US passport photo size — 51×51 mm

US passport photo requirements at a glance

Photo size

51 × 51 mm

In inches

2.0 × 2.0 in

Pixels at 300 DPI

600 × 600 px

Pixels at 600 DPI

1205×1205 px

Shape

Square

Head height

25.5 – 35.2 mm (crown to chin)

Background

White

File size limit

None published

Copies per 4×6 in print

4

These figures were checked against an official or widely-cited source. Portals occasionally change their rules, so confirm on the page where you submit.

Getting the head size right

Head height is the measurement most photos fail on, and it is not the same as “how much of the frame your face fills”. It runs from the top of the head — the crown, not the top of your hair if it stands up — down to the bottom of the chin. For US passport that is 25.5 to 35.2 mm on a 51 mm tall photo. The maker draws that band on screen while you position the photo, so you can see whether you are inside it before you export.

One photo, several countries

51×51 mm with a white background and the same head range is also what 2 other destinations we cover publish — so the photo you make for US passport is normally usable for them too:

• US visa (DS-160)
• Mexico

Sizes match, but each authority still sets its own rules on things like glasses, head coverings and how recent the photograph must be. Check the portal you are submitting to.

Printing a US passport photo at home

At 51×51 mm you get 4 copies on a single 4×6 in (10×15 cm) print, which is the cheapest size at almost every print counter and photo kiosk. Export at 300 DPI (600×600 px) for printing; some portals accept or prefer 600 DPI (1205×1205 px) for digital submission. Cut along the guides with a straight edge rather than scissors — a crooked border is a surprisingly common reason for a photo to be handed back.