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US passport photo rules: the complete checklist

Taken from the State Department's Foreign Affairs Manual, which passport staff use to accept or reject photos. Check each item before you print or upload.

Size and framing

  • 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm), in color.
  • Head 1 to 1⅜ inches (25 to 35 mm) from the top of the head (not the hairline) to the bottom of the chin (not including facial hair).
  • Full face, looking straight at the camera, head not tilted (a slight tilt is acceptable for infants).

When and how it was taken

  • Taken within the last six months and a good likeness of you now. A changed hairstyle or facial hair is fine if it still looks like you.
  • Even lighting, no shadows or reflections on the face, no red-eye.
  • Sharp and clear: not grainy, not pixelated.
  • Printed on photo-quality paper if you submit a printed photo.

Background

  • Plain white, off-white or light-colored.
  • No large, dark shadows, reflections or objects behind you.

Expression and eyes

  • A natural expression. Normal, unexaggerated smiles are acceptable; unusual expressions and squinting are not.
  • Both eyes open and visible, with no hair covering them (infants' eyes may be closed).

Glasses, head coverings and accessories

  • No eyeglasses, unless they can't be removed for medical reasons and you include a signed medical statement.
  • No hats or head coverings (including wide headbands, scarves, bows and turbans) unless worn for religious or medical reasons, and they must not cover or shadow the face.
  • Flat hair clips, bobby pins or thin headbands are fine if they don't cover the face or hairline.
  • No headphones, Bluetooth or similar devices.
  • Hearing devices, wigs and facial piercings are fine if they don't cover the face.

Clothing

  • No uniforms of the US Uniformed Services and no military or law-enforcement style clothing, including camouflage (reasonable exceptions for young children).
  • No one-time face decorations such as face paint from a sporting event. Tattoos don't need to be covered.

Editing

  • No digital retouching of the face, no beauty filters and no filters from social or camera apps.

Get a photo that meets the size rules automatically

The US passport photo tool finds your face, sizes the head to 1 to 1⅜ inches, replaces the background with plain white and checks framing, lighting and tilt before you pay. The preview is free; the digital file and 4×6 print sheet are $2.99.

More detail: smiling, glasses, background and babies.

Can I take my own US passport photo?+

Yes. The State Department accepts photos taken at home as long as they meet every rule on this page. Having someone else take it from about 4 feet away avoids selfie distortion.

Can I wear glasses in my passport photo?+

Only if they can't be removed for medical reasons, with a signed statement from a medical professional. See our glasses guide for details.

Can I smile?+

Yes. The manual says normal, unexaggerated smiles are acceptable. Unusual expressions and squinting are not.

Can I use a photo from my old passport?+

No. The photo must have been taken within the last six months.

Is replacing the background considered editing?+

The rule prohibits digital manipulation or retouching of the facial image. A plain background that shows your face unchanged is what the rules ask for; your face itself must not be altered.

Source: US Department of State, Foreign Affairs Manual 8 FAM 402.1 (updated January 2026), and travel.state.gov. Rules can change; check the official page before you apply.

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