Passport Card Digital Image Requirements

The following requirements only apply if you are applying for a passport card through our online application. If you are not applying online for a passport card, please refer to our general Passport Photo Requirements.

Your passport photo is a vital part of your application. If the digital image you supply is not suitable, the system will not allow you to submit the photo. You may have to take another photo with a digital camera or modify the format to meet the minimum technical requirements. To learn more, review the information below on how to provide a suitable photo to avoid application processing delays.

Your digital image must be:

In color
In JPEG (.jpg) file format
Equal to or less than 240 kB (kilobytes) in file size
In a square aspect ratio (height must equal width)
600 x 600 pixels in dimension
Sized such that the top of the head, including the hair, to the bottom of the chin is between 50% and 69% of the image's total height. View the Photo Composition Template for more size requirement details.

Want to scan an existing photo? In addition to the digital image requirements, your existing photo must be:

2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm)
Scanned at a resolution of 300 pixels per inch (12 pixels per millimeter)

Review the Photo Composition Template to check the size requirements and Digital Image Requirements.

Review the Photo Examples to see examples of acceptable and unacceptable photos. Photos copied or digitally scanned from driver’s licenses or other official documents are not acceptable. In addition, snapshots, magazine photos, low-quality vending machine or mobile phone photos, and full-length photographs are not acceptable.

Need help with some photography terms? View our Glossary

Frequently Asked Questions

In addition, your passport photos must be:

Taken within the last 6 months to reflect your current appearance
Taken in front of a plain white or off-white background
Taken in full-face view directly facing the camera
With a neutral facial expression and both eyes open
Taken in clothing that you normally wear on a daily basis:
- Uniforms should not be worn in your photo, except religious clothing that is worn daily.
- Do not wear a hat or head covering that obscures the hair or hairline, unless worn daily for a religious purpose. Your full face must be visible, and the head covering must not cast any shadows on your face.
- Headphones, wireless hands-free devices or similar items are not acceptable in your photo.
- If you normally wear prescription glasses, a hearing device or similar articles, they may be worn for your photo.
- Dark glasses or non-prescription glasses with tinted lenses are not acceptable unless you need them for medical reasons (a medical certificate may be required).
- Glare on glasses is not acceptable in your photo. Glare can be avoided with a slight downward tilt of the glasses or by removing the glasses or by turning off the camera flash.

Want to take the photo yourself?

While we recommend you use a professional passport photo service to ensure your photo meets all the requirements, you may take the photo yourself. Hand-held self portraits are not acceptable. Photos must not be digitally enhanced or altered to change your appearance in any way. Please review the following technical requirements and references for guidance on taking your own passport photo.

Use the Department of State’s free photo tool to:

select a digital image stored on your computer
resize and rotate it if necessary
crop it to a square image of exactly 600 x 600 pixels, and
save it to your computer to submit it online

This tool requires Adobe Flash Player 10 or later.

Taking photos of your baby or toddler

When taking a photo of your baby or toddler, no other person should be in the photo and your child should be looking at the camera with his or her eyes open.

Tip 1:	Lay your baby on his or her back on a plain white or off-white sheet. This will ensure your baby's head is supported and provide a plain background for the photo. Make certain there are no shadows on your baby's face, especially if you take a picture from above with the baby lying down.
Tip 2:	Cover a car seat with a plain white or off-white sheet and take a picture of your child in the car seat. This will also ensure your baby’s head is supported.

Change of Appearance

Your passport may not be accepted at the border if your appearance has changed significantly or if you cannot be identified from the photo in your current passport.

If you feel that you cannot be identified from your current passport photo, you should apply for a new passport, even if your old one has not yet expired (appropriate fees required).

You may have to apply for a new passport if, from the time of your last passport photo, you have:

Undergone significant facial surgery or trauma
Numerous/large facial piercings or tattoos
Significant amount of weight loss or gain
Obtained a new gender identity

If you can still be identified from the photo in your current passport, you do not need to apply for a new passport. For example, growing a beard or coloring your hair would not constitute a significant change.

If the appearance of your child under the age of 16 has changed due to the normal aging process, you do not need to apply for a new passport for him or her.

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