US Passport Photo Requirements: Size, Glasses, Smile & Visa Photos
Passport Photo Guide · United States
A US passport photo is 2 by 2 inches, with your head measuring 1 to 1⅜ inches from chin to top. You submit one color photo, glasses come off, and a natural smile is fine.
Last checked against US Department of State guidance on October 14, 2026.
US passport photo requirements
| Requirement | What the State Department asks for |
|---|---|
| Size | 2 by 2 inches (51 by 51 mm) |
| Head size | 1 to 1⅜ inches (25 to 35 mm) from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head, with head and shoulders centred. Hair may extend past the edges |
| Number | 1 color photo |
| Age of photo | Taken in the last 6 months |
| Background | White or off-white, plain, with no shadows, texture, objects or lines |
| Lighting | Even on the face, with accurate skin tones, no shadows, and not over- or underexposed |
| Expression | Face the camera with both eyes open and your mouth closed. A natural smile is allowed; avoid exaggerated expressions |
| Glasses | Not allowed. If you cannot remove them for medical reasons, include a signed note from your doctor |
| Hats | Not allowed, except head coverings worn for religious or medical reasons, with a signed statement |
| High resolution, printed on matte or glossy photo-quality paper. No photocopies or scans | |
| Editing | None. No software, phone apps, filters or AI changes. The State Department checks every photo |
ThisPix · Midtown Manhattan
Get your US passport photo in NYCWalk in Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. Professional lighting, the correct head size and prints on photo paper while you wait, plus a digital file by email if you are renewing online.
Book your passport photo212-753-4671What you can and cannot wear
Allowed
- A natural smile with your mouth closed
- Jewelry and facial piercings that do not hide your face
- Religious or medical head coverings, one color, with a signed statement
- Your everyday clothing
- Part of a wheelchair head support, with a note
Not allowed
- Eyeglasses, sunglasses or tinted glasses, even resting on your head
- Hats, face coverings or medical masks
- Uniforms, clothing that looks like a uniform, or camouflage
- Headphones or wireless hands-free devices
- Hair covering your eyes or face
Glare and frames can hide the colored part of your eyes, which must be clearly visible. The only exception is a medical one, and it needs a signed note from your doctor sent with your application.
Baby and toddler passport photos
- Background. Lay your child on a plain white or off-white sheet, or cover a car seat with the sheet and seat your child in it.
- Nobody else in the photo. No hands holding the baby, and nothing blocking the face, including a pacifier.
- Face and expression. The child faces the camera with a neutral expression and the full face visible, with no shadows.
- Eyes. It is acceptable if a baby's eyes are not entirely open. All other children must have their eyes open.
Common reasons photos are refused
The State Department says unacceptable photos are the number one reason passport applications are put on hold.
- Wearing glasses
- Head too large, too small or not centred
- Shadows on the face or the background
- A background that is not plain white or off-white
- Blurry, grainy or pixelated photos
- Photocopies, scans or home prints with printer dots
- Edited photos, filters, cropped backgrounds or AI changes
- Mouth open, eyes closed or head tilted
- Red eye or poor color
- Photos older than 6 months
Renewing online
Eligible US citizens can renew online at the State Department's official site, opr.travel.state.gov, and upload a digital passport photo instead of mailing a print. The same photo rules apply: original, unedited, and taken in the last 6 months.
- Who can renew online. You are 25 or older, your current passport was valid for 10 years and expires within a year or expired less than 5 years ago, and your name and sex are not changing.
- Timing. You are in the US when you apply and not travelling for at least 6 weeks. Online renewals cannot be expedited.
- Fees. Passport book $130, passport card $30, book and card $160. Optional 1 to 3 day delivery is $26.87.
- Use the official site only. Other websites that offer online renewal may be fraudulent and charge extra fees.
ThisPix can email you the digital file of your passport photo, so you can upload the same professionally lit photo to your online renewal.
US visa photos
Visa photos follow almost the same rules as passport photos, with two differences: the expression must be neutral, and the number of photos depends on the visa.
| Passport | Visa | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 2 × 2 in | 2 × 2 in for prints |
| Head size | 1 to 1⅜ in | 1 to 1⅜ in, or 50 to 69 percent of the image height |
| Expression | Natural smile allowed | Neutral, both eyes open |
| Glasses | Not allowed | Not allowed, except rare medical cases |
| Babies' eyes | May not be entirely open | Eyes open |
| Photos | 1 print | DS-160: digital upload, and some consulates ask for 1 print. DS-260 immigrant visa: 2 identical prints. Diversity Visa entry: 600 × 600 pixel JPEG, 240 kB or less |
When you need a new passport photo
You only need a new passport if your appearance has changed significantly, such as major facial surgery or trauma, adding or removing many large facial piercings or tattoos, or significant weight loss or gain. Growing a beard, coloring your hair and normal aging do not count.
Since 1986
US passport, visa and green card photosFor 40 years ThisPix has photographed New Yorkers for passports and visas, with professional lighting that keeps shadows off your face and the background.
Get your photo at ThisPix212-753-4671Questions, answered
What size is a US passport photo?
2 by 2 inches (51 by 51 mm). Your head must measure 1 to 1⅜ inches (25 to 35 mm) from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head.
Can I smile in a US passport photo?
Yes. A natural smile is allowed as long as both eyes are open and your mouth is closed. Visa photos are different: they need a neutral expression.
Can I wear glasses in a passport photo?
No. Take off eyeglasses, sunglasses and tinted glasses. If you cannot remove them for medical reasons, send a signed note from your doctor with your application.
How many passport photos do I need?
One color photo, taken in the last 6 months. ThisPix prints a set of two, so you have a spare.
Can I wear earrings or keep my piercings?
Yes, jewelry and facial piercings are fine as long as they do not hide your face. Headphones and wireless earbuds are not allowed.
What if my baby's eyes are closed?
For a baby, it is acceptable if the eyes are not entirely open. Older children must have their eyes open. No other person, hands or pacifier may appear in the photo.
Can I use the same photo for a US visa?
Often, but not always. Visa photos need a neutral expression rather than a smile, and most visa applications ask for a digital image uploaded with the form.
Where can I get a passport photo in Midtown Manhattan?
At ThisPix, 805 3rd Avenue, 2nd Floor, at East 50th Street. Walk in Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM, and leave with your prints, plus a digital file if you need one.
Sources. Requirements change, so always confirm with the US Department of State before you apply. Last checked October 14, 2026.