Official document photos in United States
American passport and visa photos are square: 2 × 2 inches, or 51 × 51 mm, with the head measuring between 25 and 35 millimetres from chin to crown on a plain white or off-white background. Green cards, citizenship applications and USCIS forms use the same square. Glasses have not been allowed since 2016, and the photo must have been taken within the last six months. The Department of State publishes the standard, and American labs print two copies on 4 × 6 inch paper.
- Official authority
- U.S. Department of State
- Common print paper
- 4 × 6 in
Documents in United States
Pick the document you are applying for — the photo is cut to its own specification, not to a general size.
- US Passport PhotoVerifiedUnited States · 2×2 in (50.8×50.8 mm)
- US Visa PhotoVerifiedUnited States · 2×2 in (50.8×50.8 mm)
- United States Citizenship PhotoStandardUnited States · 51×51 mm
- United States Electronic Diversity Visa Lottery Photo PhotoStandardUnited States · 51×51 mm
- United States Employment Authorization PhotoStandardUnited States · 51×51 mm
- United States Green Card (Permanent Resident) PhotoStandardUnited States · 51×51 mm
- United States NY Gun License PhotoStandardUnited States · 1.5×1.5 in (38×38 mm)
- United States USCIS Forms Photo PhotoStandardUnited States · 51×51 mm
Questions about United States photos
What photo size do United States documents use?
Most United States documents in the catalogue use 51×51 mm. Passports, visas and ID cards are not always the same, so each document page states its own size in millimetres and in pixels.
Can I take a United States document photo with my phone?
Yes. Take it in even daylight against a plain wall, and we crop it to the exact size, replace the background and run twelve checks before you pay anything.
Which United States documents can I make a photo for?
We cover 8 documents for United States, including US Passport Photo, US Visa Photo, and United States Citizenship Photo. Open one to see its size, its head height, its background and the official source behind it.
Guides that help with your United States photo
- How to take a passport photo with an iPhoneWhere to stand, which camera to use, and why portrait-mode blur costs you the photo.
- Taking the photo at home without helpA door, a window and a timer are enough. Here is the setup that works in an ordinary room.
- Six mistakes that get a photo rejectedA shadow behind the head, a slight smile, glare on glasses — what reviewers actually look at, and the check that catches each one.