Passport Photo Rejected After Online Renewal: What to Do Next

Online passport renewal checks your photo twice. The first check happens the moment you upload it. The second happens after you submit, when a State Department employee reviews the photo. If the photo fails that second review, your application stops until you send a new one. This page explains what the notice looks like, how much time you have, how to send a new photo, and how to make sure it passes this time.

Two checks: at upload and after you submit

According to the State Department's online renewal photo page:

• At upload: the photo tool checks whether your photo meets the basic requirements. If it is not acceptable, the system tells you what to change and you can try again with a different photo. You can also reposition or crop the photo in the application.
• After submission: an employee reviews your photo once your application is received. If there is an issue, the State Department sends you a letter or email asking for a new photo.

Passing the upload check does not mean the photo is approved. Problems such as subtle editing, uneven lighting, a filter, or a head that is slightly tilted can get through the automatic check and still be caught by a person.

How you find out and what the notice says

You will get application status updates at the email address you used on the application. When the State Department sends a letter or email asking for more information, your status changes to Additional Information Needed. The status page explains that your application is on hold and processing may be delayed, and that you must follow the instructions in the letter or email.

The State Department's sample letter shows what to look for:

• Information requested: the main section explains what you need to send. For a photo problem, it may include an illustration of the photo requirements.
• Due date: you must respond within 90 days of the date shown on the letter.
• Return address: if you respond by mail, send it to the full address in Sterling, Virginia exactly as printed. Do not send it to an agency's physical address.
• Application number: use it if you call with questions.
• QR code: often included, linking to instructions on travel.state.gov.

In some cases you can respond by email; the letter or email you receive tells you if that is an option. You may also get a phone call, and you can respond by phone or ask for a letter instead.

Deadlines and what happens to your application

Two points make a rejection more serious for online applicants:

• Your old passport is already canceled. The State Department cancels the passport you are renewing after you submit the online application, so you cannot use it for international travel while you wait.
• Online renewals cannot be expedited. Online renewal is for routine service only, and you should not be traveling for at least 6 weeks from the date you apply. A photo delay eats into that cushion. See current passport processing times to plan.

Step by step: sending a new photo

1. Read the whole notice. Note the reason, the due date and how you are allowed to respond: mail, email or another method the notice describes. Follow those instructions rather than general advice, including ours.
2. Do not reuse the rejected file. Re-cropping or brightening the same image rarely fixes the cause and editing can create a new problem. Start from a new photo.
3. Fix the cause. Compare the rejected photo with the State Department's acceptable and unacceptable examples. The most common causes are shadows, blur, wrong distance, glasses and a background that is not plain white or off-white.
4. Take several new shots. Stand several feet from a white wall, face soft daylight, have someone hold the camera at eye level several feet away, and turn off filters, portrait mode and flash.
5. Check the new photo. Zoom in to check sharpness, look for shadows on your face and the wall, and confirm your head is straight and centered.
6. Send it as instructed, before the deadline. If you mail a printed photo, it must be 2 x 2 inches on matte or glossy photo paper, and should go to the Sterling, Virginia address on your letter by USPS, FedEx or UPS. A tracked service lets you confirm delivery.
7. Watch your status. When the State Department receives your response, the status changes to Information Received, In Process Again. You can check it on the official passport status page, and our guide to passport renewal status updates explains each stage.

Keep a record of your response

Save a copy of the notice, the new photo you sent, and proof of delivery or the email you replied with. Write down your application number and the due date. If your status has not changed to Information Received, In Process Again within a reasonable time after delivery, call the number on your letter and reference your application number. Having the details at hand makes that call much shorter.

How to avoid a second rejection

A second rejection restarts the wait, so it is worth checking the new photo against every rule, not just the one named in the notice.

• Lighting: even light on both sides of the face, no shadow on the wall. See how to avoid shadows.
• Quality: sharp and not grainy; use the original file and never send it by text message.
• Size and position: head and shoulders centered, head 1 to 1 3/8 inches tall on a 2 x 2 inch print.
• Pose: facing the camera directly, both eyes open, neutral expression or a natural smile with mouth closed.
• Nothing on your face: no glasses, hats or coverings unless a documented religious or medical exception applies.
• No edits: no filters, retouching, background swaps or red-eye fixes.

For the full list of rejection reasons and how to spot each one, see why passport photos are rejected. For the rest of the online process, our online passport renewal guide covers eligibility, fees and timing.