US passport photos: dimensions are only one check

What to check

The US passport photo guide specifies a printed square photo of 2 × 2 inches. Correct dimensions alone do not prove acceptable composition, lighting or a current likeness. A visa upload and an online passport renewal can have distinct digital requirements.

Prepare and compare

Take a fresh photograph against the required background. Do not use appearance-changing filters, facial retouching or AI replacement. A crop tool can position pixels; it cannot certify that a face meets an authority’s rules.

Before you travel

Check the official examples before exporting. Our photo tools show the actual output dimensions and file size and leave the final assessment to the relevant authority.

Editorial source check: 7 September 2026. This is not the policy’s effective date.