US Passport Photo Maker

Drop your photo, line it up in the frame and download a JPEG at 600 × 600 px, 54 KB–10 MB. The settings below are already filled in for the US Passport Photo.

Choose a photoDrag & drop, paste (Ctrl+V) or browse · JPG, PNG, WebP

US Passport Photo requirements

US Passport Photo size guide — 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm) · 600 × 600 px at 300 DPI · Head height 50%–69% of photo height — US Passport Photo size guide

Size	2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm)
Pixels (our output)	600 × 600 px at 300 DPI
File size	54 KB–10 MB
Format	JPEG
Background	White, Off-white
Head height	50%–69% of photo height

Printed size exactly 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm)
Head 1 to 1 3/8 inches (25–35 mm) from chin to top of hair
Plain white or off-white background, no shadows
Taken in the last 6 months, no glasses, neutral expression
Online renewal upload: JPEG or PNG, 54 KB to 10 MB

Checked against official guidance in October 2026. Requirements change from time to time. Check the latest rules from U.S. Department of State.

How to take your US Passport Photo at home

Ask a friend or family member to take the photo — the State Department lists them as an option alongside photo studios and passport acceptance facilities.
Stand several feet (about 1.2 m) in front of a plain white or off-white wall. If your wall is not white, hang a white sheet or blanket behind you.
Light your face evenly from the front. Overhead lights or a lamp far off to one side cast shadows on your face and the background.
Take off glasses, hats and headphones. Face the camera straight on with both eyes open and your mouth closed — a natural smile is fine.
Set the camera to its highest quality and turn off beauty filters and portrait effects. If your wall is not plain white, change the background to white in the tool above.
Drop the photo above to crop it to 2 × 2 inches with the head at 1–1 3/8 inches, then print the 4 × 6 inch sheet on matte or glossy photo paper and cut it out.

Common reasons your US Passport Photo is rejected

Shadows on the face or background, or a photo that is too dark or overexposed
Head too small or too large — usually because the camera was too close or too far away
Glasses on the face or resting on top of the head
Beauty filters, retouching that changes your face, or a stretched image
Blurry, grainy or pixelated prints, visible printer dots, photocopies or scans
Head tilted or turned, or hair covering the eyes
Red eye — and red eye removed with editing tools is not accepted either

Submitting your US passport photo

If you apply or renew with a paper form, include one printed 2 × 2 inch color photo taken in the last 6 months. Unacceptable photos are the number one reason the State Department puts passport applications on hold, so check it against the rules above before you send it.

If you renew online, you upload a digital photo in the application instead of mailing a print. The State Department’s own cropping tool is only for paper applications — follow the upload instructions in the online renewal.

Frequently asked questions

What size is a US Passport Photo?

2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm). Picwright exports 600 × 600 pixels at 300 DPI, 54 KB–10 MB, as a JPEG.

What background colour is required?

A plain white or off-white background. If yours is not, Picwright can replace it with AI right in your browser.

Can I print it?

Yes. Download the 4×6 inch print sheet, print it as a normal 4×6 photo and cut along the guides. Each copy prints at exactly 50.8 × 50.8 mm.

Is my photo uploaded anywhere?

No. Cropping, background removal and compression all run on your device. Nothing is uploaded or stored.

Are these the latest official requirements?

They are taken from the official guidance of U.S. Department of State, but rules change. Always check the current notice or official page before you submit.