United States Passport

Last verified 2026-04-25 against U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular AffairsStandards: ISO/IEC 19794-5 · ICAO Doc 9303

Government-spec dimensions, head positioning, and file constraints.

Pixel size
600 × 600 px
Print size
51 × 51 mm · 299 DPI
Background
white#FFFFFF
Face height
50–69% · target 60%
Eye line
56%–69% from bottom
File size limit
10 MB
51 mm · 600 px51 mm · 600 px
Face height: 50%–69% (target 60%)Eye line: 56%–69% (target 62%)

Note: Glasses not permitted; photo within last 6 months

Dimensions

  • Print size: 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm), aspect ratio 1:1 (square)
  • Pixel size: 600 × 600 px
  • DPI: 300 DPI (2 in × 300 DPI = 600 px)
  • File format / max file size: JPEG (.jpg); max 10 MB (form-dependent ceiling for online passport renewal upload)
  • Color mode: sRGB color only — no black-and-white or sepia
  • Paper: Matte or glossy photo-quality paper for printed submission

Head position

  • Head height (chin to top of head): 1 in to 1 3/8 in (25–35 mm)
  • Head height as fraction of frame: ≈ 50%–69% (notably smaller than ASEAN's 70–80%)
  • Eye line from bottom of frame: ≈ 1 1/8 in to 1 3/8 in, ≈ 56%–69% of frame height
  • Head position: Directly facing camera; no tilt or rotation
  • Shoulders: Square to camera, both visible

Background

  • Color: Plain white or off-white
  • Requirements: No shadows, no texture, no patterns, no objects, no other people behind the subject

Expression

  • Expression must be neutral, mouth closed; a natural smile is permitted as long as eyes remain open and mouth stays closed
  • Both eyes open, looking directly at camera
  • Head upright — no tilt or rotation
  • Hair must not cover the face

Accessories

  • Eyeglasses: NOT permitted. Glasses must be removed for the photo. A medical exception is possible only with a signed doctor's statement.
  • Sunglasses / tinted lenses: Prohibited
  • Religious head coverings: Permitted with a signed religious-accommodation statement; the full face from chin to forehead must be visible
  • Medical head coverings: Permitted with a signed doctor's statement
  • Hats / non-religious head coverings: Prohibited
  • Uniforms: Prohibited (including clothing that resembles a uniform, and camouflage)

Other rules

  • Photo must be taken within the last 6 months and reflect current appearance
  • No digital alterations: per State Department guidance, "Do not change your photo using computer software, phone apps or filters, or artificial intelligence"
  • No photocopies or scanned photos for printed submission
  • Photo must be free of holes, creases, or smudges
  • Color photo only

Notes

  • The 600 × 600 px / 300 DPI digital target is the equivalent of the authoritative 2 × 2 in print spec; the State Department's online passport tools accept the digital value, but the printed dimension remains the legal source of truth.
  • Head-height fraction (50%–69%) is meaningfully lower than ICAO biometric defaults (70%–80%) used by most ASEAN passports — do not reuse ASEAN ratios for U.S. passport crops.

Sources

Can I wear glasses in my U.S. passport photo?

No — eyeglasses are not permitted and must be removed for the photo. A medical exception is possible only with a signed doctor's statement. Sunglasses and tinted lenses are also prohibited.

Can I wear a head covering in the photo?

Religious head coverings are permitted with a signed religious- accommodation statement, and medical head coverings with a signed doctor's statement. The full face from chin to forehead must be visible. Hats and other non-religious head coverings are prohibited.

Can I smile in a U.S. passport photo?

A natural smile is permitted as long as your eyes stay open and your mouth stays closed. Neutral is the safest target.

How recent does the U.S. passport photo need to be?

The photo must be taken within the last six months and reflect your current appearance. Per State Department guidance, "Do not change your photo using computer software, phone apps or filters, or artificial intelligence."

What size and format does the State Department require?

Print size 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm); pixel target 600 × 600 px at 300 DPI; JPEG, sRGB, color only (no B&W or sepia); plain white or off-white background. The online passport renewal upload accepts up to 10 MB. Uniforms, camouflage, and clothing resembling a uniform are prohibited.

Credit card · 85.6 × 54 mmPrint · 51 x 51 mm
Visual proportions, not actual size — depends on viewport DPI.
03 — Compliance engine

Live validation
against the actual rulebook.

Every crop is measured against the published tolerance ranges for the selected document. Pass or warn, in real time — no "submit and hope."

VALIDATOR · US_PASSPORTALL CHECKS PASS
Dimensions
600 × 600 px
exact
600×600
Face height
50% – 69%
target 60%
60%
Eye line
56% – 69%
target 62%
62%
Background
white
ΔE < 3
#FFFFFF
File size
10 MB
JPEG q=92
182 KB
Sharpness
no motion blur
Laplacian var
1,284

The same checks the authority will run — before you submit.

  • Face height & eye line measured from the pupil midpoint with sub-pixel accuracy, clamped to the tolerance range your authority publishes.
  • Background colour checked across a sampled grid — catches gradients and fringe from poor segmentation (ΔE < 3 against spec).
  • File-size ceiling enforced per-spec — recompressed silently for sub-60 KB e-visa portals, lossless for print.
  • Sharpness & expression guards warn on blur, closed eyes, or non-neutral expressions before you export.

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