Your US passport photo was rejected after you mailed it
If the National Passport Center rejects your photo after you've already mailed a DS-11 or DS-82 application, you get a notice naming the problem and 90 days from that notice to send a compliant replacement photo, with no extra fee. Miss the 90-day window and the application is treated as abandoned, meaning you start over and pay the fees again.
Check your photo right here, free
Measured against the official United States passport spec: head size, eye line, background, brightness and file limits. We never edit your 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.
What the rejection notice actually asks for
The notice states the specific defect, most often background, size, glasses, an old photo, or a photo that looks digitally altered. You send only a corrected photo, not a whole new application, as long as you're inside the 90-day window from the date on the notice.
How to send the replacement without restarting the clock
Follow the notice's exact mailing address and reference number so your new photo attaches to the existing case instead of creating a duplicate. Print or reprint the photo to the same 2 x 2 inch, plain white or off-white background, unedited, taken-within-6-months rule that got you the rejection in the first place, and verify it before you spend another stamp.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to pay again if my passport photo is rejected by mail?
No, not if you respond within 90 days of the rejection notice with a compliant photo.
What happens if I miss the 90-day deadline?
The application is treated as abandoned. You have to start over with a brand new application and pay the fees again.
How do I make sure the replacement photo doesn't get rejected too?
Check it against the official rules before you print or mail anything. Our free checker verifies size, background, and the other common failure points; it's $9 only once your photo passes, with your money back if it's still rejected.
Now check your photo against the official spec
Free, in your browser, in under a minute. You pay $9 only if it passes, accepted or your money back.
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