Photo size
For a printed U.S. passport photo, the physical photo is 2 x 2 inches, or 51 x 51 mm.
Background and editing
Use a plain white or off-white background when taking the original photo. Do not rely on software or AI to replace it.
Pose and framing
Face the camera directly and follow current official framing guidance.
Independent tool
2x2 Picture Size is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of State.
Current paper-passport photo checklist
| Check | Current U.S. guidance |
|---|---|
| Photo age | Color photo taken within the last 6 months. |
| Printed size | 2 x 2 inches, or 51 x 51 mm. |
| Head size | About 1 to 1 3/8 inches, or 25 to 35 mm, from chin to top of head. |
| Background | Plain white or off-white, without shadows, textures or objects. |
| Appearance | Original, unedited photo without filters or digital changes to appearance. |
Why this site stays conservative
Identity-photo tools can easily cross from resizing into altering the underlying image. This site intentionally avoids beauty filters, face reshaping and synthetic background replacement for passport mode. The cropper helps with dimensions and framing while leaving the original appearance intact.
Use the receiving authority as the final source
Document-photo rules can change. Use this site to prepare dimensions and catch common image problems, then verify the latest requirements on the official website for the document you are submitting.