US Passport & Visa Photo Size & Maker

US Passport & Visa Photo requirements

• Square, at least 600 × 600 and at most 1200 × 1200 pixels, JPEG, 240 KB or less for online visa applications (DS-160).
• Head between 1 and 1⅜ inches (25–35 mm) from chin to top of head.
• Plain white or off-white background, neutral expression, both eyes open.
• No glasses (except for rare medical reasons); taken within the last 6 months.

How to take a good photo at home

• Stand about 1–2 m from a plain, light wall with even light from the front (a window works well); avoid shadows behind you.
• Ask someone to take the photo at eye level, with your head and the top of your shoulders in the frame.
• Look straight at the camera with a neutral expression and both eyes open; remove glasses and hats (religious head coverings are usually allowed if your face is fully visible).
• Drop the photo above; the tool centres and crops it to the right shape and size.

Printing your photo

To print, place the 600 × 600 pixel image on a 4 × 6 inch (10 × 15 cm) photo at 300 dpi and print it at a photo kiosk, then cut it to 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm). Many official applications now prefer the digital file, so check whether you need a print at all.

Official guidance

Always check the latest rules before you apply: US Department of State – Photo requirements (travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/photos.html).