Contents (12)
A US passport photo is 2 × 2 inches, which is 51 × 51 mm. The head, from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head, must measure 1 inch to 1 3/8 inches (25 to 35 mm). The background must be plain white or off-white, the photo taken in the last 6 months, and glasses are not allowed. A printed US visa photo has the same 2 × 2 inch size.
The square shape is what catches people out: most countries, including Taiwan, Japan, the UK and much of Europe, use a 45 × 35 mm portrait photo. A photo printed for one of those countries cannot be cut down for a US application.
This page is published on joelin.cc, the site of Joe Lin (老喬), who works in the photo booth business in Taiwan. The sizes come from the U.S. Department of State; pixel counts at 300 dpi are calculated from them.
Which photo you need:
flowchart TD
A["What is the photo for?"] --> B{"US passport?"}
B -- "Paper form" --> C["Printed photo<br>2 × 2 in, 51 × 51 mm<br>head 25–35 mm"]
B -- "Online renewal" --> D["Digital photo<br>JPG, PNG or HEIC<br>54 KB to 10 MB"]
B -- No --> E{"US visa?"}
E -- "Online form" --> F["Square JPEG<br>600 × 600 to 1200 × 1200 px<br>240 kB or less"]
E -- "Printed copy" --> G["2 × 2 in<br>51 × 51 mm"]
US photo sizes at a glance
| Use | Size | Taken within |
|---|---|---|
| Passport, printed | 51 × 51 mm | 6 months |
| Passport, online renewal | Digital file | 6 months |
| Visa, online | 600–1200 px square | 6 months |
| Visa, printed | 51 × 51 mm | 6 months |
Every US photo is square, and the printed passport and visa photos are the same 2 × 2 inch size, so one printed photo works for both. The online visa form is the only case with a pixel range; the online passport renewal sets a file size but no pixel size.
| Size (h × w) |
cm | Pixels at 300 dpi |
|---|---|---|
| 51 × 51 mm | 5.1 × 5.1 | 600 × 600 |
The calculation is millimetres ÷ 25.4 × 300; 2 inches at 300 dpi is exactly 600 pixels, which is also the minimum for the online visa photo.
Printed passport photos: the State Department rules
The State Department page «Passport Photos» sets these rules:
- 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm).
- Head 1 inch to 1 3/8 inches (25 to 35 mm), from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head.
- Plain white or off-white background.
- Taken in the last 6 months and showing your current appearance.
- Take off any eyeglasses, sunglasses or tinted glasses; a medical exception needs a signed doctor’s note.
- Neutral expression, both eyes open, mouth closed.
- No hats or head coverings, except for religious reasons (with a signed statement) or medical reasons (with a doctor’s statement).
- One colour photo, original and unedited, with no filters, on matte or glossy photo-quality paper; no photocopies or scanned photos.
Digital photos for online passport renewal
If you renew online, the page «Uploading a Digital Photo» asks for a JPG, JPEG, PNG, HEIC or HEIF file between 54 KB and 10 MB. It does not set a pixel size; the same rules on background, head position, glasses and recency apply.
Visa photos: printed and digital
The visa page «Photo Requirements» uses the same 2 × 2 inch printed size, a white or off-white background and the 6-month rule, and says eyeglasses are no longer allowed in new visa photos. For the online application, «Digital Image Requirements» asks for:
- A square image between 600 × 600 and 1200 × 1200 pixels.
- JPEG format, 240 kB or smaller.
- If you scan a printed photo, a 2 × 2 inch photo scanned at 300 pixels per inch, giving 600 × 600 pixels.
Driving licence photos are taken by each state’s motor vehicle office, so there is no national size to list.
Compare with other countries
The square US photo is the main exception among passport photos. Sizes and background colours for 22 other countries and regions are compared in our table of passport and ID photo sizes.
Common practical questions
What size is a US passport photo?
2 × 2 inches, which is 51 × 51 mm. The head, measured from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head, must be between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches (25 to 35 mm).
What background does a US passport photo need?
A plain white or off-white background, with no shadows, texture or lines.
How recent does a US passport photo have to be?
Taken in the last 6 months, and it must show your current appearance.
Can I wear glasses in a US passport or visa photo?
No. The State Department asks you to take off any eyeglasses, sunglasses or tinted glasses for passport photos, and says eyeglasses are no longer allowed in new visa photos.
What size is a US visa photo?
A printed visa photo is also 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm). For the online visa application the digital image must be square, between 600 × 600 and 1200 × 1200 pixels, in JPEG format and no larger than 240 kB.
Is a US passport photo the same as a Taiwan or UK passport photo?
No. The US photo is square, 51 × 51 mm, while Taiwan, Japan, the UK and most of Europe use 45 × 35 mm. A photo printed for one will not fit the other.
Sources: Passport photos: U.S. Department of State «Passport Photos» (travel.state.gov, page updated 24 March 2026) and «Uploading a Digital Photo» for online renewal (updated 4 May 2026). Visa photos: «Photo Requirements» and «Digital Image Requirements» on travel.state.gov. Driving licence photos are set by each state and are not covered. Page used for periodic re-checks: https://travel.state.gov/en/passports/apply/help/photos.html . All sources checked on 10 November 2026.