US Passport Photo Cropper (2x2 Inches)
The U.S. Department of State requires passport photos to be exactly 2x2 inches (51x51 mm), which is 600x600 pixels at 300 DPI. Whether you are renewing an existing passport, applying for a first-time passport book, or ordering a passport card, the photo must be a recent color photograph with a plain white or off-white background. This tool lets you visually crop your selfie or portrait to the exact square frame, ensuring your head height falls within the required 50-69% of the image height - then exports a ready-to-upload JPEG under 240KB.
Physical size
2 x 2 inches
Pixels at 300 DPI
600 x 600 px
Max file size
240 KB
Background
Plain white
Drop a photo to crop
Choose a photo, position it inside the crop frame, then export to an exam-friendly JPG.
Official US passport photo requirements
Dimensions
2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm)
Digital resolution
600 x 600 px at 300 DPI
Accepted pixel range
600-1200 px per side (square)
Max file size
240 KB
Format
JPEG (.jpg)
Background
Plain white or off-white, no shadows
Head height
1-1⅜ inches (50-69% of image height)
Eye height
Between 1⅛ and 1⅜ inches from bottom
Recency
Taken within the last 6 months
Expression
Neutral, both eyes open, mouth closed
How it works
Take a front-facing photo against a white wall
Use your phone or any camera. Stand 2-5 feet from a plain white or off-white wall. Use natural daylight - avoid flash that creates harsh shadows behind your head. Remove glasses, hats, and head coverings (unless worn daily for religious reasons).
Upload and crop to the 2x2 inch square frame
The cropper displays a square viewport matching the 2x2 inch ratio. Drag and zoom your photo so your head fills 50-69% of the vertical space. The tool auto-exports at 600x600 pixels.
Download and submit
Export the cropped JPEG. If the file is under 240KB, upload directly to the State Department website, a passport acceptance facility form, or a CVS/Walgreens photo kiosk for printing. If over 240KB, use the compressor to reduce the file size.
Frequently asked questions
What is the US passport photo size in pixels?
The US passport photo must be 600x600 pixels minimum and 1200x1200 pixels maximum. Both dimensions must be equal (square). At 300 DPI, 2x2 inches converts to exactly 600x600 pixels.
Is a US passport photo the same size as a US visa photo?
Yes. Both require a 2x2 inch (600x600 px) square photo with a white background and the same head-height rules. The only difference is the upload portal - passport photos go to travel.state.gov while visa photos go to the CEAC system.
Can I crop my own passport photo at home?
Yes. The Department of State accepts digital photos taken at home as long as they meet size, lighting, background, and head-position requirements. This tool helps you crop to the exact dimensions so your photo is not rejected.
Do I need to remove my glasses for the photo?
Yes. Since November 2016, the US State Department no longer accepts passport photos with eyeglasses, except with documented medical exceptions.
What happens if my passport photo is rejected?
Common rejection reasons include: wrong dimensions, shadows on face or background, head too small or too large in the frame, glasses worn, or file size exceeding 240KB. This tool addresses the dimension and file size issues. For lighting and background problems, retake the photo against a plain white wall with natural light.
Bharat Kumar G.verified
Technical SEO & Document Processing Expert
Bharat is the founder of ReadyToSubmit. With years of experience in technical web development, he builds privacy-first, client-side tools to help Indian government exam aspirants format their applications accurately and securely without server uploads.
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