U.S. Passport Photo Checker — Format-Only
Most "AI passport photo" tools sell exactly the thing the State Department rejects: a background swapped in by software, a smoothed face, a repainted image. The official instruction is blunt — submit the original, unedited photo; do not change it with computer software, phone apps or filters; the Department checks photos for digital enhancement.
This checker is built the other way. It measures and formats — crop to exactly 2×2 inches, head-size guide for the 1–1⅜ inch rule, print-ready export — and never touches a pixel of your face or background. Take the photo against a plain white or off-white wall, and let the checker handle the geometry.
Upload your photo
📷
Click or drop a photo here
Everything runs in your browser — your photo is never uploaded to a server. Face the camera, use even lighting, and (for passports and visas) shoot against a plain, light wall.
Choose document, size & background
White — required by the official spec. Background replacement is disabled for this document (see the compliance note below).
U.S. passport photo: 2×2 inches (51×51 mm), plain white or off-white background, taken within the last 6 months. Print output at 300 DPI.
⚠️ The U.S. Department of State requires the original, unedited photo: no filters, no software changes, no background replacement. This tool therefore only crops, resizes and compresses — shoot against a plain white or off-white wall.
Official specification
| Dimensions | 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm) |
| Head size | Head height 1–1⅜ in (25–35 mm), chin to crown |
| Background | Plain white or off-white, no shadows, no texture |
| Recency | Taken within the last 6 months |
| Editing | "Submit the original, unedited photo without filters or digital changes." — U.S. Department of State |
| Source | travel.state.gov — passport photo requirements, checked 2026-10-18 |
We publish only values we verified on the official source named above. Final acceptance is always decided by the issuing authority — check your application instructions before submitting.
What "format-only" means here
Cropping and resizing to the published specification: allowed, and it is all this tool does. Background replacement, skin retouching, filters and AI regeneration: not performed, because the State Department treats them as alterations. If your original background is a cluttered room, the honest fix is a retake against a plain wall — the checker's corner sampling will tell you whether your background reads as light and plain.
Printing your 2×2 photo
Download the 300 DPI file for a print service, or use the 4×6 / A4 print sheets, which tile copies at the exact millimetre size for cutting. Print at exactly 100% scale — "fit to page" changes the millimetre size and the head measurements with it.
Sizes & backgrounds on this site
| Output | Millimetres | Pixels |
|---|---|---|
| 630 × 810 px (India ICAO digital) | 35×45 mm | 630×810px |
| 600 × 600 px (digital) | 51×51 mm | 600×600px |
| 2×2 in · 51×51 mm (print, 300 DPI) | 51×51 mm | 1500×1500px |
| 35×45 mm (300 DPI) | 35×45 mm | 1050×1350px |
| 33×48 mm (300 DPI) | 33×48 mm | 990×1440px |
| ≈37.5×47.5 mm (AU range midpoint) | 37.5×47.5 mm | 443×561px |
| 50×70 mm (300 DPI) | 50×70 mm | 591×827px |
Backgrounds: White #FFFFFF • Off-white / cream #F6F1E7 • Light grey #E8E8E8 • Blue #0090FF • Red #DB1514. Background replacement is offered only for documents whose rules allow it — for U.S., UK passport, Australian and Canadian documents the tools on this site are format-only, by design.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a U.S. passport photo?
2×2 inches (51×51 mm), with the head 1–1⅜ inches (25–35 mm) from chin to crown, on a plain white or off-white background, taken within the last 6 months.
Are AI-edited passport photos accepted?
The Department of State instructs applicants to submit the original, unedited photo and states that it checks photos to ensure they were not digitally enhanced or altered. Background replacement and filters are alterations. This checker therefore never edits your image — it only crops, resizes and compresses.
Can I smile in a U.S. passport photo?
A neutral expression (or a natural smile with both eyes open) is required; exaggerated expressions are not. Keep both eyes open, face the camera directly, and remove glasses.
Is my photo uploaded to a server?
No. Cropping, resizing, compression and (where offered) background replacement all run locally in your browser. Your photo never leaves your device.
All documents & tools
DV Lottery (Green Card)
600×600 px · ≤240 KB
Free checker for Diversity Visa entry photos — the #1 silent disqualifier.
U.S. Visa (DS-160)
600×600 px · ≤240 KB
Fix CEAC photo errors: size, squareness, head height, file weight.
China Visa (COVA)
33×48 mm
Checker for the strict China visa spec: head width/height, white background, ears visible.
Schengen Visa
35×45 mm
One photo for all 29 Schengen destinations, face 70–80%.
India Passport
35×45 mm ICAO · 630×810 px
GPSP 2.0 / mission route is ICAO since Sep 2025; the 51×51 print route still exists. Both, separated.
India Visa (online)
350–1000 px · 10–300 KB
Square JPEG for the online Indian visa application form.
OCI Card
51×51 mm
OCI photograph: 2×2 in, face about 80% of the frame.
UK Passport
35×45 mm · ≥600×750 px
GOV.UK rules: plain light background, taken within the last month.
UK Visa
35×45 mm
The white vs light-grey question, answered from the GOV.UK standard.
Australia Passport
35–40 × 45–50 mm
A size RANGE, not a preset — framing checker and official checklist.
Canada Passport
50×70 mm
Size & framing guide — final photos must come from a commercial photographer.
2×2 / 51×51 Maker
600×600 px
The universal square format, metric-first, with a 4×6 print sheet.
Exact-KB Compressor
240 / 200 / 120 KB presets
Compress a passport photo to the exact KB a portal demands.