US passport photo requirements (2026)
The official U.S. passport photo rules from the Department of State — size, head position, background and more — explained clearly. Then pre-check the measurable parts of your own photo for free.
The specs at a glance
| Photo size | 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm) |
| Export resolution (tool output) | 600×600px · 300 DPI; paper applications still require a 2×2 in print |
| Head height | 50–69% of photo (1 to 1⅜ in, chin to crown) |
| Eye height | 56–69% from the bottom |
| Background | Plain white or off-white |
| Expression | Neutral expression or natural smile, both eyes open |
Do
- Use a photo taken within the last 6 months
- Face the camera directly with a neutral expression
- Keep both eyes open and your mouth closed
- Use a plain white or off-white background
- Wear everyday clothing
Don’t
- No glasses (banned since November 2016)
- No hats or head coverings (except religious or medical)
- No uniforms or camouflage
- No shadows on your face or the background
- No filters, and no other people in the frame
How CheckPassportPhoto checks each rule
Our free passport photo checker measures head height and eye position, detects tilt and camera-facing pose, checks open eyes and a closed mouth, samples the background, and estimates sharpness — all in your browser. It can crop or resize for a paper application while preserving the original background. Shadows, photo age, and edit history remain recommendations for human review.
Source: U.S. passport photo requirements. CheckPassportPhoto is an independent tool and is not affiliated with the U.S. government.