We check your photo against the State Department’s published rules for paper applications, then crop and scale it to 2×2 inches and lay it out for printing. The State Department refuses edited photos, so we replace the background, correct the brightness or contrast, or soften shine on the skin only if you ask for it and confirm that such a photo may be rejected. We never change your features or the shape of your face. The State Department decides whether to accept the photo.
What the authority does not publish
- State publishes no pixel dimensions, aspect ratio, file format, file size, colour space or numeric DPI for the paper application. The artefact you submit is a print.
- State publishes no eye line for passport photos. The 28 to 35 mm figure circulating online is from the US visa programme.
- State publishes no numeric sharpness, noise or exposure threshold. It describes the outcome ("not blurry, grainy, or pixelated"), so compare your photo against its examples before you pay.
What you get
- Your original photo. The file you uploaded, unchanged.
- Print-ready 2×2 inch photo. Your photo cropped and scaled to 2×2 inches, ready to print on photo paper.
- 4×6 inch print sheet. Copies of the 2×2 inch photo laid out on one 4×6 inch sheet.
- Printing and submission checklist. What paper to use, what to check before you print, and the wording of the rules your photo was checked against.
Sources
Sources checked on 2026-09-20. Issued by U.S. Department of State, Passport Services.
- U.S. Department of State: Passport Photos (paper application)(opens in a new tab)
- U.S. Department of State: Photo Tool(opens in a new tab)
- Form DS-82, rev. 04-2025 (renewal by mail)(opens in a new tab)
- Form DS-11, rev. 04-2025 (application in person)(opens in a new tab)
What we do not claim
We cannot promise that an authority will accept a photo, and we do not submit applications for you. The issuing authority always decides.