US passport photo requirements

The short version: a square photo, plain white background, neutral expression, taken in the last 6 months. The editor below is pre-loaded with this exact spec — upload a selfie and it does the measuring.

Make my US passport photo DV Lottery instead?

SOURCE — travel.state.gov/passports/photos
LAST CHECKED — 2026-09-17 · Rules change; verify before submitting.

Form PB-US-PPT

Rev. 2026-09

Print size2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm)

Digital pixels600 × 600 px minimum, square

Head size1 in – 1⅜ in (25–35 mm) from chin to crown

BackgroundPlain white or off-white, no shadows or patterns

RecencyTaken within the last 6 months

ExpressionNeutral, both eyes open, facing camera

GlassesNot allowed (as of Nov 2016)

Head coveringsReligious or medical only, face fully visible

File (online renewal)JPEG, 600–1200 px, sRGB, under portal limit

Acceptance is decided by the US Department of State. PhotoBench formats to the published spec and does not guarantee acceptance.

§ B — Why photos get rejected

The five usual suspects

Shadows

Side lighting casts a shadow on the wall behind you. Face a window instead.

Head too small

Standing too far back. The head must fill 50–69% of the frame height.

Glasses on

Removed from the rules in 2016. Take them off, even for everyday wearers.

Busy background

Anything but plain white fails. The editor replaces it for you.

Old photo

Over 6 months old. If your appearance changed, shoot a new one.

§ C — Questions

US passport photo FAQ

Yes. The State Department requires a plain white background, even lighting, a neutral expression and the correct head proportion — none of which require a studio. Stand about 4 feet from the camera, face a window, and let the editor handle the crop and background.