How to make a 2 × 2 inch US passport photo at home
A US passport photo must be 2 × 2 inches with the head centred and sized within a set range. Getting the crop right by hand is fiddly, which is why many people pay for photos at a store. With a good picture taken against a plain white wall, you can prepare the file yourself.
PixnPDF's Passport and ID photo tool has a US passport preset with alignment guides for the head and eyes. It runs in your browser, so your photo stays on your device.
Take a usable picture
Stand in front of a plain white or off-white wall in even daylight, facing the camera with a neutral expression and both eyes open. Ask someone else to take the photo from about four feet away at eye level, so the face is not distorted. Remove glasses and avoid shadows on your face or behind you.
Take several shots and pick the sharpest one. A clear starting photo matters more than any editing.
Crop with the US preset
Choose US passport — 2 × 2 in, then move and zoom the photo until the guides line up. The State Department asks for the head, measured from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head, to fill 1 to 1 3/8 inches (25–35 mm) of the 2-inch photo. The preset shows these guides so you can see when the head size fits.
Rules can change, so always compare your result with the current guidance on travel.state.gov before you submit or print.
Online renewal or printing
For an online application, save the photo as a JPG. If the upload page asks for a smaller file, use Compress image with a target size and check that the face is still sharp. For a printed photo, download the 2 × 2 file and print it at actual size on photo paper, or place several copies on one page with Image to PDF.
Common reasons photos are rejected
Photos are most often rejected for shadows on the face or background, a head that is too small or too large in the frame, a tilted head, glasses, filters or heavy editing, and blurry or low-resolution images. Hair covering the eyes and uneven lighting are also common problems.
Use the guides in the preset to centre your face and set the head size, keep the original colours, and do not smooth skin or remove the background with an app. A slightly plain photo is better than a retouched one.
Other countries
The same tool has presets for UK, Canada, India, Pakistan, Australia, Schengen visas, UAE residence visas and Saudi visas. Pick the preset for the document you are applying for, because sizes and head proportions differ between countries.
How it works
- Take a straight, well-lit photo against a plain white wall.
- Open Passport and ID photo and choose US passport — 2 × 2 in.
- Move and zoom until the head fits the guides.
- Download the photo, then compress or print it as needed.
Before you export Official acceptance depends on the issuing authority. Check the current photo requirements on travel.state.gov before submitting.
Passport & ID photo · Compress image · Image to PDF · Crop image
Common questions
Is the passport photo maker free?
Yes. It runs in your browser with no signup and no watermark.
Is my photo uploaded?
No. The photo is processed on your device and PixnPDF does not receive it.
Can I print the photo at home?
Yes. Print the downloaded 2 × 2 inch file at actual size on photo paper, without scaling to fit.
Do you have presets for other countries?
Yes, including UK, Canada, India, Pakistan, Australia, Schengen, UAE and Saudi visa photos.
What background colour do I need?
US passport photos need a plain white or off-white background with no patterns, shadows or objects. Stand a short distance in front of a light wall and use even light from the front so no shadow falls behind your head.