Passport & visa photos / Passport renewal photo
Passport renewal photo: DS-82 by mail or online
✓ Checked Oct 2026 against the official pages. See sources
How you renew decides which photo you need. PhotoFit makes the printed 2 x 2 in photo and the digital file in one go. The check and preview are free; the final photo is $4.99.
Make my photo (free check, $4.99 to download)
Renewing by mail (Form DS-82)
- 1 color photo, 2 x 2 in, taken in the last 6 months
- Head 1 to 1 3/8 in, chin to top of head
- Matte or glossy photo-quality paper; no photocopies or scans
- White or off-white background, no glasses
Renewing online
- Digital photo: JPG, JPEG, PNG, HEIC, or HEIF
- File size 54 KB to 10 MB
- Color, taken in the last 6 months
- Frame to the edge of your shoulders; avoid showing teeth
- No filters or retouching; don't scan a printed photo
Good to know
- The online renewal tool lets you crop and reposition, and checks basic requirements, but a State Department employee still reviews the photo later.
- PhotoFit's US passport digital file is a 1200 x 1200 px JPG within the size limits. It only crops and resizes, never edits your face or background.
- Unacceptable photos are the number one reason the State Department puts applications on hold, so check the rules before you submit.
Make your photo
🔒 Your photo never leaves your device. Face detection, cropping, and the checks all run in your browser. Nothing is uploaded to us or anyone else.
2. Your photo
Tips for a photo that passes
- Stand 2 to 4 feet in front of a plain white or off-white wall (or hang a white sheet). Step forward from the wall so no shadow falls behind you.
- Have someone else take it from about 4 feet away, camera at eye level. Selfies at arm's length distort your face.
- Face a window or a soft lamp so both sides of your face are evenly lit. No flash.
- Take off glasses and hats. Neutral expression, eyes open, mouth closed. Leave room above your head and show your shoulders.
- Use the original camera photo, not a screenshot or a photo sent by text.
Not an official acceptance guarantee. These are basic checks; the agency makes the final decision. Things we can't check: glasses glare, hair over the eyes, how recent the photo is, and whether it looks like you.
$4.99 for the clean photo
- The digital file at the official size
- A 4x6 print sheet (when the document needs prints). Print it at any photo kiosk as a 4x6 at 100%, then cut along the lines
- Retakes: one purchase covers up to 3 photos
The preview above is free and watermarked. Secure checkout by Stripe. Your photo stays on this device during checkout.
Printing: choose 4x6 in, "actual size" or 100%, no borders. Check one photo with a ruler before you cut.
Questions
What photo do I need for online passport renewal?
A color digital photo taken in the last 6 months: JPG, JPEG, PNG, HEIC, or HEIF, 54 KB to 10 MB, plain white or off-white background, no glasses, no filters.
Can I use my old passport photo to renew?
No. The photo must have been taken in the last 6 months.
Sources
From the official pages below, last checked Oct 2026. Rules change, so check them before you apply.