U.S. Passport Photo Requirements

Your two passport photos must be:

• 2x2 inches in size
• Identical
• Taken within the past 6 months, showing current appearance
• Color (NOTE: Black and white photos are no longer accepted.)
• Full face, front view with a plain white or off-white background
• Between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head
• Taken in normal street attire

NOTE: Vending machine photos are not generally acceptable

Passport Photo FAQ

What type of paper are the photographs to be printed on?

The photos should be printed on thin photo-quality paper.

Can hats or religious headgear be worn for the passport photo?

Unless worn daily for religious reasons, all hats or headgear should be removed for the photo. In all cases, no item or attire should cover or otherwise obscure any part of the face.

Can work uniforms be worn for the passport photo?

Uniforms should not be worn in photographs except in the case of religious attire that is worn daily. Otherwise, normal street attire should be worn.

Can eyeglasses be worn for the passport photo?

Eyeglasses worn on a daily basis can be worn for the photo. However, there should be no reflections from the eyeglasses that obscures the eyes.

Can sunglasses or tinted glasses be worn for the passport photo?

Dark glasses or nonprescription glasses with tinted lenses are not acceptable unless you need them for medical reasons. A medical certificate may be required.

Can a parent or guardian appear in the passport photo of a minor child?

No, the minor child must be the only subject in the photo. Nothing used to support the minor child, whether by mechanical or human means, should be in the camera's frame.

Are photos that are copied from recent driver licenses or other official documents acceptable?

No, only original photographs are acceptable. Copied or digitally scanned photos of photos will not be accepted. In addition, photos must not be retouched to alter the customer's appearance in any way.

May photos be taken with a digital camera?

If the digital camera has sufficient resolution — capable of capturing and storing images with 1 million pixels (megapixels) or more — it can be used to take the photos. However, printing of digital images is best done by professional photography processing labs because many off-the-shelf digital printers cannot achieve the image-quality required for passport and visa photographs. In any case, the image-quality criteria, described on this website, must be met in the submitted conventional film photo and/or the digital image printed photo.

If you need to get your passport fast and want to apply online to have it expedited, How to Get a New Passport

How to Get a New Passport

Need to get a new passport? You'll find the requirements below and tips to help you apply for your travel document without a hitch but, first, verify that a new passport is exactly what you need.

You should apply for a new passport if any one of the following apply.

you have never had a passport
your last passport expired and was issued more than 15 years ago
your previous passport has expired and it was issued when you were under 16
your most recent US passport was lost or stolen
your most recent US passport was severely damaged

Requirements to apply for a new passport.

Complete passport application Form DS-11 (Right click + "Save as" to download.)
Provide proof of citizenship.
Provide proof of identity.
Provide two (2) passport photos.
Take all documents and payment to an application acceptance office.
Show the acceptance agent your social security number.
Make proper payment.

Tips for Applying for a New Passport

First of all, do not sign your application form until you are in the presence of the passport acceptance agent. The agent must witness the signing.

Make sure you have gathered all the necessary documents and that each document is within the standards set by the U.S. Department of State Passport Services. For example, you cannot use a memeographed copy of your birth certificate as proof of citizenship.

You will pay the passport application fee and the security surcharge to the ''U.S. Department of State'' and the execution fee to the facility where you are applying. Not all acceptance facilities accept personal checks so be sure to contact them to find out what form of payment they do accept.

If you need to get your passport fast and want to apply online to have it expedited, visit It's Easy Passport.

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