How many photos does Form I-131 need?

Two identical 2x2 color photos, thin glossy paper, unmounted and unretouched, head bare unless religious headwear applies, name and A-Number penciled on the back.

Do green card holders filing I-131 need new photos?

Yes, the two prints are required with the filing even though most reentry permit applicants already hold a green card whose card photo USCIS captured at biometrics. The I-131 prints travel with the application; they are not reused from the card.

Is the I-131 photo spec different from the I-485 one?

No. The numbers are word-for-word the same as the I-485 and I-765 instructions: 2 x 2 inches, head 1 to 1 3/8 inches, eye height 1 1/8 to 1 3/8 inches, white background.

Sometimes required

I-131 photo requirements

Application for Travel Document (Form I-131)

Form I-131 requires photographs only in specific circumstances set out in its instructions, such as filing from outside the United States. When required, two 2 x 2 inch color photos are needed.

When photos are needed

Only in specific filing circumstances set out in the instructions, including filing from outside the United States

Check my photo free

Failed the check, or starting from a phone picture? The I-131 photo maker corrects framing, dimensions, file size and background to this document's exact figures, previewed free.

The specification

I-131 photo specification
Number of photos	2
Printed size	2 x 2 inches, in color, full face, frontal view
Digital size	Not specified by the official source
Head height	1 to 1 3/8 inches, from the top of the hair to the bottom of the chin
Eye position	1 1/8 to 1 3/8 inches, from the top of the eyes to the bottom of the photo
Background	White to off-white
File format	Not specified by the official source
How recent	Taken recently. The form instructions give no specific number of days or months.

Editing and retouching

Photos submitted to USCIS must be unmounted and unretouched. Unretouched means the photos must not be edited or digitally enhanced.

USCIS, quoted from the official source

What the official source does not say

The I-131 instructions are the only place USCIS states a camera-resolution minimum, but the PDF currently served bears a "Draft Not for Reproduction 05/13/2026" watermark, so that figure is withheld from this site until a final edition confirms it. The conditional trigger list is detailed, link applicants to the official instructions rather than compressing it into one rule.

Questions about the I-131 photo

How many photos does Form I-131 need?: Two identical 2x2 color photos, thin glossy paper, unmounted and unretouched, head bare unless religious headwear applies, name and A-Number penciled on the back.
Do green card holders filing I-131 need new photos?: Yes, the two prints are required with the filing even though most reentry permit applicants already hold a green card whose card photo USCIS captured at biometrics. The I-131 prints travel with the application; they are not reused from the card.
Is the I-131 photo spec different from the I-485 one?: No. The numbers are word-for-word the same as the I-485 and I-765 instructions: 2 x 2 inches, head 1 to 1 3/8 inches, eye height 1 1/8 to 1 3/8 inches, white background.

Verified against USCIS sources on 2026-08-04 · see every source we cite