Free US passport card 2x2 inch Photo Checker – Requirements, Size & Online Tool
Take a photo with a smartphone or camera against any background, upload it here for compliance checking that instantly verifies it meets official government requirements for US passport card 2x2 inch photo. Get print-ready results in seconds – 100% online.
- Automatic size verification and background color validation
- Head positioning analysis with instant results in seconds
- Print-ready photo generation in multiple formats (JPG and 4x6 print layout)
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US passport card 2x2 inch Requirements Overview
Learn about US passport card 2x2 inch photo requirements for United States. Photos must have a white background. Specific head positioning requirements apply. These photos are suitable for printing. Photos can be used for online applications.
Official Documentation:
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/photos.htmlOfficial US Passport Card Photo Requirements
Source: U.S. Department of State • Last updated: 11/29/2025
Photo Requirements Guide
What Makes a Good Photo
Correct Passport Card Photo
- •2×2 inches (51×51 mm) size
- •Digital: 600×600 to 1200×1200 pixels
- •Neutral facial expression
- •White or off-white background
- •Head 1 to 1⅜ inches (25-35 mm) chin to crown
- •Face occupies 56-69% of image height
Digital Submission Standards
- •JPEG format only
- •Maximum 240 KB file size
- •Color photo (no black and white)
- •High resolution, not blurry or pixelated
- •Taken within last 6 months
Common Photo Problems
Eyewear Issues
- •Any glasses (medical exceptions only)
- •Sunglasses or tinted lenses
- •Reflection on lenses
- •Frames covering eyes
- •Non-medical eyewear
Photo Quality Problems
- •Reused from previous passport
- •Taken over 6 months ago
- •Blurry or low resolution
- •Black and white photos
- •File size over 240 KB
💡 Note: For official photo examples and additional requirements, visit the official U.S. Department of State documentation:
Size and Format
- Photo must be exactly 2×2 inches (51×51 mm)
- Digital photos: 600×600 to 1200×1200 pixels
- JPEG format for digital submissions
- Maximum file size of 240 KB
- Color photos only (no black and white)
Head and Face Requirements
- Head size: 1 to 1⅜ inches (25-35 mm) from chin to crown
- Face must occupy 56-69% of image height
- Neutral facial expression with mouth closed
- Both eyes open and clearly visible
- Direct frontal view, no tilting
Background and Lighting
- Plain white or off-white background
- No shadows on face or background
- Even lighting across entire photo
- No patterns, textures, or objects in background
- Professional photo quality
Clothing and Accessories
- No eyeglasses allowed (rare medical exceptions)
- Religious headwear allowed if worn daily
- No uniforms or clothing resembling uniforms
- Avoid white or light-colored clothing
- No hats or casual head coverings
Photo Recency and Quality
- Must be taken within last 6 months
- Cannot reuse previous passport photos
- High resolution, sharp focus
- No digital alterations or retouching
- Professional printing on photo-quality paper
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using photos older than 6 months
- Wearing any type of glasses
- Submitting reused passport photos
- Using wrong file format (non-JPEG)
- Exceeding 240 KB file size limit
- Poor lighting creating shadows
- Smiling or incorrect facial expression
- Wrong head size proportions
Official documentation:
How We Check Your US passport card 2x2 inch
- Upload your photo — we analyze it against official US passport card 2x2 inch requirements.
- If something doesn’t meet the rules, our AI fixes it automatically in seconds.
- Download a compliant digital photo or a print-ready 4×6 sheet accepted by photo labs.
What We Check for Compliance
| Official Requirement | How IDPhotoNow Handles It |
|---|---|
| Head size, position & proportions | ✅ AI measurement and alignment checks |
| Eye level and visibility | ✅ Automatic eye-line verification |
| Background color & cleanliness | ✅ Shadow removal and background normalization |
| File size, resolution & DPI | ✅ Output optimized to official limits |
| Print-ready photo layout | ✅ One-click 4×6 print sheet generation |
All checks are based on published government photo requirements.
Try the Free US passport card 2x2 inch Photo Checker
Upload your photo and see if it meets official requirements. Preview is free — no signup required.
Document Requirements
| Name | US passport card 2x2 inch |
| Country | United States |
| Document Type | Passport |
| Passport Picture Size | Width: 2in, Height: 2in |
| Resolution (Dpi) | 300 |
| Required Size In Kilobytes | From: 0 to: 240 |
| Image Definition Parameters | Head height (up to the top of the hair): 1.29in; Distance from the bottom of the photo to the eye line: 1.18in |
| Background Color | |
| Printable? | Yes |
| Suitable For Online Submission? | Yes |
| Web Links To Official Documents |
Frequently Asked Questions About Passport & Visa Photos
Everything you need to know about passport and visa photos
Width: 2in, Height: 2in
Absolutely. With IDPhotoNow, you can take a compliant passport photo right from your phone.
It depends on the requirement. For online submissions, we offer JPG/PNG files. For printed photos, we provide ready-to-print 4x6 print layouts.
We provide a ready-to-print 4×6 inch layout with the correct photo size. You can print it at home or at a store using standard photo paper. ⚠️ Be sure to select "Actual Size" or "100% scale" when printing. Do NOT use "Fit to Page" or "Scale to Fit", as this may distort the size.
It depends on the document and country. Many passport rules require glasses to be removed, but some ID types may allow them if eyes are fully visible.
You can use scissors to carefully cut along the edges of the photo in the printed layout. We place the photo on standard 4×6 inch paper with correct dimensions, so you just need to follow the outlines. For best results, use a ruler or paper cutter for clean edges.
To take a passport photo of a baby or young child, lay them on a plain white sheet or blanket in a well-lit area. Make sure there are no shadows and the child’s face is clearly visible, with eyes open and mouth closed if possible. Avoid using props or having others in the frame. We’ll handle the background and sizing — just upload a clear photo following these tips.