U.S. passport photo checker

Choose the passport route you are using before selecting your photo. The tool starts with online renewal; switch to printed photo if you are applying with a paper form. The route-specific requirements and limits of the checks appear below the tool.

Online renewal or a printed photo?

Online renewal uses a digital photo. The Department of State’s upload instructions explain that you can reposition or crop the photo inside the government application. An employee reviews it after submission. Keep your original image for that process.

For a paper application, review the passport photo requirements for printing. Once your original photo has the required proportions, the passport photo print sheet can arrange it for printing.

Common reasons to take another photo

The Department of State’s passport photo examples identify shadows, textured backgrounds, poor framing and blurred or pixelated images as problems. A photo can also have a clear face but still be unsuitable because digital changes alter the image.

For online renewal, do not photograph a printed photo or scan one to create the upload. The digital-photo guidance calls for the original digital image without filters or retouching.

Retake the capture instead of editing the background

Use even light, keep your head centered and fully visible, and use a plain white or off-white background. This checker does not check background color; it only estimates whether the background is uniform, so confirm the color yourself. If shadows or objects spoil the capture, change the lighting or setting and take another photo. The official retake guidance says to fix the lighting and background rather than digitally changing the picture.

For a printed submission, use matte or glossy photo-quality paper and replace a damaged or visibly pixelated print. These are official print instructions, not a claim that this checker can inspect paper or verify every requirement.

Our free photo tools process photos in your browser, on your device. The tools do not upload your photos.

The tool’s “likely compliant” outcome is not an official decision. The authority decides whether the photo meets its requirements.

U.S. passport — online renewal

Official source: U.S. Department of State

Last reviewed:

Requirements for this route

Submission
Digital
File formats
JPEG, PNG, HEIC, HEIF
Minimum file size (bytes)
54,000
Maximum file size (bytes)
10,000,000
Minimum length of each side (pixels)
No rule recorded in this profile
Maximum length of each side (pixels)
No rule recorded in this profile
Square image (width equals height)
No rule recorded in this profile
Printed photo size
No print size recorded for this route
Head height, top of hair to bottom of chin (% of image height)
not checked for this document
Eye line from bottom (% of image height)
not checked for this document
Background colors
Color is not checked; consult the official source for background color.
Uniform background
Required

Measured checks

Measured checks produce pass or fail findings.

  • File format
  • File size
  • Number of faces
  • Head centering
  • Head tilt

Estimated visual checks

Estimated checks produce pass or review warnings, rather than failures.

  • Background uniformity
  • Pose
  • Blur
  • Exposure
  • Open eyes
  • Eyeglasses

Not checked

  • Pixel dimensions
  • Aspect ratio
  • Head height
  • Eye-line position
  • Background color

Editing rules

  • Cropping: Upload the original, unedited photo. If needed, crop or reposition it in the government application.
  • Background replacement: not allowed.
  • Retouching: not allowed.

U.S. passport — printed photo

Official source: U.S. Department of State

Last reviewed:

Requirements for this route

Submission
Print
File formats
No digital file rules recorded for this print route
Printed photo size
2 × 2 inches
Head height, top of hair to bottom of chin (% of image height)
50–68.75 %
Eye line from bottom (% of image height)
56.25–68.75 %
Background colors
Color is not checked; consult the official source for background color.
Uniform background
Required

Measured checks

Measured checks produce pass or fail findings.

  • Aspect ratio
  • Number of faces
  • Head height
  • Eye-line position
  • Head centering
  • Head tilt

Estimated visual checks

Estimated checks produce pass or review warnings, rather than failures.

  • Background uniformity
  • Pose
  • Blur
  • Exposure
  • Open eyes
  • Eyeglasses

Not checked

  • File format
  • File size
  • Pixel dimensions
  • Background color

Editing rules

  • Cropping: You may trim or crop the print to 2 × 2 inches only. No other edits are allowed.
  • Background replacement: not allowed.
  • Retouching: not allowed.