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USonline passport applicationchecked November 10, 2026

United States online passport application photo

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United States online passport application photos are uploaded as a digital file of —, on a white / off-white background.

3 px 4 px 50–69 %

Checks

  1. Add a photo to see the crop and the checks.

United States online passport application photo rules

3 px 4 px 50–69 %
Head height
50–69 %
Digital file
—, JPG/PNG/HEIC/HEIF, 54–10240 KB
Background
white / off-white
Glasses
Not allowed unless medically needed
Expression
neutral; a natural smile is allowed, avoid showing teeth
Editing
The agency forbids software edits and background replacement.

“Submit the original, unedited photo without filters or digital changes. You can reposition or crop your photo in the application.”

  • File: JPG, JPEG, PNG, HEIC or HEIF, between 54 KB and 10 MB, in colour, taken in the last 6 months.
  • Stand several feet from a white or off-white wall. The bottom of the frame should be the edge of your shoulders, near where they meet your arms.
  • No filters or retouching, no AI tools, no photo of a printed photo, no scan. Red-eye must not be edited out: retake the photo instead.
  • The State Department checks photos for AI and digital edits. For this document we never rotate, level or retouch: we only crop and resize the original pixels.
  • Their upload tool checks basic requirements; an employee reviews the photo later and sends a letter or email if a new one is needed.

What we do: crop, straighten and resize your photo to the exact size. We never retouch your face or change the background.

How it works

  1. Take the photo

    Stand in front of a plain light wall, face the camera, keep your mouth closed. Ask someone else to take it at arm's length or more.

  2. Check it here

    Pick the document and add the photo. Face landmarks and the background mask are computed in your browser.

  3. Fix what failed

    Each failed check says what to change. Retake the photo until every line passes.

  4. Get the file

    Order the full-resolution file and, for printed documents, a 4 × 6 in sheet to print at any photo counter.

Questions

What size is a United States online passport application photo?

A digital file of —.

What background colour does a United States online passport application photo need?

White / off-white. Plain, evenly lit, with no shadows or objects behind you.

Can I wear glasses in a United States online passport application photo?

Not allowed unless medically needed

Can I take a United States online passport application photo at home?

Yes, as long as it meets the rules above. Take it against a plain wall in daylight, then check it here. We crop it to the exact size without editing it.

Will you remove the background or retouch my face?

No. Most passport offices reject edited photos, so we only crop, straighten and resize.