You can take a U.S. passport photo at home, but it must be a real, recent photograph that meets the government’s requirements. Ask someone else to take it, use a plain white or off-white background and fix lighting problems before pressing the shutter. Do not use AI or retouching to change your face or replace the background.
A careful setup is more useful than an editing app. It also makes it easier to spot a problem while you can still take another photo.
Set up the room before the camera
Choose a plain white or off-white wall without visible texture, objects or lines. Face a window or use balanced lighting so the face and background are evenly lit. Avoid placing the person directly against the wall if that produces a dark shadow behind their head.
Set the camera around eye level. Have the photographer stand far enough back to avoid a close-up that distorts the face. Leave space around the head and shoulders for correct sizing; do not start with an already tight crop.
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- Real background: Plain white or off-white; no texture or lines.
- Even light: Avoid face and wall shadows; keep colors natural.
- Camera at eye level: Another person takes the photo; face forward.
- Original photograph: No retouching, beauty filters or AI background swaps.
Paper applications and online renewals have different photo submission formats.
Take the photograph
- Turn off filters and beauty effects. Check the camera’s portrait, smoothing and background-blur settings.
- Face the camera directly. Keep your head upright rather than tilting or turning it.
- Remove eyeglasses. Follow the official medical-exception instructions if you cannot remove them.
- Keep a natural expression. Use a neutral expression or a natural closed-mouth smile, with eyes open.
- Keep your full face visible. Hair, headwear and shadows must not hide facial features.
- Take several original photos. Choose the sharpest compliant image rather than trying to repair an unsuitable one.
The State Department’s passport photo examples show acceptable and unacceptable lighting, framing and appearance. Compare your image with those examples before printing.
Set up the shot, then check what changed
| Test shot problem | Change before the next shot | What to compare |
|---|---|---|
| Dark shape on the wall behind the head | Move the person away from the wall and adjust the light. | Check the actual background in the new original; do not erase the shape. |
| One side of the face is much darker | Reposition the person and light for more even illumination. | Both sides of the face should remain clear, without a bright washed-out side. |
| Face looks stretched or the camera looks upward | Move the camera to eye level and avoid a very close view. | Look for a straight-on face and enough space to size the photo later. |
| Portrait mode blurs the hair or background edge | Disable the effect before another capture. | Inspect the saved original, not just the camera preview. |
Printing a paper-application photo
For a paper passport application, the final print must be 2 by 2 inches. The head must measure between 1 inch and 1⅜ inches from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head. Use matte or glossy photo-quality paper, not ordinary printer paper.
Check the physical print with a ruler. A correct image can become the wrong size if a printer uses “fit to page” or another automatic scale setting. Also inspect sharpness, color, smudges and paper damage.
Do not submit a photocopy, a scan of an old print or an image taken from a driver’s license. The photo must have been taken within the past six months.
The measurements below describe a paper application photo. They are not a rule to resize an online renewal upload into a scanned print.
Example: your final photo measures 2 inches tall and the chin-to-top-of-head measurement is 1¼ inches. That head measurement is 62.5% of the photo height and falls within the published 1 to 1⅜ inch range. You still need to check the complete photograph; a correct measurement does not fix shadows, blur or an altered face.
Printing failure example: a layout intended to produce a 2-inch square comes out 1.8 inches across. The output has been reduced to 90% of its intended size. Check the printer or kiosk’s scaling and crop settings, reprint, then measure again. Enlarging it to an arbitrary size by eye can produce a second wrong print.
Open the official Size and position and Lighting examples for real photographs to compare. The editorial scene above demonstrates a setting; it is not a passport submission sample.
What changes for an online renewal photo?
Online renewal requires an original digital photo rather than a photograph of a paper print. The official digital upload instructions specify the file and image requirements and explain how the system positions the image.
Keep the original camera file. Avoid sending it through a messaging service that shrinks or alters it before upload. Follow the government system’s permitted positioning steps; do not independently retouch the image or generate a new background.
The online upload check assesses basic requirements; an employee reviews the photo after submission. A successful upload is not final acceptance. Do not photograph a 2-inch print and upload that photograph as if it were the original.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a selfie?
Have another person take the photo. A selfie often creates the wrong angle, framing or facial proportions.
Can I wear a white shirt?
There is no universal ban on white clothing, but a darker everyday top can make it easier to distinguish your shoulders from the background. See what to wear for a passport photo.
What if I cannot get a suitable photo at home?
Ask about our passport photo service. Confirm arrangements before visiting. For infants, use our separate baby passport photo guide, which covers a different setup.
Tell us your destination, departure date and application status. Call first to arrange a visit to our Los Angeles office.
Call (310) 913-7804