My Walgreens passport photo was rejected — what should I do?

Having your passport photo rejected can delay your application by weeks. Walgreens is convenient, but mistakes happen—especially with background color, head size, or shadows. Here’s why your Walgreens passport photo might have been rejected and how to fix it quickly.

Common Reasons for Rejection

• Background not pure white (off-white or shadows visible)
• Head size too small or too large compared to requirements
• Glare on glasses or improper lighting
• Expression not neutral (smiling or frowning)
• Low image resolution or blurry print

Why Walgreens Photos Sometimes Fail

Walgreens staff take photos in-store, but lighting, camera setup, and background consistency can vary. Without automated compliance checks, errors can slip through—leading to rejections by the U.S. Department of State or other authorities.

How to Fix the Problem

• Retake your photo using an online passport photo generator
• Ensure background is pure white (use automatic background replacement if needed)
• Use compliance preview to check head size, eye level, and lighting before printing
• Print the approved 4×6 layout at Walgreens for $0.39

Why an Online Generator Works Better

Online tools automatically detect and correct sizing and background issues, giving you a compliance-checked image. This reduces the chance of rejection to near zero and saves you the trip to retake the photo in-store.

Step-by-Step to Get a Replacement Photo

1. Take a photo at home against a plain wall with good lighting
2. Upload it to an online passport photo generator
3. Preview and confirm compliance
4. Download the 4×6 layout and print at Walgreens

Tip: Keep a digital copy of your compliance-approved photo so you can reprint anytime without retaking it.

Get a Guaranteed-Compliant Photo Now

Avoid another rejection. Upload your photo now, preview it for free, and print a compliance-checked version at Walgreens today.