Photos

Your photo is a vital part of your passport application. To learn more, review the information below on how to provide a suitable photo to avoid passport processing delays. The acceptance of your photo is always at the discretion of the U.S. passport agency. We recommend you use a professional passport photo service to ensure your photo meets all the requirements.

If you are applying for a U.S. Passport, you must provide one (1) photo. Your passport photo must be:

In color
Printed on photo quality paper
2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm) in size
Sized such that the head is between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches (between 25 and 35 mm) from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head. View the Photo Composition Template for more size requirement details.
Taken within the last 6 months to reflect your current appearance
Taken in front of a plain white or off-white background
Taken in full-face view directly facing the camera
With a neutral facial expression and both eyes open
Taken in clothing that you normally wear on a daily basis:

Uniforms should not be worn in your photo, except religious clothing that is worn daily.
Do not wear a hat or head covering that obscures the hair or hairline, unless worn daily for a religious purpose. Your full face must be visible, and the head covering must not cast any shadows on your face.
Headphones, wireless hands-free devices or similar items are not acceptable in your photo.
Effective for applications filed on or after November 1, 2016, eyeglasses may not be worn in a photo for a passport application, except in rare circumstances when eyeglasses cannot be removed for medical reasons, e.g. the applicant has recently had ocular surgery and the eyeglasses are necessary to protect the applicant’s eyes. In such a case, a medical statement signed by a medical professional must be provided.

Review the Photo Examples to see examples of acceptable and unacceptable photos. Photos copied or digitally scanned from driver’s licenses or other official documents are not acceptable. In addition, snapshots, magazine photos, low quality vending machine or mobile phone photos, and full-length photographs are not acceptable.

More information on photo requirements at travel.state.gov.