United States passport and visa photo requirements
The passport photo and the visa photo are separate rules, for different people. Every figure below was read on an official United States government page; the page and the date are beside it. "Not stated" means the page does not say, and we will not fill the gap.
United States passport photo
For United States's own citizens applying for or renewing a United States passport.
Not yet checked. We print nothing until we have read it on an official page.
United States visa photo
For visitors applying for a visa or permit to travel to United States.
- Printed size
- 2 x 2 inches (about 50 x 50 mm) fam.state.gov · read
- Digital size
- Not stated on the official page
- Head size
- 1 to 1 3/8 inches (25 to 35 mm), top of hair to chin fam.state.gov · read
- Eye line
- 1 1/8 to 1 3/8 inches (28 to 35 mm) from the bottom fam.state.gov · read
- Background
- White or off-white fam.state.gov · read
- Glasses
- Not allowed since 1 November 2016, except in rare medical cases fam.state.gov · read
- Digital file
- Not stated on the official page
- How recent
- Taken within the past six months fam.state.gov · read
Official page: fam.state.gov
A photo that matches every published figure can still be refused. The issuing authority decides, at the time you apply.
Newest read 4 October 2026. Check every figure against the government page.