USCIS Photo Requirements
Official photo requirements for United States passport applications. Follow these specifications exactly to ensure your photo is accepted. Photo must be taken within the last 6 months
2×2 Passport Photo Size Requirements
The required 2×2 inch passport photo size must measure exactly 51×51 mm with head height between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches.
Official Photo Size
The photo must be exactly 2×2. This is a critical requirement—photos that don't match the exact dimensions will be rejected.
| Inches | 2×2 |
| Millimeters | 51×51 |
| Pixels (300 DPI) | 600×600 px |
Tip
Background & Lighting
Background: Plain white or off-white. The background must be uniform with no shadows, patterns, or other people visible.
- No shadows on the background or your face
- No patterns, textures, or decorations
- No other people or objects visible
- Uniform color throughout
- Even lighting with no harsh shadows
Face & Head Size Rules
Head size: 1 to 1 3/8 inches (25-35mm) from chin to top of head. Your face must be positioned correctly in the frame.
- Face the camera directly (no tilting)
- Expression: Neutral expression (no smiling)
- Eyes open and clearly visible
- Head centered in the frame
- Shoulders visible in the photo
What You Can Wear (Glasses, Head Coverings)
Understanding what accessories and clothing are allowed:
- Glasses: Allowed, but no tinted lenses or glare
- Clothing: Regular clothing (no uniforms or camouflage)
- Head coverings are only allowed for religious purposes
- Head coverings must not cast shadows on your face
- Your face must be fully visible from bottom of chin to top of forehead
Photo Quality Requirements
Sharp focus, high resolution (300 DPI), no filters or alterations
- Sharp focus with no blur
- High resolution (minimum 300 DPI for printing)
- No filters or digital alterations
- Color photo (no black and white)
- Recent photo (taken within last 6 months)
Common Rejection Reasons
Photos that don't meet these requirements will be rejected, delaying your application. Common issues specific to United States general applications:
- Wrong photo size (not 2×2)
- Incorrect background (not plain white or off-white)
- Wrong head size (not 1 to 1 3/8 inches (25-35mm) from chin to top of head)
- Poor photo quality (blurry or pixelated)
- Wrong expression (Neutral expression (no smiling))
- Shadows on face or background
- Photo too old (taken more than 6 months ago)
- Digital alterations or filters
- Smiling or unusual expression
- Shadows on background
- Wrong head size
- Wrong photo size
Local Notes for United States
- US passport photos must be taken within the last 6 months
- No uniforms or camouflage clothing allowed
- Professional photo studios often provide compliant photos
- Photo must be taken within the last 6 months
- Same requirements as US passport photos
- Required for various USCIS forms (I-130, I-485, N-400, etc.)
- Eyes must be open and clearly visible
Printing Tips for United States
- Print on 4×6 inch photo paper at 300 DPI
- Most US photo printing services (Walgreens, CVS) can print passport photos
- Cut photos to exactly 2×2 inches with no white borders
Create a United States Passport Photo Online
Use our tool to create a compliant general photo. We'll automatically:
- Crop to exactly 2×2
- Fix background to plain white or off-white
- Ensure proper head size (1 to 1 3/8 inches (25-35mm) from chin to top of head)
- Align face correctly
- Export at 300 DPI for print quality
Create Your Passport Photo
Upload your photo and we'll make it compliant with United States requirements
Free to try • Pay only for HD download
USCIS Photo Requirements FAQs
What size is a USCIS photo?
USCIS photos must be exactly 2×2 inches (51×51 mm), or 600×600 pixels at 300 DPI. This is the same size as US passport photos.
What background color is required for USCIS photos?
The background must be plain white or off-white with no shadows, patterns, or other people visible.
How recent must a USCIS photo be?
USCIS photos must be taken within the last 6 months to be considered current.
Can I wear glasses in a USCIS photo?
Yes, but glasses must not have tinted lenses and there should be no glare or reflection that obscures your eyes.