730 px (MynaPortal)Plain, without shadowsOfficial
Singapore PassportPortrait, 400:514 ratio400 × 514 px recommendedWhite; light grey for white hairOfficial
New Zealand PassportPortrait, 3:4 ratio900–4500 × 1200–6000 pxPlain, light-colouredOfficial

“Taken within the last 6 months to reflect your current appearance.”

— U.S. Department of State — Passport photo requirements

Compiled 22 September 2026 by the RadiantSnaps team against official guidance. Entries without an official link have no confirmed government page yet; always follow your issuing authority.