US Passport Photo: 600×600 px, 54–240 KB
A US passport photo is 2 × 2 inches — 600 × 600 pixels for digital upload. This tool crops and compresses to a JPEG between 54 KB and 240 KB, the range that works for online renewal, the DV Lottery, and DS-160 visa applications alike. It runs in your browser, so your photo is never uploaded.
Passport photo rules change over time. Always confirm the current requirements with the official issuing authority before you submit. This tool prepares your file; it cannot guarantee acceptance.
The file-size trap
The pixel size is the same everywhere — 600 × 600 — but the file size limit changes by route, and getting it wrong is one of the most common rejections:
- Online passport renewal: 54 KB to 10 MB, and JPEG, PNG, HEIC or HEIF are all accepted.
- DV Lottery and DS-160 visa: 240 KB or under, and JPEG only — a PNG or HEIC is rejected regardless of quality.
So a photo that sailed through an online renewal at 3 MB will fail a DV Lottery upload. This tool targets 54–240 KB as a JPEG, which clears every US route at once — one file you can use anywhere.
Getting the composition right
Cropping to the right size is the part software can do. The rest is down to how you take the photo, and it is where most rejections actually come from:
Head size. From the bottom of your chin to the top of your head should be 1 to 1⅜ inches in the 2-inch frame — roughly 50 to 69 percent of the image height, with your eyes a little above the middle. Standing too far from the camera is the usual mistake.
Background and light. Plain white or off-white, no pattern, no shadow behind your head. Stand a foot or so away from the wall and use soft, even light from the front rather than overhead.
No glasses — that rule changed in 2016 and still catches people out. Neutral expression, both eyes open, mouth closed. A slight closed-mouth smile is allowed; showing teeth is not. And the photo must be from the last six months.
How to make a US passport photo
- Take or choose a recent photo: face the camera, plain white wall, even lighting, no glasses, neutral expression.
- Upload it here — the size is already locked to 600 × 600 px.
- Position the crop so your head fills roughly half to two-thirds of the frame, with your eyes a little above centre.
- Click Resize & compress, then download your JPEG at 54–240 KB.
One honest note: this tool gets the pixel size and file size right, which removes the most common technical rejection. It cannot judge your head position, lighting, or expression — no browser tool can. Check your photo against the official rules at travel.state.gov before you submit.
US passport photo — FAQ
What size is a US passport photo?
A printed US passport photo is 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm). For digital submission it is a square JPEG of at least 600 × 600 pixels and at most 1200 × 1200. Your head, measured from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head, must be about 50 to 69 percent of the frame height.
What file size does the State Department require?
It depends on the route, which is the most common source of rejections. Online passport renewal accepts 54 KB to 10 MB. DV Lottery entries and DS-160 visa applications must be 240 KB or smaller. A file between 54 KB and 240 KB satisfies both, which is what this tool targets.
What size should a DV Lottery photo be?
600 × 600 pixels, JPEG only, and 240 KB or under. PNG and HEIC are rejected outright regardless of quality. If you shot on an iPhone, convert the HEIC to a true JPEG first — a renamed file will fail.
Can I wear glasses in a US passport photo?
No. The State Department stopped allowing glasses in 2016. Remove them before taking the photo, even if you wear them daily. Religious head coverings are allowed with a signed explanatory statement.
How recent does the photo need to be?
It must be taken within the last six months and be a true likeness of your current appearance. Reusing an older photo — even one that looks similar — is a common reason renewals are rejected.
Does this tool guarantee my photo will be accepted?
No, and be wary of any tool that claims otherwise. This prepares a file at the correct pixel size and file size, which removes the most common technical rejection. Acceptance also depends on head positioning, lighting, background, and expression — check your result against the official rules at travel.state.gov before submitting.
Is my photo uploaded to a server?
No — and for an identity document that matters. The photo is cropped and compressed entirely inside your browser. It never leaves your device.
Passport photo sizes by country
Every country sets its own pixel size, file size and background rules. Each page below locks the tool to that exact official spec.
Other tools
Shot on an iPhone? Convert HEIC to JPG first — DV Lottery and visa uploads reject HEIC. Need a different exact size? Use the resize tool.