Official State Department and USCIS specifications in one page: 2×2 inch (51×51 mm), 600×600 pixels at 300 DPI, plain white background, no glasses. Make and export a compliant photo in your browser — your image never leaves your device.
The numbers the US State Department and USCIS expect on every photo you send in.
| Photo size | 2 × 2 inch (51 × 51 mm, square) |
|---|---|
| Pixels at 300 DPI | 600 × 600 px minimum (1200 × 1200 recommended) |
| Head height | 1 inch to 1 3/8 inch (25–35 mm) chin to crown |
| Eye position | Between 1 1/8 inch and 1 3/8 inch (28–35 mm) from the bottom |
| Background | Plain white or off-white, no patterns, no shadows |
| Expression | Neutral, eyes open, mouth closed (natural closed-mouth smile accepted) |
| Glasses | Not permitted (since November 1, 2016) |
| File format | JPG for print; JPG or PNG for DS-160 / USCIS digital upload |
| Taken within | The last six months |
The editor auto-crops to 2×2 inch, removes the background in your browser, and exports 600×600 pixels at 300 DPI — ready to print or upload to travel.state.gov.
Open the US 2×2 inch editor
Drop a phone HEIC or JPG — we auto-crop and remove the background.
The most common reasons US photos get rejected at a passport agency or embassy window.
Plain white or off-white. No patterned walls, no furniture behind you, no visible shadows. Stand at least 50 cm from the wall and use the background-removal tool if in doubt.
Neutral. A natural closed-mouth smile is accepted by the State Department but neutral is safer. Eyes open, looking directly at the lens, head straight.
Banned since November 2016 on every US passport, visa and Green Card photo. The only exception is a rare documented medical reason — then bring a signed statement from your doctor.
Allowed for religious reasons or if worn daily — hijab, turban, kippah are all accepted. Your face must be visible from chin to forehead and ear to ear. No hats for fashion reasons.
Not permitted. Do not wear military, camouflage or airline uniforms. Religious clothing worn daily is allowed.
Photo printed on matte or glossy photo-quality paper. No creases, no pin holes, no marks on the face. The tool exports at 300 DPI so any photo print service can produce a compliant copy.
At 300 DPI your 2×2 inch photo is 600×600 pixels. USCIS online forms accept the same 600×600 minimum; digital submissions should stay between 600×600 and 1200×1200 pixels, JPEG format, under 240 KB for most uploads.
Yes. The State Department does not require a studio photo. Stand 50–100 cm from a plain white wall, face a window, have someone take the photo at eye level — not a selfie. Upload the HEIC or JPG here, crop to 2×2 inch and export.
One printed 2×2 inch photo for the DS-11 paper application. Online renewals require a single digital upload. USCIS forms I-485, N-400 and I-765 typically require two identical photos.
Yes — the 2×2 inch spec is identical for US passport, US visa (DS-160), Green Card (I-485), Naturalization (N-400) and Employment Authorization (I-765). One photo file works for all of them.
Remove them for the photo. Glasses have been banned since 2016 regardless of whether you wear them daily. The only exception is a permanent medical condition — you will need to bring a signed doctor's note to the passport agency.