US Passport Photo Requirements 2026 (2x2, Exact)
Getting your US passport photo right the first time means understanding exact measurements, pixel counts, file size limits, and a major 2026 rule change you probably have not heard about yet. This guide covers every verified requirement so your application does not get rejected.
Table of Contents
Quick Answer
A US passport photo must be exactly 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm) printed. For digital applications, the image must be 600x600 to 1200x1200 pixels, JPEG, with a plain white or off-white background. Since January 2026, AI-edited and beauty-filtered photos are rejected. Use the SammaPix passport photo tool to crop and resize to spec for free, with no upload required.
Quick specs at a glance
Every spec in the table below is sourced from official US Department of State guidance. Always verify at travel.state.gov before submitting your application.
| Requirement | Exact value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Print size | 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm) | Square format only. No other size is accepted. |
| Face size (chin to crown) | 1 to 1 3/8 inches (25 to 35 mm) | Face must fill between 50% and 69% of the photo height. |
| Digital pixel size | 600 x 600 to 1200 x 1200 px | For online renewal. JPEG format only. |
| File size (online renewal) | 54 KB to 10 MB | JPEG only. Both minimum and maximum are enforced. |
| File size (visa / DV Lottery) | Max 240 KB | Stricter limit than online renewal. Compress before uploading. |
| Background | Plain white or off-white | No patterns, shadows, gradients, or AI-replaced backgrounds. |
| Photo recency | Within last 6 months | Must reflect your current appearance. |
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed | No smiling, no squinting, eyes fully open. |
| Glasses | Not allowed (since 2016) | No exceptions. Remove all eyewear before the photo. |
| AI edits / beauty filters | Rejected since Jan 2026 | Portrait blur, skin smoothing, AI background swap: all cause rejection. |
Print size and face dimensions
The 2 x 2 inch (51 x 51 mm) requirement is the most well-known US passport photo spec, and it is non-negotiable. The photo must be square. Many people crop correctly but then get rejected because their face is the wrong size within that square frame.
Your face, measured from the bottom of your chin to the top of your crown (the highest point of your head, not your hair), must measure between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches (25 mm to 35 mm). In a printed 2x2 photo, that means your face should occupy roughly half to two-thirds of the total photo height.
In pixel terms for a 600x600 output: your face from chin to crown should span between 300 and 414 pixels. For a 1200x1200 output, that range becomes 600 to 828 pixels.
The SammaPix passport photo tool includes a US 2x2 preset that shows you the correct face placement zone with an overlay guide. You can drag and resize the crop until your face lands within the approved range, then export at exactly 600x600 pixels.
Digital and pixel size requirements
For the US online passport renewal program (the digital submission pathway), the Department of State requires photos in JPEG format with pixel dimensions between 600 x 600 and 1200 x 1200. The image must be square: a 600x800 crop will be rejected even if both dimensions are within the allowed range individually.
A common mistake is submitting a photo that is too small. Smartphone cameras today produce images that are far larger than needed, but when people crop to the face, they sometimes resize down too aggressively and end up with a 400x400 file. That falls below the 600px minimum and will be rejected by the upload portal.
Recommended workflow: crop the full-resolution image to a square centered on your face first, then resize the resulting square to 600x600 or 800x800 pixels. Never crop a low-resolution version and then scale it up, as that introduces compression artifacts and a blurry result.
600x600 passport photo: the safe default
When in doubt, export at exactly 600 x 600 pixels. This is the minimum accepted by the online renewal portal, is well within the 54 KB to 10 MB file size window for a standard JPEG, and meets the square format requirement. Use the SammaPix passport photo tool to output this size directly with one click.
Background, lighting, and expression rules
The background must be plain white or off-white, with no patterns, textures, or distracting elements. Shadows on the background are a frequent cause of rejection, especially when people take selfies at home with a wall directly behind them. A gap of at least 2 to 3 feet between you and the background reduces shadow significantly.
Lighting should be even and front-facing. Avoid side lighting that creates shadows on one side of the face. Natural window light from a large window facing you is often the best option at home. Avoid overhead lighting alone, as it casts deep shadow under the nose and chin.
Expression rules are strict. Your mouth must be closed. You should not be smiling, even slightly. Your eyes must be fully open and looking directly into the camera. Head coverings are not permitted unless worn for religious reasons, and in that case the face from chin to hairline must be fully visible.
- Plain white or off-white background. No grey, no cream, no patterns.
- No shadows on the background or across your face.
- Both eyes fully open, looking directly at the camera.
- Neutral expression, mouth closed.
- No glasses. No sunglasses. No tinted lenses.
- No head coverings except for established religious reasons.
- Head centered and upright. No tilting.
- Photo taken in the last 6 months.
January 2026: AI edits and filters are now rejected
This is the most significant change to US passport photo requirements in recent years, and it catches many applicants off guard. Since January 2026, the US Department of State explicitly rejects passport photos that have been altered using AI tools or beauty filters of any kind.
The following types of edits are now grounds for automatic rejection:
- AI background removal and replacement: even if the resulting background appears white, the Department of State can detect that the background was digitally generated or swapped. You must photograph against a real white or off-white surface.
- Portrait mode blur / bokeh: the background must have natural depth, not artificial blur applied by computational photography modes. Disable portrait mode before taking the photo.
- Skin smoothing and beauty filters: filters that smooth skin texture, remove blemishes, change skin tone, or otherwise alter facial appearance are rejected. The photo must represent your actual appearance.
- AI-generated photos: any photo that was generated or substantially altered by AI (including photo restoration tools that reconstruct facial features) is rejected.
This rule change directly affects many of the online "passport photo generator" tools that use AI to extract your face from any selfie, artificially brighten or smooth it, and composite it onto a white background. Those photos are now non-compliant.
Why SammaPix stays compliant
The SammaPix passport photo tool only crops and resizes your photo to meet the 2x2 inch and 600x600 pixel specifications. It does not apply any AI processing, does not alter your face, does not smooth your skin, and does not replace or generate the background. Your photo is your photo, resized to spec. That is all. No alterations means no rejection under the January 2026 rules.
The practical implication: take a plain photo against a real white wall, transfer it to your computer, and use a compliant cropping tool. Do not run it through your phone's AI photo enhancement, do not use an app that "auto-corrects" your face for documents, and do not take the photo in portrait mode.
File size limits by application type
The file size requirement varies by how you are submitting your application, and confusing these is a common cause of upload failures.
| Application type | File size | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Online passport renewal | 54 KB to 10 MB | JPEG only |
| Visa application (DS-160) | Max 240 KB | JPEG only |
| DV Lottery (diversity visa) | Max 240 KB | JPEG only |
| In-person passport application | Printed 2x2 inch photo | Physical print, matte or glossy |
If your photo exceeds the 240 KB limit for visa or DV Lottery applications, use the SammaPix compress tool to reduce the file size. You can target an exact KB ceiling and the tool will find the right JPEG quality to match. It runs entirely in your browser so the photo stays on your device.
For online renewal specifically, the minimum file size of 54 KB catches people who have compressed their photo too aggressively. A 600x600 JPEG at around 85% quality typically lands between 80 and 150 KB, well within the window. If you have compressed down to 40 KB trying to save space, the portal will reject your upload.
Free tool: no upload, no signup, no AI edits
Crop and resize your passport photo to 2x2 spec now
Step by step: make your passport photo free online
Here is the exact process to go from a smartphone photo to a compliant US passport photo, for free, without uploading your image to any server.
Take the photo correctly
Stand 2 to 3 feet in front of a white or off-white wall. Use natural window light or even, front-facing room lighting. Turn off portrait mode on your phone. Remove glasses. Look directly at the camera with a neutral expression, mouth closed. Have someone else take the photo so you can stand straight with your full face and top of shoulders visible.
Open the passport photo tool
Go to sammapix.com/tools/passport-photo and select the US 2x2 preset. Drop in your photo from your device. The tool loads it locally in your browser: nothing is transmitted to any server.
Crop with the face guide overlay
Position the crop frame so your chin sits just below the bottom guide line and your crown sits just below the top guide line. Your face should occupy between 50% and 69% of the total frame height. Adjust the crop until the placement looks centered and natural.
Export at 600x600 pixels
Download the cropped photo at 600x600 pixels. Check the file size. A typical JPEG at this size lands between 80 and 200 KB, which fits comfortably within the online renewal window of 54 KB to 10 MB.
Compress if needed for visa or DV Lottery
If your application type requires a maximum of 240 KB (visa or DV Lottery), open the SammaPix compress tool and target 200 KB to leave a safe margin. Again, everything runs in your browser.
Verify at travel.state.gov before submitting
Use the official photo tool at travel.state.gov to check your photo against current requirements before uploading. This guide reflects requirements as of August 2026, but government specifications can change.
Most common reasons passport photos are rejected
Even applicants who follow most of the rules still get rejected because of specific, avoidable mistakes. Here are the most frequent rejection reasons, based on guidance from the US Department of State:
Face too small or too large
The most common technical rejection. Face from chin to crown must be between 1 and 1 3/8 inches in a printed 2x2 photo. Too many people crop tight on the shoulders and leave too much headroom above the crown.
Background with shadows
A visible shadow on the background behind or beside the head causes automatic rejection. Stand away from the wall and use diffuse front lighting to eliminate shadows.
Glasses in the frame
No glasses have been allowed since 2016. This includes reading glasses, sunglasses, and prescription lenses. Remove all eyewear before taking the photo.
Portrait mode blur on the background
Since January 2026, artificially blurred backgrounds are rejected. Disable portrait mode before shooting. The background must have natural depth.
AI-enhanced skin or features
Beauty filters applied automatically by phone cameras (common on many Android and iPhone models) smooth skin texture. Disable all automatic enhancements in your camera app settings before shooting.
File too small or wrong format
PNG, HEIC, and WebP files are not accepted. The file must be JPEG. Photos below 54 KB (for online renewal) will be rejected at the upload portal.
Photo not taken recently enough
The photo must reflect your current appearance and be taken within the last 6 months. Using an old photo that looks good but is 2 years old is grounds for rejection.
Related tools and guides
FAQ
What size is a US passport photo?
A US passport photo must be exactly 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 millimeters), printed as a square. For digital submissions through the online renewal portal, the image must be between 600 x 600 and 1200 x 1200 pixels, in JPEG format. The square format is mandatory at every submission type.
What pixel size should my passport photo be?
For online passport renewal, the photo must be between 600 x 600 and 1200 x 1200 pixels. A 600x600 JPEG is the safe default that meets the minimum without exceeding the maximum. For visa applications and the DV Lottery, the same pixel range applies but the file must be no larger than 240 KB.
Does the passport photo background have to be white?
Yes. The background must be plain white or off-white with no patterns, textures, shadows, or gradients. As of January 2026, AI-generated or AI-replaced backgrounds are explicitly rejected, even when the replacement looks white. You must photograph against a real white or off-white surface, not a digitally generated one.
Can I use an AI-edited or beauty-filtered photo for my US passport?
No. Since January 2026, the US Department of State rejects any passport photo that has been altered by AI tools, beauty filters, skin smoothing, portrait blur, or AI background replacement. The photo must be an unaltered representation of your actual appearance. The SammaPix tool only crops and resizes your photo to spec without touching your face or background.
What is the file size limit for US passport photos?
For online passport renewal, the file must be a JPEG between 54 KB and 10 MB. For visa applications and the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery, the maximum is 240 KB. If your photo exceeds the limit, use the SammaPix compress tool to reduce the file size while keeping the image within the pixel dimensions.
Is the SammaPix passport photo tool free? Does it upload my photo?
The tool is completely free. Your photo is never uploaded to any server. All processing happens locally in your browser using client-side JavaScript. This is especially important for passport and ID photos that contain your personal likeness. Nothing is stored, transmitted, or retained after you close the browser tab.
Important: passport photo requirements are set by government agencies and can change without notice. Always verify the current official requirements at travel.state.gov before submitting any application. This guide reflects requirements as of August 2026 and is intended for informational purposes only.
