When you renew your passport online, you will need to upload a digital photo.
Watch this video for an overview of how to upload a digital photo when you renew your passport online.
When you upload your photo, the tool will:
After the photo tool accepts your photo, a Department of State employee will do a final review of your photo to confirm it meets our passport requirements.
If the photo tool rejects your photo, the tool will provide a message explaining the reason. You can find information about what these "error codes" mean on this webpage.
| Photo Element | Requirement |
| Dimensions | Your photo must be at least 600 x 600 pixels. If you have a friend or family member take your photo, make sure the image has large dimensions and there is ample space around your head and torso to allow room for automatic cropping by our photo tool. The dimensions can be rectangular. |
| Color | Your photo must be in color (24 bits per pixel) in sRGB color space which is the common output for most digital cameras. |
| Format | Your photo must be in JPEG file format. |
| Size | Your photo must be at least 54 kilobytes and no more than 10 megabytes. |
| Compression | Your photo's compression ratio should be less than or equal to 20:1. Use the highest quality settings on your camera so your photo maintains clarity and resolution. When saving and emailing your photo, select the highest quality setting (large file size). Do not edit or digitally manipulate your photo. To avoid compressing your image, do not send the image via text message or save it to a cloud-based application. |
There are several reasons why you may be receiving this error message. Please make sure you upload a new photo that includes:
We need you to upload a new photo that has a higher resolution, is not grainy or pixelated, and is not compressed. Compression means the file size is too small with respect to the pixel dimensions. A photo may become compressed if it is edited after it is taken. Improve the resolution of your photo by changing the settings on your camera.
When saving and emailing your photo, select the highest quality setting (large file size). Do not edit or digitally manipulate your photo. To avoid compressing your image, do not send the image via text message or save it to a cloud-based application.
Our photo tool detected that your expression may be unnatural. Make sure your eyes are open and your mouth is closed.
We need you to upload a new photo because the size and positioning of your head is not acceptable for a passport. If the person taking your photo is standing too close or too far away, your head may take up too much or too little of the photo.
Please make sure there is ample space around your head and body when you upload your photo. Our photo tool will crop your photo into the correct dimensions.
This message means your photo may be blurry or out of focus. Your photo may have a low resolution and file size, or it may be grainy and pixelated, and lack clarity. Please upload a new photo with a larger file size and resolution.
Watch this video to see an example:
There are several reasons why you may be receiving this error message. Please make sure you upload a new photo that is not overexposed or underexposed.
Underexposure happens when a photo appears to be darker than neutral exposure. Overexposure happens when a photo is too bright or appears washed out.
Watch this video to see an example:
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