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Passmere is a private company, not a government agency. This guide is free information, not legal advice. Each fact links to the official source and shows the date we checked it.

How-to

U.S. passport photo requirements: size, rules and how to attach it

The exact size, the rules a passport photo must meet, when a new look needs a new passport, and how to attach the photo to Form DS-82 or DS-11.

Updated October 2, 20264 min read

Photo size

under review — see the official source1

Check the size on the printed photo, with a ruler, not on a screen. A photo that looks right on a phone can print too small or with the head cut off.

The rules your photo must meet

under review — see the official source2

A few practical tips that help you meet these rules:

  • Stand a step away from the wall, so your head does not throw a shadow on the background.
  • Use soft, even light from the front, such as a window or a lamp behind the camera.
  • Ask someone else to take the photo, so the camera is straight in front of your face.

When a new look means a new passport

under review — see the official source3

If your look changed that much, the form you use depends on your situation. Start with Renew your passport by mail to see if you can renew; if not, read First adult passport.

How to attach the photo

How you hand in the photo depends on the form.

Renewing by mail with Form DS-82, you staple the photo to the form yourself:

under review — see the official source4

Applying in person with Form DS-11, you do not staple or glue anything. You bring the photo loose and the acceptance agent checks it and attaches it. It is part of what you bring to the appointment:

under review — see the official source5

Step by step

  1. Find out if you renew by mail (Form DS-82) or apply in person (Form DS-11). The photo rules are the same for both.
  2. Choose where to get the photo: a photo service, or at home with someone else holding the camera.
  3. Before the photo, take off your glasses and any hat or head covering, unless you have the signed note or statement the rules allow.
  4. Stand in front of a plain white or off-white background, face the camera, keep a neutral expression, both eyes open and mouth closed.
  5. Print the photo without filters or edits, and check the size and every rule above on paper.
  6. For Form DS-82, staple it to the form as the instructions show. For Form DS-11, keep it loose and hand it to the agent.

Checklist

Before you use the photo

  • Printed at the official size, checked with a ruler
  • Recent, in color and taken within the time the rules allow
  • Original photo, with no filters, retouching or beauty apps
  • Plain white or off-white background, no shadows or objects
  • Face centered and fully visible, neutral expression, eyes open, mouth closed
  • No glasses, and no hat or head covering unless you have the signed statement
  • Stapled to Form DS-82, or kept loose for Form DS-11

Do and don't

Do

  • Ask for an extra print, so you have a spare if something goes wrong.
  • Check the photo on paper, in good light, before you mail it or go to your appointment.
  • Keep hair away from your face, so your head and face are fully visible.

Don't

  • Don't reuse the photo from your old passport or from another document.
  • Don't use filters, beauty apps or any tool that changes the image.
  • Don't wear glasses in the photo, even if you wear them every day, unless a doctor's signed note explains why.
  • Don't staple or glue the photo to Form DS-11.

Where to get a passport photo

Many pharmacies, photo shops and shipping stores take passport photos. Some acceptance facilities take them too; you can find facilities near you at under review — see the official source6 and ask when you book.

You can also take the photo at home, as long as it meets every rule above and you print it at the right size. Whoever takes it, you are the one who checks it before you send it.

Frequently asked questions

Can I wear my glasses in the photo?

Only in rare cases. Take them off for the photo unless a doctor's signed note explains why you cannot. The full list of rules is above.

Can I smile in my passport photo?

Keep a neutral expression with both eyes open and your mouth closed. That is what the official rules ask for.

I dyed my hair and grew a beard. Do I need a new passport?

No. under review — see the official source3

What about a photo for my child?

The same rules apply. At the appointment: under review — see the official source7 For the rest of the process, read Passport for a child under 16.

What happens if my photo is rejected?

Your application can be put on hold until you send a photo that meets the rules. If the State Department writes to you, follow its instructions. under review — see the official source8 See Track your passport application.

Sources and verification

  1. Passport photo size — U.S. Department of State: Passport Photos. under review — see the official source
  2. Passport photo rules — U.S. Department of State: Passport Photos. under review — see the official source
  3. When a new look requires a new passport — U.S. Department of State: Passport Photos. under review — see the official source
  4. How to send a mail renewal — U.S. Department of State: Renew Your Passport by Mail. under review — see the official source
  5. What to bring for Form DS-11 — U.S. Department of State: Apply for Your Adult Passport. under review — see the official source
  6. Official acceptance facility search — USAGov (U.S. General Services Administration): Apply for a new adult passport. under review — see the official source
  7. The child's photo at the appointment — U.S. Department of State: Apply for a Child's Passport Under 16. under review — see the official source
  8. Answering a request for more information — U.S. Department of State: Renew Your Passport Online. under review — see the official source
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