How to Make a US Passport Photo
A walk-in passport photo costs $15–20 and takes a trip. With a phone and ImageMint you can produce a State Department-compliant 2×2 inch photo at home in 5 minutes for free.
Try It Now — Free & Private
Crop your selfie to the exact 51×51 mm passport spec, ready to print.
Open ID Photo ToolStep-by-Step Guide
- 1
Take a clean selfie against a white wall
Stand 1 meter from a plain white wall, face the brightest window in your home, and have someone shoot from chest height with your phone's rear camera (not selfie cam — better resolution). Neutral expression, mouth closed, no glasses.
- 2
Drop the photo into ImageMint
Use the ID Photo tool and pick the "United States — Passport (2×2 in)" preset. ImageMint enforces 51×51 mm at 600 DPI and shows guides for the required head position.
- 3
Fine-tune crop and download
Drag the crop box so your eyes land between 1.125 and 1.375 inches from the bottom (the State Department requirement). Download as JPG and print 4 copies on a 4×6 photo paper at any drugstore.
Pro Tips
- The background must be plain white or off-white. ImageMint can auto-replace the background if your wall is not perfectly clean — use the Background Remover first.
- Print at any drugstore (CVS, Walgreens, Walmart) using "4×6 photo print" — it costs about $0.39. You will get four 2×2 photos.
- The State Department also accepts digital uploads for renewals. ImageMint outputs the exact 600×600 pixel JPG required.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the official US passport photo requirements?
2×2 inches (51×51 mm) square, taken within the last 6 months, plain white/off-white background, color, head 1–1.375 inches from chin to top, neutral expression, no glasses since 2016, no head coverings except religious ones.
Can I really print at home and have it accepted?
Yes, but the print must be on photo paper (not regular printer paper) and meet the size and quality specs. The drugstore route is cheaper and more reliable than home printing.
What if my background is not white?
Use ImageMint's background remover first to replace your wall with pure white. The tools chain together: BG Remove → ID Photo Tool → Print.
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