Photo requirements
Digital Passport Photo Size: 600 x 600 Pixels and the Other File Rules
Short answer
For online U.S. passport renewal, upload a square color photo. The upload page sets the file type and a 54 KB to 10 MB size; for pixels, a square of 600 x 600 to 1200 x 1200 (the State Department's visa photo standard) is a safe target. The renewal upload accepts JPG, JPEG, PNG, HEIC or HEIF files between 54 KB and 10 MB. The photo must be sharp, unedited and taken in the last 6 months.
On this page
When you renew a U.S. passport online, you do not mail a 2 x 2 inch print. You upload a digital file, and that file has to pass both the normal photo rules and a set of technical limits. This guide covers those limits, how to check them on your own device, and how to resize a photo without breaking anything.
The official digital file requirements
As of the date we checked, the State Department's guidance for uploading a digital photo with an online renewal lists these limits:
| Item | Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| File type | JPG, JPEG, PNG, HEIC or HEIF | iPhone photos are usually HEIC; that is accepted, but JPEG is the safest choice for editing tools |
| File size | 54 KB to 10 MB | Too small usually means heavy compression; too large usually means an unresized camera original |
| Shape | Square (height equals width) | Crop from a larger photo so your head is centered |
| Pixel dimensions | No passport rule; 600 x 600 to 1200 x 1200 is a safe target | Range from the State Department's visa photo standard |
| Color | Color image | No black-and-white or tinted versions |
| Quality | Sharp and in focus | Not grainy, not pixelated, no visible printer dots |
| Content | Same rules as a printed photo | Taken in the last 6 months, white or off-white background, no glasses, no edits |
The online renewal upload page itself lists only the file types and the 54 KB to 10 MB file size. The 600 x 600 to 1200 x 1200 pixel range comes from the State Department's digital image standard for visa photos; it is not an official passport upload rule, but staying inside it is a safe, widely used target. If the renewal upload page shows a different limit on the day you apply, follow what the page says.
| Document | Print size | Digital file | Head size | Background | Glasses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Passport | 2 × 2 in 51×51 mm |
Square photo 54 KB – 10 MB |
25–35 mm | White | Not allowed |
| US Visa (DS-160) | 2 × 2 in 51×51 mm |
600–1200 px, square 0 – 240 KB |
25–35 mm | White | Not allowed |
Why 600 x 600 is the number everyone quotes
A printed passport photo is 2 x 2 inches. At 300 pixels per inch, a common print resolution, that is 600 x 600 pixels, which is also the smallest square in the State Department's visa photo standard and a sensible minimum for a sharp passport photo. Going above 600 adds detail, up to about 1200 x 1200, the top of that visa standard. There is little advantage in uploading a file much bigger than 1200 pixels on a side, and a very large file can go over the 10 MB limit.
The same proportions apply at any size. Your head should take up roughly half to just over two thirds of the image height, matching the 1 to 1 3/8 inch head size on a 2 inch print. On a 600 pixel file that is about 300 to 412 pixels from chin to top of head. The head size guide has a full conversion table.
How to check pixel size and file size
iPhone
Open the photo in the Photos app and swipe up, or tap the info button. Recent versions of iOS show the pixel dimensions (for example 3024 x 4032) and the file size. If the file is HEIC and you want a JPEG, change Settings, Camera, Formats to Most Compatible before shooting, or export a copy. Our iPhone passport photo guide walks through the settings.
Android
In Google Photos, open the image and swipe up to see details, which include the resolution and file size. On Samsung Gallery, open the image, tap the three-dot menu and choose Details. See taking a passport photo with an Android phone for camera settings.
Windows
Right-click the file, choose Properties and open the Details tab. Dimensions and size are listed there. File Explorer can also show a Dimensions column in Details view.
Mac
Select the file in Finder and press Command and I to open Get Info. The More Info section lists dimensions; size is at the top. In Preview, Tools then Show Inspector shows the same.
How to resize without breaking the rules
Most phone cameras produce photos around 3000 to 4000 pixels on the long side, so almost every photo needs to be cropped and scaled down. Cropping and resizing are not the kind of editing the State Department prohibits, which is changing how you look. Keep it to these steps:
- Start from the original. Use the full-resolution photo from the camera, not a screenshot or a copy sent through a messaging app, which may be compressed.
- Crop to a square. Center your face horizontally. Leave space above the hair and include the top of the shoulders. Do not crop so tight that the head exceeds 1 3/8 of 2 inches, about 69 percent of the height.
- Scale to between 600 and 1200 pixels. Any square in this range works. 600 x 600 or 1200 x 1200 are both fine.
- Save at high quality. In JPEG settings, choose a high quality value. Heavy compression creates blocky artefacts around the hair and eyes, which can make the photo look pixelated.
- Check the result. The file must land between 54 KB and 10 MB. A 600 x 600 high-quality JPEG is normally well inside that range.
Things to avoid: brightening the face, smoothing skin, whitening teeth, removing blemishes, replacing or painting the background, or applying any filter. The State Department asks for the original photo without filters or digital changes, and its manual says retouching of the face is not acceptable.
Common file problems and fixes
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| File under 54 KB | Image saved too small or at very low quality | Export again from the original at higher quality or larger pixel size |
| File over 10 MB | Full camera original, often in PNG | Crop to a square and scale to 1200 x 1200 or less, save as JPEG |
| Not square | Uncropped portrait or landscape photo | Crop to equal width and height |
| Grainy or pixelated | Dim light, digital zoom, enlarged small image | Retake in good light without zoom |
| Printer dots visible | Scan or photo of a printed photo | Take a new digital photo |
| Wrong colors | Filter, warm indoor light, beauty mode | Retake in daylight with filters off |
If you are not sure whether your photo passes, our free passport photo checker looks at size, head position and background in your browser. For the complete list of non-technical rules, read the passport photo requirements page, and if you are still deciding how to apply, see how to renew a passport online.
Color and exposure in the file
Technical limits are only half of the check. The State Department's manual for passport specialists says brightness and contrast should reproduce natural skin tones, and that over- or under-exposed photos may not be acceptable because they print badly in the passport. In practice, that means shooting in soft daylight facing a window, turning off HDR effects and warm color filters, and never correcting the exposure of your face afterward with an editing app. If the photo looks too dark or too bright, retake it rather than fixing it.
Digital photo vs printed photo
If you renew by mail with Form DS-82 or apply in person with DS-11, you need a printed 2 x 2 inch photo on matte or glossy photo-quality paper instead of a file. The content rules are the same; only the delivery differs. Do not print a 600 x 600 file on plain paper and staple it to a form, and do not scan a print to upload online. Each route has its own format, and mixing them is a common cause of rejection.
Frequently asked questions
Is 600x600 pixels the right size for an online passport renewal photo?
Yes. The passport upload page gives no pixel rule, only file type and a 54 KB to 10 MB size. A square of 600 x 600 to 1200 x 1200 pixels, the range in the State Department's visa photo standard, is a safe target. Any square size in between is acceptable, as long as the file is 54 KB to 10 MB and in an accepted format.
What file formats does online passport renewal accept?
As of October 2026 the State Department upload guidance accepts JPG, JPEG, PNG, HEIC and HEIF files. JPEG is the most widely supported format if you need to crop or resize the photo first.
What if my passport photo file is too big?
Crop the photo to a square around your head and shoulders and scale it to 1200 x 1200 pixels or smaller, then save it as a high-quality JPEG. That normally brings the file well under the 10 MB limit.
Can I scan a printed passport photo for online renewal?
It is a poor idea. The State Department says the digital photo should not be grainy, pixelated or show printer dots, which scans often do. Taking a fresh digital photo gives a sharper result and avoids those problems.
Does resizing count as editing a passport photo?
Cropping and scaling the whole image do not change how you look, so they are a normal part of preparing the file. What is not allowed is changing your appearance or the photo content with filters, retouching or other digital changes.
Sources
- Uploading a Digital Photo for Online Passport Renewal (State Department)
- Digital Image Requirements (State Department)
- Photo Composition Template (State Department)
- 8 FAM 402.1 Passport Photographs (Foreign Affairs Manual)
- U.S. Passport Photos (State Department)
Rules change. Always confirm on travel.state.gov before you submit. See our editorial policy.