Passport and visa photo questions
How do I print a 2 × 2 passport photo on 4 × 6 paper?
Put the 2 × 2 inch photo on a 4 × 6 inch image at actual size, print it as a normal photo print on matte or glossy photo paper, and cut the photo out along its edges. The State Department needs the printed photo to be 2 × 2 inches with your head 1 to 1 3/8 inches from chin to top, so print at 100% and do not let the printer scale it to fit. Printed photos are for paper applications; online renewal uses a digital photo.
What the official page says
- 1 colour photo, 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm), taken in the last 6 months.
- Your head 1 to 1 3/8 inches (25 to 35 mm) from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head, with your head and shoulders centred.
- Printed on matte or glossy photo-quality paper, sharp, with no visible printer dots.
- No photocopies or scanned photos, and no holes, creases or smudges.
- A plain white or off-white background, no glasses, and no filters or digital changes.
Official pages read: October 2026 · Official source: travel.state.gov
How to do it with Complyshot
- Open Complyshot and choose “US passport photo”.
- Take the photo several feet from a plain white wall, with someone holding the phone or on the 3-second timer.
- Read the result and fix anything flagged.
- Save the print sheet: 2 photos of 2 × 2 inches on a 6 × 4 inch sheet. Print it at 100% (actual size) as a 4 × 6 photo print and cut along the grey lines.
Related questions
Can I print it at home?
Only if your printer makes a true photo print. The State Department asks for matte or glossy photo-quality paper with no visible printer dots, so a 4 × 6 print from a photo counter or kiosk is the simpler route.
Why did my print come out the wrong size?
The printer or print service scaled the image or cropped it to fill the paper. Choose actual size or 100%, and check the printed photo with a ruler: it should be 2 inches on each side.
Do I need a printed photo to renew online?
No. Online renewal uses a digital photo uploaded from your device. Printed 2 × 2 photos are for paper applications.
Check your photo in Complyshot
Complyshot checks your photo on your iPhone; the photo is not uploaded. Checking is free, and saving the finished photo is a one-time purchase, with no subscription.
Download on the App StoreComplyshot is made by YOTEZIC LTD and is not affiliated with any government. It checks what a phone can measure and cannot promise that your photo will be accepted; the issuing office decides.