Passport Photo Tool
U.S. Passport Photo for Paper Applications
For a paper U.S. passport application, the printed photo must be exactly 2 x 2 inches on matte or glossy photo-quality paper, with the head centered, a plain white or off-white background, even lighting, no glasses, and no filters, retouching, AI edits, scans, or pictures of printed photos.
Official-rule shortcut
Requirements Summary
| Photo size | 2 x 2 inches for printed U.S. passport photos |
|---|---|
| Head position | Centered face with head sized 1 to 1 3/8 inches from chin to top of head |
| Background | Plain white or off-white background with no shadows, texture, lines, or objects |
| Lighting | Even light with no harsh shadows, washout, blur, grain, or pixelation |
| Expression | Face the camera directly with eyes visible and mouth closed |
| Digital changes | Original photo only, with no filters, retouching, background replacement, or AI changes |
Reviewed against U.S. State Department passport photo guidance. Last reviewed June 20, 2026.
Fast workflow
How to get it done
- Take a new color photo in even light against a plain white or off-white background.
- Face the camera directly with both eyes open, a neutral expression or natural closed-mouth smile, and no glasses.
- Keep your head centered and sized correctly, with the printed photo prepared at exactly 2 x 2 inches.
- Upload the original photo to PassportSnapper so the tool can check size, crop, background, lighting, expression, quality, glasses, and prohibited edits.
- Choose Digital / Online Renewal for a compliant upload-ready JPEG, or Print / Paper Application for a compliant 4x6 print sheet.
Rejection risks
Common mistakes
- Using an old photo, edited photo, scan, screenshot, or picture of a printed photo.
- Submitting a photo with glasses, shadows, background texture, wall lines, objects, blur, grain, or pixelation.
- Cropping the head too large, too small, tilted, off-center, or too close to the edge.
- Using filters, retouching, red-eye correction, AI cleanup, or background replacement.
- Printing on regular office paper instead of matte or glossy photo-quality paper for paper applications.
Decision table
Online validator vs free cropper vs in-store photo
| Option | What it helps with | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Free cropper | Can resize a photo to a 2x2 layout. | Usually does not validate head size, lighting, background, expression, quality, or prohibited edits. |
| In-store photo | Can be convenient if a nearby location is open and staffed. | Requires travel, may cost more, and the final photo still has to meet the same official rules. |
| PassportSnapper | Checks the real photo for free first, then provides the compliant output for your selected application type for $8. | You still need to submit online or print on photo-quality paper for paper applications. |
Quick answers
FAQ
What are the main U.S. passport photo requirements?
Use a recent color photo with a plain white or off-white background, correct 2 x 2 inch print size, centered head, clear eyes, no glasses, even lighting, and no filters, retouching, AI edits, scans, or pictures of printed photos.
How recent must a U.S. passport photo be?
It must be taken within the last 6 months.
Can I wear glasses in a U.S. passport photo?
No. Remove eyeglasses unless you have a rare documented medical exception.
Can I use this page for online renewal?
Use the digital passport photo page for online renewal. This page is focused on paper applications that need a printed 2 x 2 inch photo.
Can I edit the background or touch up my passport photo?
No. Do not use filters, retouching, red-eye correction, AI cleanup, or background replacement. Take a new photo if the original has a problem.
What do I get for $8?
You get a compliant 4x6 print sheet with two 2x2 passport photos, print instructions, and a money-back guarantee if the validated photo is rejected.
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