Passport Photo Requirements Checker (2026)
Last updated: September 1, 2026
Upload your passport photo
Drop a 2×2 passport photo here. JPG, PNG, or WebP under 5 MB.
Choose imageChoose a photo, then click Analyze. Your image is reviewed against passport photo rules.
Do
- 2×2 inches, color, taken within six months
- Plain white background, even lighting
- Face the camera directly
Don't
- Glasses or tinted lenses
- Filters, shadows, or busy backgrounds
- Cropped drugstore strips without a proper 2×2 crop
Typical photo cost in our calculator: $15.00 (estimate, not a government fee). Calculate your passport cost. Need a readable ID copy? Try our ID photocopy checker. Need a 2×2 crop? Use the passport photo resize tool.
Photo specifications
| Size | 2×2 inches (51×51 mm), square crop |
|---|---|
| Head height | 1 to 1⅜ inches from chin to top of hair |
| Background | Plain white or off-white, no shadows |
| Recency | Taken within the last six months |
| Glasses | Not allowed |
| Expression | Neutral or natural smile, both eyes open |
Common rejection reasons
Glasses are the fastest fail, even with a prescription. Busy backgrounds, shadows behind your head, and cropped drugstore strips without a proper 2×2 square are next. Child photos fail when a parent's hands or face appear in frame. Digital uploads for online renewals follow the same proportions as printed photos.
Where to get passport photos
Pharmacies, warehouse clubs, and many post offices take passport photos for about $15.00. Some acceptance facilities offer photos on site at their own price. Online services can crop and ship prints if you follow their capture guide. Online photo services (sponsored) are optional. Ask when you book through where to apply.
Photo cost is an estimate, not a government fee. Add it in the calculator only if you still need a picture. Read the full photo requirements page and passport card cost if you are deciding book vs card.
Size, lighting, and composition
Head height should be 1 to 1⅜ inches from chin to top of hair in the final crop. The frame is square, not the rectangular strip from a drugstore booth unless staff crop to 2×2. Face the camera directly with both eyes open. Even, natural light beats overhead fluorescent glare. Shadows on the background wall behind your head fail as often as a colored bedsheet backdrop.
Infants and toddlers follow the same size rules with extra framing constraints. The child must be alone in the picture. No parent hands supporting the head unless official guidance for newborns applies. See our newborn passport guide if you are applying for a baby.
How to use this checker
Start with the upload tab if you already have a print or digital file. Choose your photo, click Analyze, and compare the results to the do and don't lists. Use the questionnaire tab for a rule-based pass or fail before you pay at a pharmacy or booth.
Answer each question honestly about the photo you plan to submit. A likely pass still means you should compare against the official photo page before you print or upload. For your ID photocopy, use the ID photocopy checker.
Frequently asked questions
Does this checker guarantee acceptance?
No. This is an unofficial guide. A clerk or the State Department makes the final call. Always read the official photo page before you submit.
Can I wear a religious head covering?
Yes, if worn daily for religious reasons and your full face is visible from hairline to chin with no shadows.
What does a rejected photo cost in time?
Processing pauses until you mail a compliant reprint, often adding weeks. Budget about $15.00 for a redo.
Are selfies allowed?
Only if they meet every size, background, and lighting rule. Most phone selfies fail because of shadows or busy backgrounds.
Add photo cost to your total
See application fees, execution, and optional expedite in one estimate.
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