Digital passport photo requirements

The specification

Editing and retouching

If your photo is unnaturally edited or filtered, we will not accept it. Do not use a photo you created or edited using artificial intelligence or other digital tools.

Department of State, quoted from the official source

What the official source does not say

The State Department publishes NO pixel dimensions for online passport renewal, and no numeric head-height rule, the guidance is positional only. Do not state a pixel figure for this route.

What a digital passport photo actually is

A digital passport photo for online renewal is a file, not a print: JPG, JPEG, PNG, HEIC, or HEIF, between 54 KB and 10 MB, uploaded with your renewal application. That format list and size window are the entire published file rule. Unusually, the State Department publishes no pixel dimensions for this route, so any site quoting a required resolution for online renewal is quoting a rule that does not exist.

The photo itself follows the standard passport content rules: plain white or off-white background, neutral expression or a natural smile without teeth, no glasses, no hat, taken within the last 6 months. The difference from a paper application is only what you submit: a file instead of a 2 x 2 print.

Getting a digital passport photo without going to a store

You do not need a pharmacy kiosk or a photo counter. The State Department's own guidance describes taking the photo yourself: stand facing the camera against a plain white or off-white background, in a well-lit spot with natural lighting and no shadows on your face or the wall, remove glasses and hats, and use a neutral expression or natural smile. A phone camera is enough.

One data point iPhone users should know: the upload accepts HEIC and HEIF, which is exactly the format an iPhone produces by default, so there is no conversion step. Stores sell printed photos, not upload files; what a passport photo costs at a counter buys you prints that this route cannot use. Take the photo, run it through the free checker to confirm the format and the 54 KB to 10 MB window, and upload the original file. Do not scan a printed photo instead: the State Department's photo guidance rejects photocopies and digitally scanned photos.

How the online photo review actually works

Online renewal reviews your photo twice. First, the upload tool checks basic requirements on the spot; if the photo is not acceptable, it tells you what to change and lets you try another. Second, in the State Department's own words: "An employee will review your photo again after we receive your application. If there's an issue, we will send you a letter or email asking you to send us a new photo." A photo that slips past the automated check can still fail the human one, so getting it right up front is worth the minute it takes.

One warning straight from the source: the State Department's own Photo Tool says "US Citizens: Do not use this tool if you are renewing your passport online." That crop tool exists for paper and in-person applications only. For the online route, upload your original photo and let the system handle it, or check the file here first.

Taking a photo that passes both reviews

The guidance for this route is practical: remove glasses and hats before shooting, look directly at the camera with your eyes open, and make sure hair does not obstruct them. Use a neutral expression or a natural smile, and avoid showing teeth.

Lighting does the most damage. Take the photo in a well-lit area with natural lighting, with no shadows on your face or in the background, and make sure the photo is not too bright or washed out. Religious and medical head coverings are permitted with the usual conditions: one color, no patterns or small holes, full face visible, no shadows.

Questions about the Digital passport photo

What file formats does online passport renewal accept?

JPG, JPEG, PNG, HEIC, or HEIF, with a file size between 54 KB and 10 MB. Unusually, the State Department publishes no pixel dimensions for this route; the format list and size window are the whole published file rule.

Why was my photo rejected after the upload tool accepted it?

Because there are two reviews. The upload tool checks basic requirements automatically, and a State Department employee reviews the photo again after submission. If the human review finds an issue, you get a letter or email asking for a new photo.

Should I use the State Department Photo Tool to crop my photo for online renewal?

No, and that is the State Department's own instruction: the Photo Tool page says not to use it if you are renewing online. It is intended for cropping photos for in-person or mail applications.

What is a digital passport photo?

For online renewal, it is an image file uploaded with your application: JPG, JPEG, PNG, HEIC, or HEIF, between 54 KB and 10 MB. The State Department publishes no pixel dimensions for this route; the format list and file size window are the whole file rule.

Where can I get a digital passport photo?

You can take it yourself at home. The State Department's own guidance describes the self-service route: a plain white or off-white background, even natural lighting with no shadows, no glasses or hats, neutral expression or a natural smile. No store visit is required; a phone photo that meets the rules is a digital passport photo.

Can I get a digital passport photo at CVS or Walgreens?

Both chains take passport photos in store only, and the digital copy is an email add-on to the print purchase. Walgreens includes a free digital copy by email with its $16.99 passport photo. CVS charges $3.99 for an emailed digital copy on top of its $17.99 prints, and offers it only in select locations, per its own passport photo page. Neither is required for online renewal: a phone photo you take yourself, checked free against the published rules, is already the file the upload wants.

Can I take a digital passport photo with my iPhone?

Yes. The online renewal upload accepts HEIC and HEIF, the format iPhones produce by default, alongside JPG and PNG. Take the photo against a plain light background in good light and upload the original file without editing it.

Can I scan a printed passport photo to make it digital?

No. The State Department's photo guidance rejects photocopies and digitally scanned photos. Take a fresh digital photo instead of scanning a print.