Photo requirements · US paper passport
Prepare a real 2 × 2 inch photo for a US paper passport application. Review composition and print requirements, then create a print file.
Your photo · your application route
Photo stays in this browser
Print at 2 × 2 inches (50.8 × 50.8 mm exact). Keep your real appearance and original background. The official page also describes this as 51 × 51 mm.
JPEG, PNG, WebP or HEIC/HEIF · up to 20 MB. Browser support varies for HEIC. No photo is sent to a server.
Start with your real photo.
We locate your face, suggest framing and flag possible pose problems. You review the remaining requirements.
Local analysis & measured facts
A correct file size does not make a photo acceptable. This check does not replace the authority’s final review.
Choose a photo to see measured format, byte size and pixel dimensions, alongside the items that need your confirmation.
01 · Know the requirement
The finished photo is 2 inches square. Use a recent color photograph with a plain white or off-white background and natural skin tones. Do not use filters, retouching or AI-generated changes. Print on photo-quality paper, not ordinary copy paper.
02 · Choose your next step
Make sure the whole head is visible, centered and the right size. The official chin-to-crown range is 1–1⅜ inches. Review glasses, expression, head coverings and any applicable medical or religious exceptions in the official instructions.
Official sources · checked 2026-11-06
Requirements can change. The authority’s current instructions and final review take precedence.
Questions about this task
No. This page is for paper applications and prints. US online renewal has a separate original digital-file workflow.
This tool does not replace backgrounds. Retake against a plain white or off-white background and use soft, even light.
The official page describes the 2 inch photo as 51 mm. This print preset retains the exact 2 inch physical size, which converts to 50.8 mm.
The US rules generally require removing glasses, with specific medical exceptions. Read the current official instructions rather than assuming a clearer lens is enough.
Adjust the crop while keeping the entire head visible, then use the manual crown and chin guides. If the source has too little detail, take a better photo.
No. It provides technical preparation and guidance. A passport official evaluates the submitted photo.
