Getting or renewing a passport?
Here’s what you gotta know about photo requirements.
What is a passport-size photo?
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Department of Staterequires a square photo that’s two inches long and wide.
The photo should show you clearly and without editing this is a #nofilter zone.
You must have someone else take the photo or take it using a tripod.
Your passport photo should be high resolution not blurry, grainy, or pixelated and printed on photo-quality paper.
It can be matte or glossy as long as it doesn’t have holes, creases, or smudges.
Photos must be taken against plain, untextured white or off-white backgrounds with no shadows.
You should be well-lit in the photograph so that your skin tone is accurately represented.
Posing for Passport Photos
Save the sultry or silly poses for Instagram.
No big cheesy grins, no silly faces, no pouts.
Smiles are okay as long as your mouth is closed.
In your photo, you should be facing the camera directly with your full face in view.
There is more leniency for baby passport photos, according to the State Department.
The State Department wants your photo to be “taken in clothing normally worn on a daily basis.”
However, no uniforms or clothing that looks like a uniform.
Also, no camouflage attire.
You should not wear a hat or head covering in your photo.
Even with those signed statements, your full face has to be visible.
Also, do not wear headphones or earpieces.
Take off any face covering or medical mask.
As far as glasses go, the Department of State changed its ruling on those in 2016.
But when you take a new photo for renewal, you’ll have to take them off.
