Updated for current U.S. passport photo rules
Check your passport photo before you submit it.
Take the photo at home with on-screen guides. We check it against every U.S. passport photo rule, then give you a correctly sized file to upload or print.
One-time price · no subscription
The rules
Why passport photos get rejected
A rejected photo can delay your application. These are the rules a photo has to meet:
Wrong size
2 × 2 inches, with your head 1 to 1⅜ inches from chin to the top of your head
Busy background or shadows
Plain white or off-white background, with no shadows on your face or behind you
Glasses
No glasses, and nothing covering your face or hairline unless it's for religious or medical reasons
Head tilted or turned
Neutral expression or a natural smile, both eyes open, facing the camera straight on
Old photo
Taken in the last 6 months, so it looks like you today
Filters or AI edits
No filters, retouching, background swaps or AI edits. The State Department says it won't accept photos that have been edited or filtered.
Source: U.S. Department of State, passport photo requirements. Always check the official page before you apply.
Our promise
We never edit your face or background.
Edited photos get rejected, so we only check, crop and resize. What you upload is what the State Department sees.
How it works
Three steps, about five minutes.
- 01
Take the photo against a plain white wall. On-screen guides show where your head, eyes and shoulders should be.
- 02
We check it against each rule: head size and position, background, shadows, glasses, expression and signs of editing. You get a clear pass or fix list.
- 03
Download the correctly sized file for online submission, or a print-ready 4 × 6 sheet.
One price
$6.99 one-time
- Guided capture with live framing guides
- Rule-by-rule check with a pass or fix list
- Correctly sized digital file + 4 × 6 print sheet
- Retake as many times as you need
One-time price · no subscription
Questions
Good to know
Is this a government website?
No. PhotoReady is an independent photo-checking tool and isn't affiliated with the U.S. Department of State or any government agency. We don't process passport applications. You apply through the State Department.
Does a check guarantee my photo will be accepted?
No tool can promise that. The State Department makes the final decision. We check your photo against the published rules so you can catch the common problems before you submit.
Do I upload a photo on this page?
No. We're opening soon, and for now this page only collects waitlist sign-ups. No photos are uploaded or stored.