The State Department asks for a 2×2 in color photo taken in the last 6 months, with your head 1 to 1⅜ in from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head, against a plain white or off-white background, with no filters or digital changes (Passport Photos page, checked 21 Oct 2026). For online renewal, the upload step takes a JPG, JPEG, PNG, HEIC or HEIF file between 54 KB and 10 MB (Uploading a Digital Photo page, checked 21 Oct 2026). Photopip crops and sizes the photo you took. It doesn't replace the background, because both pages ask for an unedited photo.

1. Stand a few feet in front of a white or off-white wall, face the camera with your mouth closed, and take the photo in even light, without a beauty filter.
2. Click Choose a photo, or drop it on the page. The boxes are already 600 × 600 px (2×2 in at 300 ppi) and at least 54 KB. The first time, a 44 MB model downloads; after that it runs on your device.
3. Read the card. A line with ! needs a new photo; a line with · is a hint. Head height is measured from your outline and the detected face, and eye position isn't measured, so compare the result with the examples on the State Department's photo page.
4. Click Download JPG to upload it for online renewal, or Lay out 6 on a 4×6 in sheet to download a print sheet; print it at a photo counter and cut along the lines. The sheet is offered only when no line has a !.

The card checks what a machine can check: pixels, file size, format, and whether the wall behind you looks white and even. Expression, glasses, shadows and how recent the photo is are yours to check, and a State Department employee makes the final call. Photopip doesn't retouch or fill in missing edges. If your photo is smaller than the box, or there isn't enough room around your head to crop it, the card says so instead of passing it: take it again.

Is 2×2 in the same as 600×600 px?

At 300 ppi, yes: 2 in × 300 = 600 px. The online renewal upload step lists file types and a size of 54 KB to 10 MB but no pixel size, and it lets you crop inside the application; 600 × 600 prints at exactly 2×2 in.

Why doesn't it make the background white?

The State Department's photo page marks a photo whose background isn't plain white or off-white as unacceptable and asks you to fix the lighting and background and take a new photo, not to edit it. A white wall or a hung white sheet works. If the wall looks too dark or uneven, the card marks it with ! and asks for a new photo.

Can I upload this for online renewal?

The JPG falls inside the 54 KB to 10 MB the upload step lists (the sample comes out at 72 KB). Whether the photo itself is accepted is decided by the State Department after you apply, not by this card.

Where do I print the sheet?

At any 4×6 in photo print counter. The sheet holds six 2×2 in photos edge to edge with cut lines. Print it at actual size, not fit to page, and turn off borderless cropping, or the outer photos lose a millimeter at the edge.

Can it fix glasses, shadows or a smile?

No. Those are rules about the photo, not the file. Take it again without glasses, in even light, with a neutral expression and your mouth closed.

Updated 2026-10-21

More toolsPassport photoAdd watermarkBulk certificatesRemove peopleProduct photo on whiteDiscord emoji sizeRemove backgroundOpen PSD files

The State Department asks for a 2×2 in color photo taken in the last 6 months, with your head 1 to 1⅜ in from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head, against a plain white or off-white background, with no filters or digital changes (Passport Photos page, checked 21 Oct 2026). For online renewal, the upload step takes a JPG, JPEG, PNG, HEIC or HEIF file between 54 KB and 10 MB (Uploading a Digital Photo page, checked 21 Oct 2026). Photopip crops and sizes the photo you took. It doesn't replace the background, because both pages ask for an unedited photo.

1. Stand a few feet in front of a white or off-white wall, face the camera with your mouth closed, and take the photo in even light, without a beauty filter.
2. Click Choose a photo, or drop it on the page. The boxes are already 600 × 600 px (2×2 in at 300 ppi) and at least 54 KB. The first time, a 44 MB model downloads; after that it runs on your device.
3. Read the card. A line with ! needs a new photo; a line with · is a hint. Head height is measured from your outline and the detected face, and eye position isn't measured, so compare the result with the examples on the State Department's photo page.
4. Click Download JPG to upload it for online renewal, or Lay out 6 on a 4×6 in sheet to download a print sheet; print it at a photo counter and cut along the lines. The sheet is offered only when no line has a !.

The card checks what a machine can check: pixels, file size, format, and whether the wall behind you looks white and even. Expression, glasses, shadows and how recent the photo is are yours to check, and a State Department employee makes the final call. Photopip doesn't retouch or fill in missing edges. If your photo is smaller than the box, or there isn't enough room around your head to crop it, the card says so instead of passing it: take it again.

Is 2×2 in the same as 600×600 px?

At 300 ppi, yes: 2 in × 300 = 600 px. The online renewal upload step lists file types and a size of 54 KB to 10 MB but no pixel size, and it lets you crop inside the application; 600 × 600 prints at exactly 2×2 in.

Why doesn't it make the background white?

The State Department's photo page marks a photo whose background isn't plain white or off-white as unacceptable and asks you to fix the lighting and background and take a new photo, not to edit it. A white wall or a hung white sheet works. If the wall looks too dark or uneven, the card marks it with ! and asks for a new photo.

Can I upload this for online renewal?

The JPG falls inside the 54 KB to 10 MB the upload step lists (the sample comes out at 72 KB). Whether the photo itself is accepted is decided by the State Department after you apply, not by this card.

Where do I print the sheet?

At any 4×6 in photo print counter. The sheet holds six 2×2 in photos edge to edge with cut lines. Print it at actual size, not fit to page, and turn off borderless cropping, or the outer photos lose a millimeter at the edge.

Can it fix glasses, shadows or a smile?

No. Those are rules about the photo, not the file. Take it again without glasses, in even light, with a neutral expression and your mouth closed.

Updated 2026-10-21

More toolsPassport photoAdd watermarkBulk certificatesRemove peopleProduct photo on whiteDiscord emoji sizeRemove backgroundOpen PSD files