You know that you need some pictures to apply for a passport to the United States of America. The hard part is that they have so many specifications for a US passport photo size. If your photo doesn’t have the right sizes, you will have to resend it, which prolongs the application process.
Now, I will tell you the essential features of the US passport requirements and their sizes to help you with your passport application process. So, let’s get into the discussion.
General US Passport Photo Size Requirements
Your photo is an essential part of your passport application. So, it should be authentic and unaltered. Photos copied from or digitally scanned from driving licenses or other official documents will not be accepted by the US Embassy. In addition, snapshots, magazine photos, low-quality vending machine or mobile phone photos, and full-length photographs will not be accepted.
So, let’s see a list of some photograph requirements for a US visa that are applicable to all passport photos.
Standard Requirements Apply to All Passport Photos
- Your photos should be taken in clothing that you wear on a daily basis.
- Any kind of uniform should not be worn in your photo, but if you wear religious clothing on a daily basis, then that is okay.
- A hat or head covering that obscures the hair or hairline should not be worn unless you wear it daily for a religious purpose.
- If you are carrying a head covering while taking the photo, the head covering must not cast any shadows on your face, and your full face must be clearly visible.
- Headphones, wireless hands-free, or similar items will not be acceptable in your photo.
- Eyeglasses will not be allowed in new passport photos, except that they cannot be removed for medical reasons or in rare circumstances. For example, the applicant has recently had major surgery on his eyes, and the eyeglasses are necessary to protect the applicant’s eyes. In that case, you must provide a medical statement signed by a medical professional or health practitioner with the application form. If the eyeglasses are accepted for medical reasons:
- The frame of the eyeglasses must not cover the eyes.
- Make sure that there’s no glare on eyeglasses that obscures the eyes.
- Shadows or refraction from the eyeglasses that obscure the eyes should be avoided.
- If you normally wear a hearing device or similar object, that will not be an issue. You may wear those in your photo.
Specific US Passport Photo Size Requirements
When you are applying for a US passport, you should provide two identical photos with your passport application form. The photos you will provide with your passport application have some specific dimensions that are required by the US Embassy.
US Passport Image Size and Type Requirements
The photos should be 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm) in size. Photos must be in JPEG (.jpg) file format, and the file size should be equal to or less than 240 KB (kilobytes). The photo’s aspect ratio must be a square (height must equal width). Last but not least, the dimensions of the US passport photo size should be 600 × 600 pixels.
If you want to scan your current photo, the size of the photo should be 2×2 inches, and the resolution of the photo must be 300 pixels per inch.
Quality and Background
The photo you will submit with your passport application should be of high quality. Remember that your photo should not be digitally altered in a way that changes your appearance.
Paper Quality and Photo Finish
Your photo should be in color. Printed on photo-quality paper. Every requirement should be accurate. Make sure the photo finish is of good quality.
Background Color Specifications
Your photos must be taken in front of a plain and required (white or off-white for the USA) background.
If your photo background is white, then you have to avoid white clothes while taking photos.
Positioning and Expression
There are specific requirements for the photo pose, which you will submit with your passport application. You should follow the following:
1. US passport photo sizes and position from the head side
The head should be centered on the frame. Make sure that your full head, from the top of the hair to the bottom of the chin, presents the photo.
The measurement of the height of the head (top of hair to bottom of chin) should be 1 inch to 1 and 3/8 inches (25 mm to 35 mm). Besides, your eye height from the bottom of the photo should be between 1 and 1/8 inches to 1 and ⅜ inches (28 mm to 35 mm).
2. Expression and others
- Photos should be taken in full-face view, and your face should be directly facing the camera. No tilting, smiling, or weird expressions are allowed.
- You should have a neutral facial expression and keep both eyes open.
Guidelines for Babies and Toddlers
If you want to travel with your baby or toddler, he or she also has to have a passport. And for passport applications, a photo is a must. So, at the time of taking your child’s photo, make sure that no other person is visible in the photo. The baby or toddler must be looking at the camera, and his or her eyes should be open.
1. Adjustments in the Rules for Newborns and Young Children
If your child is just a newborn baby, then some minor variations of the photo will be allowed if there’s any difficulty in recognizing a neutral facial expression.
2. Tips for Getting a Compliant Photo of a Child
Tip-1: Take a plain white or off-white sheet and lay your baby on his or her back. This process will keep your baby’s head supported and also provide the required plain background for the US visa photo.
There must be no shadows on your baby’s face. Especially, make it certain if you take a picture from above with your child lying down.
Tip-2: Take a plain white or off-white sheet and cover a car seat with that. Sit your baby in the car seat and take a picture. This process will also ensure your child’s head is supported.
Change of Appearance
Sometimes your photos or digital images are not older than 6 months; they do not reflect your current appearance. For this, the US embassy or consulate will request that you provide new photos with your passport application.
1. Reasons for obtaining new photos
The US Embassy will request that the applicants submit a new photo if they have:
- Gone through significant facial surgery or trauma recently.
- Numerous or large facial piercings or tattoos were added or removed.
- If he or she has gone through a severe amount of weight loss or gain,.
- Has made a gender transition.
2. Adjustment in the Rules for Change of Appearance
Generally, if you can be identified by the photos on your passport application, you will not need to obtain new photos. For example, your beard has grown up, or you have colored your hair after submitting a passport photo. That doesn’t make any sense, actually. It would be considered a minor change of appearance.
If your child’s (who is under 16 years old) appearance has changed due to the normal aging process, there’s no need to provide a new photo. However, the acceptance of the photo totally depends on the US Embassy.
Get passport photos taken (online or offline)
If you have professional Photoshop skills, then you can make your own photo. You can also collect your photos from photo booths beside you in the US.
Besides, there are plenty of online services that provide passport photos according to the requirements. They provide an online submission option. Just upload your photo to order photo printing. You can visit a Staples copy-and-print store during their working hours with your own passport photo.
Conclusion
Are you ready to take your passport photo now? I think now you know the details about the US passport photo size and other requirements. So, take a proper photo, submit the passport application, get a visa, and fly!
If you have more confusion, you can order an online print digital photo from us, Clipping Path Finder! We are one of them, where you receive a minimum of high-quality passport stamp photos right away.