US Passport & Visa Photo Requirements
Last updated: July 21, 2026
The US Department of State uses the same photo specification for passports and most visa applications. It's a square photo, so the physical and digital versions share a simple 1:1 aspect ratio.
Photo Size
| Requirement | |
|---|---|
| Physical (print) | 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm) |
| Digital (upload) | 600 × 600 px (square, 1:1) |
600×600 px is the exact size our tool outputs, and it's a safe submission on its own. The State Department's own online passport-renewal photo page states a minimum of 600×600 px with no upper pixel dimension stated — a de facto "1200×1200 px" ceiling is commonly repeated by third-party photo tools, but we could not find that specific number on an official State Department page, so we're not presenting it as a confirmed government limit here. Either way, uploading larger than 600×600 causes no problem — a bigger, sharper photo can always be shrunk down cleanly, so there's no real ceiling to worry about.
Head Size
Chin to crown (including hair) must be 50–69% of the photo's height — about 25–35 mm on a 51 mm-tall print. Verified against the State Department's own Photo FAQ page: "your head should be between 50% and 69% of the image's total height."
Background Color
US requires a white or off-white background, free of shadows, texture, or objects — no other colors are accepted. Verified against the State Department's own photo requirements page.
Digital File Size
For the online passport renewal pathway (MyTravelGov/DS-82), the State Department's own page states the photo file must be at least 54 KB and no more than 10 MB. The visa (DS-160) and Diversity Visa pathways are a separate rule: JPEG only, capped at 240 KB, with no separately stated minimum. These are two different application types with two different file-size rules — check which one applies to what you're submitting. File size is a digital-only concept — it doesn't apply to a printed photo, since print quality is governed by DPI, not kilobytes. See our Understanding Photo Size Rules guide for why these floors and ceilings exist.
Create a compliant US Passport & Visa Photo in under a minute — we check size, head position, background, and more before you pay.
Create Your US Passport & Visa Photo Now →Always verify current requirements against your destination country's official government or embassy website before submitting, as specifications can change.