U.S. Passport Photo Requirements 2026: Online and 2×2 Print Rules

The short answer: U.S. passport photo rules depend on the application route. Online renewal uses an original digital photo that you upload, reposition, and crop inside the official State Department application. A paper application uses one printed 2×2 inch (51×51 mm) colour photo. Both routes require a recent, clear, unedited photo taken against a real plain white or off-white background.

The State Department updated its online-photo guidance on May 4, 2026 and its paper-photo guidance on March 24, 2026. This guide separates those two official workflows because a 2×2 print specification is not the same thing as an online file requirement.

Use the free U.S. passport file checker to check the original file type and file size. PhotoPass does not crop or alter U.S. passport photos, assess visual compliance, or submit applications. Renew only on the official State Department .gov website.

Quick answers to common U.S. passport photo questions

What clothing can I wear in a U.S. passport photo?

Wear normal everyday clothing. Do not wear a uniform, clothing that looks like a uniform, or camouflage. Remove glasses and hats; documented religious or medical head coverings are limited exceptions, and your full face must remain visible.

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

Yes. A natural smile is allowed if your mouth is closed, your eyes are open, and you face the camera directly. Avoid showing teeth or using an exaggerated expression.

Can I take a U.S. passport photo with my phone?

Yes. A phone camera is acceptable, including for online renewal. Keep the original file, stand several feet from the camera, and do not use portrait effects, filters, retouching, or AI edits. Do not scan or photograph a printed photo for an online application.

What are the new U.S. passport photo rules for 2026?

The current guidance explicitly requires an original, unchanged photo and prohibits software, phone-app filters, retouching, and AI changes. Online renewal accepts JPG, JPEG, PNG, HEIC, or HEIF files from 54 KB to 10 MB and lets you reposition and crop the original inside the official application.

Choose the requirements for your application route

Route	What photo you provide	Where cropping happens
Online renewal	One original digital photo file	Inside the official online application
Paper form by mail or in person	One printed 2×2 inch colour photo	The print must already meet the printed-photo template

If you are unsure which route applies, review the State Department's current online-renewal eligibility rules. Only the official application at opr.travel.state.gov can accept an online renewal; third-party websites cannot submit or sign one for you.

Continue with the guide that matches your question: learn how to take your own original photo, diagnose why U.S. passport photos get rejected, measure a 2×2 printed head size, or understand the official online photo tool. If you prefer an in-person capture, compare digital-copy options from USPS, CVS, and Walgreens.

The original-photo and digital-editing rule

The State Department tells applicants to submit an original, unchanged photo. Do not use filters, retouching, beauty tools, AI tools, or software that changes your appearance. Its online guidance also says not to digitally remove or replace the background; if the background or lighting is wrong, retake the photo.

What this means in practice:

• Background: Photograph yourself against a real plain white or off-white wall. If your background is the wrong colour, shadowed, or cluttered, fix the lighting and retake the photo — do not use software or AI to swap the background. Review this visually yourself because the PhotoPass U.S. checker does not inspect the background.
• Cropping for online renewal: Upload the original file and use the repositioning and crop controls inside the official application. The standalone State Department photo tool is for paper applications, not online renewal.
• Skin smoothing, blemish removal, or beauty filters: Not allowed. Even minor retouching that changes your natural appearance is grounds for rejection. The photo must show your face as it appears in person.
• AI-generated or AI-edited images: Not allowed. The State Department says its system checks photos for AI and asks applicants not to use AI tools to change the image.
• A blurry or low-resolution source: Retake it. Do not try to manufacture missing detail with enhancement or upscaling software.

Online-renewal eligibility in 2026

Photo requirements are only one part of eligibility. As of July 21, 2026, the State Department says you may use online renewal only if all of its conditions apply, including:

• Your most recent passport was valid for 10 years and you were at least 25 when it was issued.
• It expires within one year or expired less than five years ago.
• You are not changing your name, sex, date or place of birth.
• You are not traveling for at least six weeks from the date you submit.
• You are applying from the United States and have the passport in your possession; it is not damaged, lost, or stolen.

Online renewal requires a digital upload, not a printed photo. The government application checks basic requirements and lets you upload another image if it finds a problem. A State Department employee still reviews the photo after submission.

Paper U.S. passport photo requirements

For a DS-11 application or a renewal submitted with a paper form, follow the State Department's printed-photo requirements:

Property	Requirement
Quantity	One colour photo
Print size	2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm)
Background	Real plain white or off-white; no shadows, texture, lines, or objects
Head height (chin to crown)	1 inch to 1⅜ inches (25–35 mm) — 50–69% of frame height
Recency	Taken within the last 6 months
Expression	Neutral expression or natural smile; eyes open, mouth closed, facing the camera
Eyes	Both open, looking directly at camera, no red-eye
Glasses	Not allowed except in a rare medical case supported by a signed doctor's note
Head coverings	Only for religious or medical reasons, with the required signed statement; the full face must remain visible
Editing	Original, unchanged photo; no filters, retouching, AI, or digitally created background

Digital photo requirements for online renewal

If you renew through the official application at opr.travel.state.gov, upload the original digital photo instead of a print. Do not photograph or scan a printed photo. The online system lets you reposition and crop the original and checks basic requirements before submission.

The current online guidance does not publish a 600×600-to-1,200×1,200 requirement. That pixel range is repeated by older third-party guides, but it is not on the State Department's current digital-photo page.

Property	Online renewal requirement
Accepted file types	JPG, JPEG, PNG, HEIC, or HEIF
File size	54 KB minimum, 10 MB maximum
Source	Original colour photo taken within the last 6 months
Crop	Upload the original; reposition and crop it inside the official application
Background	Real plain white or off-white; do not digitally remove or replace it
Review	Basic system check during upload, followed by review by a State Department employee

A common mistake is forwarding the image through a messaging app, which can compress or alter the original file. Upload directly from the camera roll or download the original from your photo library. Do not submit a screenshot, a photo of a print, or a scan.

The head size calculation — why it trips people up

For a printed 2×2 inch photo, the State Department requires the head to measure between 1 inch and 1⅜ inches (25–35 mm) from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head. The official paper-photo template describes that as roughly 50–69% of the photo height.

The confusion: "crown" means the top of your skull, not the top of your hair. Photographers sometimes frame the shot so the top of your hair fills the frame — this can push the head size ratio above 69% even if the hair makes the head appear centered. What gets measured is bone, not hair.

For online renewal, do not force the original into a pre-cropped square. Leave enough room around the head and shoulders, then use the official application's repositioning and crop controls. The head-size guide explains how to compare a paper photo with the official template.

The glasses ban: still catching people in 2026

Since November 1, 2016, no glasses are allowed in US passport photos — not prescription glasses, not reading glasses, not clear frames, not contact lenses that change eye color. The ban is total. The only exception requires a signed statement from a physician confirming that the glasses cannot be removed due to a recent medical procedure.

People who were issued a passport before 2016 and wore glasses in their previous photo sometimes assume the rule has not changed. It has. Their next renewal photo must not include glasses.

If you wore glasses, retake the photo without them rather than trying to remove frames in software. For the full rule and medical exception, see Glasses in Passport Photos.

Problems shown in the State Department's rejection examples

The State Department says unacceptable photos are the number-one reason passport applications are put on hold. It does not publish a ranked breakdown of individual photo problems, so treat the following as a diagnostic checklist rather than a frequency ranking:

1. Incorrect framing. A paper photo can fail if the head falls outside the printed template. An online photo can fail if the original leaves too little room for the application's crop.
2. Glasses. Remove glasses before capture unless you have the rare medical exception and required signed note.
3. Shadows on the face or background. Shadows caused by a single overhead light source, standing too close to the wall, or off-center lighting cause rejection. Stand at least 2 feet from the background and use diffused frontal lighting (a large window facing you is ideal).
4. Wrong or edited background. Use a real plain white or off-white background with no texture or objects. If it is not compliant, correct the setup and retake rather than replacing it digitally.
5. Photo older than 6 months. The date the photo was taken must be within 6 months of the application submission date. If your application is delayed and you resubmit later, you may need a new photo.
6. Retouching or filters applied. Skin smoothing, blemish removal, skin tone correction, and color filters are all prohibited. The photo must represent your natural appearance. AI beauty filters that come built into many phone cameras should be turned off before taking the photo.
7. Low resolution or blurry. Facial details must be clear. Use a stable camera and even light, and retake rather than sharpening a poor original with software.

How to take a compliant US passport photo at home in 2026

1. Turn off filters, beauty mode, and portrait effects. Use the standard camera mode and keep the original file.
2. Use the rear camera, not the selfie camera. Rear cameras on modern smartphones are 12–200 megapixels. Selfie cameras are lower resolution and use a wide-angle lens that slightly distorts facial geometry. Prop your phone or have someone take the photo.
3. Set up a white background. A plain white wall, a white bedsheet hung taut, or a large white posterboard behind you. Stand at least 2 feet (60 cm) from the background to prevent your shadow from falling on it.
4. Use a window for lighting. Face a large window with indirect daylight — not direct sunlight. The window should be in front of you, not behind you. This gives you even, shadow-free illumination across your entire face. Turn off all other lights in the room to avoid color mixing.
5. Remove glasses, hats, and headphones. Remove everything before you take the photo. Do not take the photo and then try to digitally remove glasses afterward.
6. Use a neutral expression or natural closed-mouth smile. Look directly into the camera lens, keep both eyes open, and do not show teeth or use an exaggerated expression.
7. Check the original before applying. Use the free PhotoPass checker for file type and file size without altering the image, and complete the visual checklist yourself. For online renewal, upload the same original file and crop only inside the official application. For a paper form, compare the finished 2×2 print with the State Department template.

DS-11 vs. DS-82: which form requires which photo format

• DS-11: Apply in person and submit one printed 2×2 inch photo.
• DS-82 by mail: Attach one printed 2×2 inch photo to the form as instructed.
• Online renewal: Upload one original digital photo through opr.travel.state.gov. No printed photo is needed for that route.

The appearance rules overlap, but the deliverables differ: paper applications use a measured 2×2 print, while online renewal uses the original digital file and the government's built-in crop.

Frequently asked questions

Can I just swap the background instead of retaking the photo?

No — not for a US passport photo. The State Department's guidance is to use a real plain white or off-white background, and if your background is wrong, to fix the lighting and retake the photo rather than change it with software or AI. Don't rely on a background-swap to rescue a photo shot against a coloured or cluttered wall; retake it against a genuinely white wall. PhotoPass does not inspect the background or framing, replace the background, or alter your appearance.

Can I use a photo taken on my phone if I had a beauty filter on?

No. If you took the photo with a beauty filter, skin smoothing, or portrait enhancement active, the photo is not compliant. You need to retake it with those features turned off. You cannot remove the effect in post-processing after the fact.

Can I renew my passport online in 2026?

You may qualify if your passport was valid for 10 years, you were at least 25 when it was issued, it expires within one year or expired less than five years ago, and you meet every other condition on the State Department page. You must be in the United States, have the undamaged passport, make no personal-information changes, and have no travel for at least six weeks. Confirm eligibility at travel.state.gov and submit only through opr.travel.state.gov.

What if the online renewal portal rejects my photo?

The application checks basic requirements during upload and tells you if you need a different photo. Follow the message and upload another original. Passing that check is not final approval: a State Department employee reviews the photo after you submit.

How long does it take to get a US passport in 2026?

As of July 21, 2026, the State Department lists routine processing at 4–6 weeks and expedited processing at 2–3 weeks for an additional $60. Online renewal does not offer expedited service. Mailing time is separate, and processing estimates can change, so verify the current page before applying.

Does the photo on my current passport need to look like me now?

Your new application photo must have been taken within the last six months and must show your current appearance. Normal changes such as growing a beard or changing hair colour do not automatically require a new passport, but the new application photo still needs to be a clear, current likeness.

Check the original photo before you apply

Run the original through the free passport photo checker to check file type and file size, then review framing and lighting yourself against the State Department examples. If anything is wrong, retake the photo instead of editing it. Then submit through the official route: upload the original and crop in the online application, or use one correctly sized 2×2 print with your paper form.

Last reviewed: July 21, 2026. Sources: current U.S. Department of State passport-photo, digital-photo, and online-renewal guidance.