How to Get a Passport Photo That Meets U.S. Requirements

A passport photo is a small, standardized image used to confirm your identity on a travel document. You can take one yourself, use a photo shop or pharmacy that offers passport photos, or ask whether a passport acceptance facility provides the service. The U.S. requirements are specific, and a photo that looks fine on a phone screen can still be rejected for its size, lighting, crop, or background.

Before taking the picture, confirm the current photo instructions for your application on the U.S. Department of State’s official website. Requirements can differ for other countries and for some passport-related services. The steps below cover a standard U.S. passport photo.

What You’ll Need

A camera or smartphone with a clear camera lens
A plain white or off-white wall or backdrop, with even lighting
A helper, phone stand, or tripod to hold the camera steady
A ruler or measuring guide and a way to print a 2-by-2-inch photo on photo-quality paper
Plain, everyday clothing that contrasts with the background
For a digital application, a digital image that meets the State Department’s file and upload instructions

If you do not have suitable lighting, a neutral background, or a way to print the image correctly, using a photo service or acceptance facility may be easier. Ask in advance whether it can provide the format you need.

Step-by-Step

Check your application’s instructions. Confirm whether you need a printed photo or a digital upload, and review the official photo specifications. A photo service may offer photos for different documents, so make clear that it is for a U.S. passport.
Choose a plain backdrop. Stand in front of a white or off-white background without patterns, visible objects, or shadows. Leave some space between you and the wall; standing directly against it can create a shadow behind your head.
Set up even lighting. Face a bright window or use soft, balanced lighting from the front. Avoid direct flash that creates glare, harsh shadows, or red-eye, as well as dim light that makes the image grainy. Make sure your face is evenly lit and the background stays light.
Position the camera correctly. Ask someone to take the photo if possible. Put the camera at eye level, several feet away, and keep it parallel to your face. Do not use a selfie angle, a close-up, or a wide-angle view that distorts facial proportions. Use the normal camera view rather than a filter or portrait effect.
Prepare your appearance. Wear normal clothing; uniforms and clothing that resembles a uniform are not appropriate. Remove glasses, hats, and head coverings unless a head covering is worn daily for religious reasons or for a medical reason. If you wear a permitted head covering, your full face must remain visible from the bottom of your chin to the top of your forehead, and both sides of your face must be visible. Follow the official instructions if documentation is required.
Pose naturally. Look straight at the camera with your head centered and facing forward. Keep your eyes open, mouth closed, and expression neutral or a natural, non-exaggerated smile. Do not tilt or turn your head.
Take several original photos. Take a few shots without changing the lighting, distance, or background. Check that your eyes are open, your face is sharp, and nothing blocks your features. Do not submit a photo that has been retouched, filtered, digitally altered, or copied from another document.
Crop and size the image carefully. A standard U.S. passport photo must be 2 by 2 inches. Your head, measured from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head, must be 1 to 1⅜ inches high. Center the head and leave the required space above it; use the State Department’s photo tool or a template if available. Cropping must not stretch, retouch, or otherwise change your appearance.
Print or upload as instructed. For a paper application, use a clear, color print on photo-quality paper and attach it as directed by the application instructions. For a digital application, use the official upload specifications for dimensions, file type, and file size; a correctly sized print is not automatically a valid digital file.
Inspect it before submitting. Check the printed image at its actual size or preview the digital file. Confirm that the background is plain, the face is in focus and evenly lit, the image is recent, and the crop follows the official measurements. Replace it if anything is unclear or incorrectly sized.

Common Mistakes

Using a selfie: A camera held too close or below eye level can distort the face. Have another person take the photo or use a stable stand at eye height.
Choosing a busy or shadowed background: A colored wall, visible furniture, or a shadow can make the image noncompliant. Use a plain, evenly lit backdrop.
Getting the crop wrong: A square image is not necessarily the right size or head scale. Check both the 2-by-2-inch photo dimensions and the specified head measurement.
Editing the picture: Filters, skin smoothing, background removal, and facial retouching can invalidate the photo. Use an unaltered image and adjust only permitted cropping or file formatting.
Wearing glasses or covering the face: Glasses are not allowed in U.S. passport photos, and hair or accessories must not hide facial features. Remove glasses and move hair away from the face.
Using an old or reused photo: The picture must represent your current appearance and meet the application’s recency rule. Do not reuse a photo from a previous passport application without checking that rule.

Tips

Take the photo when you have time to check the crop and retake it if needed; do not rely on a single shot.
Use a helper to check that the camera is level and your head is centered before taking the picture.
Keep hair, clothing, and accessories from blending into the background, while keeping the background plain.
If the photo is for a baby or young child, follow the State Department’s child-photo guidance. The child should be alone in the image, with no hands or support visible; infant pose requirements may allow limited exceptions.
Bring the official photo specifications to a photo service and ask to review the finished image before leaving.
For a digital application, use the application’s own upload instructions rather than assuming that a photo meeting print measurements will also meet file requirements.

Troubleshooting

The background looks gray or uneven: Move farther from the wall, improve the light in front of you, and retake the image. Avoid trying to replace the background with editing software.

The face is blurry or too dark: Clean the camera lens, steady the camera, add soft front lighting, and take another picture. Do not use a flash if it creates glare or hard shadows.

The head seems too large or small: Recheck the crop against the official head-height measurement. If the original image is too close or too far away, retake it instead of stretching the photo.

The digital upload is rejected: Check the application’s exact file format, pixel dimensions, and size limits, then export an unaltered image that meets them. If the system still rejects it, use its help instructions or contact the passport agency or application support channel.

A photo service gives you the wrong format: Ask whether it can provide a U.S. passport photo in the format your application requires. If not, use another provider or take a new photo according to the official specifications.

You are unsure whether a religious or medical exception applies: Check the Department of State’s instructions or ask the relevant passport office before submitting. Do not assume a particular covering or accessory is automatically allowed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take my own U.S. passport photo?

Yes, as long as it meets the official requirements. Use a clear, unaltered color image, a plain light background, correct pose and lighting, and the required dimensions.

Can I smile in a passport photo?

A natural, non-exaggerated smile may be acceptable, but a neutral expression is the safest choice. Keep your mouth closed and look directly at the camera.

Can I wear glasses in my passport photo?

No. Remove glasses, including prescription glasses, for a U.S. passport photo. If you cannot remove them for a medical reason, check the official instructions for what to do.

How recent does the photo need to be?

It must represent your current appearance and meet the State Department’s recency requirement, generally a photo taken within the last six months. Confirm the current instructions for your application.

Can I use a photo from my phone?

Yes, if the original image is sharp, properly lit, correctly posed, and meets the required print or upload specifications. Do not use filters, retouching, or a screenshot of a printed photo.

Do I need to attach the photo myself?

Follow the instructions for your specific application. For a paper application, the directions explain how to attach the photo; avoid staples or other fasteners unless expressly permitted.

Further reading: U.S. Department of State. Details can change, so check the official page for anything that matters to you. Spotted a mistake? Tell us. How we write an answer.