Photos checked against official government specifications
Compliant Passport Photo

United States Passport Photo: check yours against the official spec

A US passport photo must be 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm), square, with a plain white or off-white background. Your head (chin to top of hair) must measure between 1 and 1 3/8 inches (25-35 mm), and your eyes must sit between 1 1/8 and 1 3/8 inches (28-35 mm) from the bottom of the photo. The digital file must be JPEG, at least 600 x 600 pixels.

Upload a photo

Click anywhere here, or drag and drop your photo. Use a clear, front-facing photo against a plain white wall in even light. We measure and crop it. We never edit the pixels you submit.

🛡️ Accepted or your money back🔒 Your photo is deleted within 24 hours✓ We never edit your photo
21 documents checked against official specifications
Compliant Passport Photo, featured on Product Hunt

United States passport photo requirements

United States Passport photo: official proportionseye linehead height25 to 35 mm51 mm51 mm
Photo size2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm)
Head height (chin to top of hair)1 to 1 3/8 in (25 to 35 mm)
Eye height from bottom1 1/8 to 1 3/8 in (28 to 35 mm)
Backgroundplain white or off-white
Digital fileJPEG, at least 600 × 600 px

What acceptable and unacceptable photos look like, per the State Department

  • Official State Department example of an acceptable passport photo with a plain white background
    Acceptable

    The background is white or off-white, without shadows, and is plain without texture, objects, or lines.

  • Official State Department example of an acceptable passport photo with correct head size and centering
    Acceptable

    The head is centered and the correct size.

  • Official State Department example of an unacceptable passport photo where the head is too small
    Unacceptable

    The customer's head size is too small in photo.

  • Official State Department example of an unacceptable passport photo with a textured background
    Unacceptable

    The background is not plain and has texture and lines.

  • Official State Department example of an unacceptable passport photo with a blue background
    Unacceptable

    The background is blue.

  • Official State Department example of an unacceptable passport photo with a digitally edited background
    Unacceptable

    The background is cropped using a photo retouching tool, changing the outline of the head, face, and neck.

Example photos: U.S. Department of State (public domain). Captions are the official descriptions from travel.state.gov.

Common reasons a United States passport photo is rejected

  • Background is not plain white/off-white, or has a visible shadow or pattern.
  • Head is too small or too large in the frame (outside the 25-35 mm range).
  • Eyes are too high or too low in the frame.
  • Glasses glare, closed eyes, non-neutral expression, or head tilted/turned.
  • Photo has been digitally altered, filtered, or AI-edited. As of Jan 1, 2026 the US State Department rejects altered photos and treats deliberate manipulation as misrepresentation.

“Photos must not be changed using computer software, phone apps or filters, or artificial intelligence.”

U.S. Department of State, passport photo requirements

Photo rejections are common, and you pay twice

A rejected photo means a delayed application and paying again for a retake. It's one of the most common problems people hit when applying, and it's exactly what this tool is built to catch before you submit:

We measure your photo against the official spec, never AI-edit it (itself a rejection reason as of 2026), and back it accepted-or-your-money-back.

What your result screen shows

Every photo is measured against these checks, the same list you see after uploading:

  • Head size
  • Eye position
  • Framing room
  • Resolution
  • Background colour
  • Plain background
  • Even lighting
  • Pose & expression

When every required check passes, the verdict reads “Passed” and you can download the exact photo you uploaded, cropped to spec, never edited. If a check fails, you get the reason and how to retake, and you pay nothing.

What real users said

  • “Photo accepted at the post office on the first try, which honestly surprised me. The instant spec check feels like it should be the default everywhere.”

    Derya

  • “The webcam check instantly flagged my background was too cluttered even though I thought it looked fine, which was a nice surprise. Glad I didn't waste money printing a bad photo.”

    Irmak

  • “Took a quick selfie with my webcam and it actually flagged the right issues with my framing. Kind of cool that they don't just slap a filter on it.”

    Zafer

  • “love the pay-only-if-it-passes model, such a smart way to build trust before asking anyone to hand over money. the no AI editing promise is a really thoughtful touch too.”

    Azra

From our Product Hunt launch, quoted verbatim. We never invent testimonials.

What a passport photo really costs

The photo is the cheap part. The expensive part is a rejection: redo fees, another queue, and a delayed application or trip. Here is the honest comparison:

Pharmacy or retail (CVS, Walgreens)$16 to $17 per attemptNo compliance guarantee. A rejection means paying and queueing again.
USPS photo serviceabout $15Same deal: rejected means a second visit and a second fee.
Cheap online photo editors$1 to $3Most replace your background with software. Edited photos are a documented rejection reason for the US, UK and Canada since 2026, and refunds usually cover technical failures only.
Compliant Passport PhotoFree check. $9 only if it passesWe measure and crop your original, never edit it. Accepted or your money back.

Retail prices are typical 2026 US prices and vary by location. Our guarantee: accepted or your money back.

Applying later? Get an email if these requirements change.

Only rule-change alerts for this document. Nothing else, ever.

Built by a real person

Nic built this after his own passport photo was rejected over a sizing issue he could not even see. The tool measures your photo against the official spec and never edits it, because since 2026 the US, UK and Canada reject AI-altered photos.

Read the launch story

Frequently asked questions

What size is a US passport photo?

2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm), square. The digital version must be at least 600 x 600 pixels, saved as a JPEG.

What background does a US passport photo need?

A plain white or off-white background with no shadows, patterns, or other people or objects.

How big should my head be in the photo?

Your head, measured from the bottom of your chin to the top of your hair, must be between 1 and 1 3/8 inches (25 to 35 mm).

Can I use an AI tool to edit or fix my passport photo?

No. As of 2026 the US Department of State rejects photos that have been digitally altered, filtered, or AI-edited, and treats deliberate manipulation as misrepresentation. This tool only measures, validates, and crops your original photo. It never alters the pixels you submit. If the background or lighting fails, retake the photo against a plain white wall in even light.

Can I wear glasses?

Glasses are generally not accepted for US passport photos except for documented medical reasons. If you must wear them, there must be no glare and your eyes must be clearly visible.

Can I take a US passport photo at home?

Yes. Take a front-facing photo against a plain white or off-white wall in even, shadow-free light, with your whole head and the top of your shoulders visible. This tool checks it against the official 2 x 2 inch spec, crops it exactly, and tells you precisely what to retake if anything is off.

Can I smile in a US passport photo?

A neutral expression or a natural smile is acceptable. Both eyes must be open and your mouth closed, and you must face the camera directly.

How recent does my US passport photo have to be?

It must be taken within the last 6 months and reflect your current appearance.

How many passport photos do I need?

You need one digital photo for an online renewal, or one printed photo stapled to a mail-in application

How much does a US passport photo cost?

In-store passport photos typically cost about $10-20 at a pharmacy, post office, or photo shop. This tool lets you check and crop your own photo, and you only pay when it passes the compliance check.

Common problems with this photo

Photo upload errors we can fix

Other documents we check

Common questions & guides

Requirements sourced from the official United States passport photo requirements. Last verified against the source on .

This tool measures, validates and crops your original photo. It does not edit, retouch, or replace the background. AI-edited photos are rejected by the US, UK and Canada. Passing our checks is not a legal guarantee of acceptance.