Immigration PhotoStore prices checked September 2026 · independent site
CVS passport photo: price and what you actually get
CVS is the priciest drugstore for passport photos, and the one whose digital-copy fine print trips people most. A CVS passport photo costs $17.99 for two 2 x 2 inch prints, taken in store; CVS states passport photos cannot be ordered online. An emailed digital copy costs about $3.99 extra, and CVS's own page says the option exists in select locations only. Before you drive: if your application is online (a DS-160 visa upload or online passport renewal), what you need is a digital file, not prints, and you can check a phone photo against the official rules free right now.
How it works at CVS
- Walk into a CVS with a photo department and ask at the photo counter; a staff member takes the photo against their backdrop.
- You receive two printed 2 x 2 photos, usually within minutes.
- If you also need a digital file (for a DS-160 upload or online passport renewal), ask whether that store offers the emailed copy; many do not, and prints alone cannot be uploaded.
Do CVS passport photo coupons work?
CVS photo coupons circulate constantly, but they typically target photo prints and gifts; whether a given promo applies to the passport photo service depends on that promo's own fine print, and the service is usually excluded. Treat the $17.99 as the real price when planning, and if a coupon is the goal, note that the reliably discounted route is not a counter at all: the photo you take yourself costs nothing to check.
The select-locations trap
Two CVS caveats do the most damage. First, not every CVS has a photo department, so call before driving. Second, CVS's own page says the emailed digital copy exists in select locations only, so if your real need is a file for a DS-160 upload or online renewal, you can complete the trip and still leave without the thing your application requires.
CVS vs doing it online
| What you get | CVS | Online maker ($9.99) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $17.99 | $9.99 |
| Prints | Two 2 x 2 photos | Printable 4 x 6 sheet with six copies |
| Digital file for online applications | About $3.99 extra, select locations | Included, checked against the published rule |
| Checked against the official figures | Staff judgment | Every published figure, shown to you |
| Leave the house | Yes | No |
Store prices as published in 2026 comparisons and the chains' own pages, checked September 2026; they vary by location and change. We are independent and not affiliated with CVS.
CVS passport photo questions
How much is a passport photo at CVS?
- $17.99 for two printed 2 x 2 photos, per published 2026 pricing. An emailed digital copy is about $3.99 extra and is offered in select locations only. Prices can vary by store and change; confirm at your location.
Does CVS take passport photos without an appointment?
- Generally yes: passport photos are a walk-in service at the photo counter during store hours at locations with a photo department. Calling ahead confirms your store offers the service that day.
Does CVS give you a digital passport photo?
- Only as a paid add-on, and only in select locations: CVS's passport photo page describes an emailed digital copy for about $3.99 on top of the $17.99 prints. If what you actually need is the digital file for an online application, making the photo online is cheaper and includes the file by default.
Skip the counter: $9.99, previewed free
The digital file plus six printable copies, checked against every published rule, with a 24-hour money-back guarantee.
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