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2"×2" Rules verified Sep 30, 2026 US passport photo: size, rules and free checker
A US passport photo is 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm), in colour, taken in the last 6 months, with your head 1 to 1 3/8 inches from chin to top. Plain white or off-white background, no glasses, neutral face or a closed-mouth smile. Take it at home and we check every rule.
Phone camera, webcam, or upload a photo you already have
- Cropped to size and checked against every official rule
- Pay only once it passes · Digital $11.99
- Accepted or your money back, for photo reasons. Terms
Top of head Chin 1 – 1 3/8 in US passport photo requirements
The official rules at a glance. We check each of them on your photo.
| Photo size | 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm), printed |
|---|---|
| Head size | 1 to 1 3/8 in (25–35 mm), chin to top of head |
| Background | Plain white or off-white, no shadows, texture or objects |
| Colour, on matte or glossy photo paper | |
| Glasses | Not allowed, unless medically needed (signed statement) |
| Expression | Neutral or a natural closed-mouth smile, both eyes open |
| Head covering | Religious or medical only, with a signed statement; one colour, full face visible |
| Taken | In the last 6 months |
Verified against Passport photos - travel.state.gov on Sep 30, 2026.
What PassportOwl does
A photo booth in your pocket, with the official rules built in.
An owl coach while you shoot
Live tips on distance, light and head position, then the photo takes itself when everything lines up.
Every official rule checked
Background, head size, eye line, shadows, glasses and expression, measured against the government’s own numbers.
The exact file, ready to use
Cropped to the official size, plus a 4×6 sheet to print at a store when the document needs prints, or prints mailed to you.
How to take it at home
About two minutes, with your phone or computer.
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Stand in front of a plain wall
White or off-white, with even light from a window in front of you. A white sheet works if your wall is coloured.
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Let the owl coach you
Your phone or webcam checks distance, tilt, light and expression live, then takes the photo when everything is green. Someone else can hold the phone (helper mode).
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We check every rule
We crop it to the official size and check it against each US passport rule. If something fails, you see why and retake it, free.
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Pay only when it passes
Download the file right away. You see the result before you pay.
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Print it for under $1, or get it mailed
You get a 4×6 sheet with your 2×2 photos to print at any Walgreens or CVS photo counter, or we mail 4 prints to you.
What gets a photo rejected
Officials check these. Most rejected photos break one of them.
- Colour, sharp, not grainy or pixelated
- Printed on matte or glossy photo paper; no photocopies or scans
- Face the camera, head not tilted
- Both eyes open, mouth closed
- No filters, retouching or AI edits
- No red eye
- Even lighting, no shadows on the face
- No uniforms or camouflage; no headphones
- Infants: on a plain white or off-white sheet, no other person visible; eyes may be closed
Price
You see the result first and pay only when it passes. No subscription.
Digital photo
$11.99
The photo file plus a 4×6 sheet to print at a store
- Retakes free for 60 days
- Accepted or your money back, for photo reasons.
Digital + 4 prints mailed
$16.95
Everything in Digital, and we mail 4 printed photos to you
At a store, for comparison
- Walgreens $16.99
- CVS $17.99
- USPS $15.00
- Walmart $7.64
From each store's website; prices vary by store. Checked Oct 4, 2026.
Made for
Your photo stays private
- No account needed
- Photos deleted 72 hours after upload
- Never used to train AI, never sold
- Payments handled by Stripe; we never see your card number
- An independent service, not affiliated with any government agency
Questions
Can I take my own passport photo at home?
Yes. The State Department accepts photos from anyone, including a friend or family member, as long as the photo meets the rules. Stand a few feet from the camera; holding the phone at arm’s length distorts the face, so prop it up or ask someone to help.
Can I smile in a US passport photo?
A natural smile is fine, as long as your mouth is closed and both eyes are open. A neutral face is safest.
Can I wear glasses?
No. Glasses have not been allowed since 2016, unless you can’t remove them for medical reasons, in which case you include a signed doctor’s statement.
What size is the head in a 2x2 photo?
From the bottom of the chin to the top of the head (including hair), 1 to 1 3/8 inches, which is 25 to 35 mm. We crop your photo so it lands inside that range.
Where can I print a passport photo?
Order a 4×6 print of the sheet we give you at a Walgreens or CVS photo counter, usually ready in about an hour for under $1, then cut along the lines. Turn off any crop or fill option so the photos keep their size.
Can I use the same photo to renew online?
Online renewal needs a digital file, not a print. Choose “US online passport renewal photo” and we make the file the online form accepts.
What about a baby’s passport photo?
Babies follow the same rules, but their eyes may be partly closed. Lay them on a plain white sheet with no one else in the photo. Our baby mode guides you.
What if my photo is rejected?
If a passport office rejects it for a photo-compliance reason, we refund you in full and make you a new photo free.
How long does it take?
About two minutes to take the photo. The check takes a few seconds, and your file is ready to download as soon as you pay.
Do I pay before I see the photo?
No. You take the photo, we check it, and you see the result first. You pay only once it passes.
Can I retake the photo later?
Yes. Retakes are free for 60 days after you buy, from the link in your receipt.
Can I use my computer instead of my phone?
Yes. Use your webcam, upload a photo you already have, or scan the code to continue on your phone.
What happens to my photo?
It is deleted 72 hours after you upload it, together with every file made from it. It is never used to train AI and never sold.
How can I pay?
With a card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, through Stripe. We never see your card number.
Is PassportOwl a government website?
No. PassportOwl is an independent service, not affiliated with the U.S. Department of State or any government agency. You submit the photo with your application yourself.
Guides
Other US photos
Ready in about two minutes
See the result for free. Pay only when it passes.
Take your photo