The short version
- Make a 4 x 6 inch image at 300 pixels per inch: 1800 x 1200 pixels with two 600 x 600 pixel photos.
- Order a regular 4x6 print at a photo counter or print it at home on photo paper.
- Turn off "fit to page", "fill" and borderless cropping: print at 100% or actual size.
- Check with a ruler that each photo measures exactly 2 inches (51 mm).
- Cut along the crop marks with a paper trimmer or sharp scissors; do not bend the photo.
- Renewing by mail with Form DS-82: staple one photo with 4 staples in the corners.
Why a 4x6 sheet works
A 4x6 is the standard snapshot size at photo counters and on home photo printers. At 300 pixels per inch, the sheet is 1800 x 1200 pixels. Two 2 x 2 inch photos take 600 x 600 pixels each, which leaves a margin around both for crop marks.
One U.S. passport application takes one photo, so the second is a spare. Immigrant visa applicants filing Form DS-260 need two identical photos, so a single 4x6 covers them too.
The rules
- The U.S. Department of State requires a printed passport photo of 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm). travel.state.gov
- Immigrant visa applicants filing Form DS-260 bring two identical 2 x 2 inch photos printed on photo-quality paper to the interview. travel.state.gov
Print at 100%, not "fit to page"
Most print screens and kiosks scale photos to fill the paper or to fit inside it. Either one changes the size of the passport photo. Choose "actual size" or 100% scale, and turn off borderless printing, which crops the edges.
Before you cut, measure. Each photo should be exactly 2 inches (51 mm) on each side, and the head from chin to the top of the head should measure between 1 and 1 3/8 inches (25 to 35 mm). If the square is 1.9 inches, the printer scaled it.
- Open the 4x6 file and choose Print.
- Set the paper size to 4 x 6 in (10 x 15 cm) and the paper type to photo paper.
- Set the scale to 100% or "Actual size". Turn off "Fit", "Fill" and "Borderless".
- Print one copy and measure both squares with a ruler before cutting.
The rule
- In a U.S. passport photo, the head must measure 1 to 1 3/8 inches (25 to 35 mm) from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head. travel.state.gov
Use photo paper, matte or glossy
Plain office paper, a photocopy or a scan of an older photo will be refused. Matte and glossy photo paper are both fine. At home, use your printer’s photo setting and the highest quality; at a photo counter, a standard 4x6 print is already on photo paper.
Check the print for dots, streaks, smudges and creases. A damaged print is refused as well.
The rules
- A printed U.S. passport photo must be on matte or glossy photo-quality paper; photocopies and scanned photos are not accepted. travel.state.gov
- The State Department refuses damaged passport photos with holes, creases or smudges. travel.state.gov
- A passport photo should not show visible printer dots, according to the State Department. travel.state.gov
Where to print, and what the alternatives cost
Any photo counter that prints 4x6 snapshots can print the sheet; upload the file like any other photo. A home inkjet with 4x6 photo paper works the same way.
If you would rather have the photo taken for you, prices vary by place. These are two published prices, with the date we read them:
The rules
- The U.S. Postal Service charges $15.00 for a passport photo taken at a Post Office. usps.com
- Walgreens charges $16.99 for two printed passport photos, with a digital copy sent by email at no extra charge. photo.walgreens.com
- Acceptance facilities and photo vendors each set their own fee for taking a passport photo, according to the State Department. travel.state.gov
Cut it out and attach it
Cut on the crop marks with a paper trimmer, or with sharp scissors and a steel ruler. Keep the edges straight and the corners square, and handle the photo by its edges.
For a mail-in renewal on Form DS-82, staple the photo to the form with four staples, placed vertically in the corners and as close to the edges as possible. Do not bend it, and do not staple through the face.
The rule
- Form DS-82 tells mail-in renewal applicants to attach the photo with 4 staples placed vertically in the corners, as close to the outer edges as possible, without bending it. eforms.state.gov
FAQ
Can I print a passport photo on regular paper?
No. The State Department requires matte or glossy photo-quality paper and refuses photocopies and scanned photos. Source: official page "Passport Photos", checked on Oct 25, 2026.
How many passport photos do I need?
One for a U.S. passport application or a DS-82 renewal. Immigrant visa applicants filing the DS-260 need two identical photos. Source: official pages "Passport Photos", "Form DS-82 (04-2025), U.S. Passport Renewal Application › Instructions, item 2" and "Photo Requirements (U.S. Visas)", checked on Oct 25, 2026.
Can I print a 2x2 photo on letter-size paper at home?
Yes, if the printer prints at 100% and you use photo paper. A letter sheet fits six 2 x 2 inch photos. Measure one before cutting, since home printers often scale to fit. Source: official page "Passport Photos", checked on Oct 25, 2026.
Where this information comes from
Every rule on this page comes from a page published by the U.S. Department of State and the companies named, read on the date shown. We rewrite each rule in plain words and link to the page it came from. Each rule has a review deadline; one that passes it without a new check comes off the page.
- Passport Photos travel.state.gov · checked Oct 25, 2026
- Photo Requirements (U.S. Visas) travel.state.gov · checked Oct 25, 2026
- Passport Appointments, Renewals, & Photo Services | USPS usps.com · checked Oct 25, 2026
- Passport and Visa Photos | Walgreens Photo photo.walgreens.com · checked Oct 25, 2026
- Form DS-82 (04-2025), U.S. Passport Renewal Application › Instructions, item 2 eforms.state.gov · checked Oct 25, 2026
Something here out of date? Tell us and we will check it against the official page.