Passport and visa photo questions

Can I take my own photo for a US passport renewal online?

Yes. For online renewal you upload a digital photo saved on your own device; it does not have to come from a studio. The State Department asks for a colour photo taken in the last 6 months, as a JPG, JPEG, PNG, HEIC or HEIF file between 54 KB and 10 MB, taken several feet from a plain white or off-white background, with no glasses and no filters. Its upload page gives no pixel size, and you can crop the photo in the application.

What the official page says

  • 1 colour photo taken in the last 6 months.
  • A JPG, JPEG, PNG, HEIC or HEIF file between 54 KB and 10 MB.
  • Several feet from a plain white or off-white background with no shadows, texture or objects. The bottom of the photo is the edge of your shoulders.
  • Facing the camera with your eyes open and a neutral expression or natural smile, without showing teeth.
  • No glasses, hat or anything covering your face, unless for documented religious or medical reasons.
  • The original photo: no filters, retouching or digital changes, and not a photo or scan of a printed photo.

Official pages read: October 2026 · Official source: travel.state.gov

How to do it with Complyshot

  1. Open Complyshot and choose “US passport photo”.
  2. Stand several feet from a plain white wall. Have someone hold the phone, or prop it up and use the 3-second timer.
  3. Read the result. Head size, eye position, sharpness, lighting, open eyes and background are checked, and anything that fails comes with what to change.
  4. Save the square 600 × 600 JPEG and choose it when the renewal application asks for your photo.

Related questions

What size should the photo be in pixels?

The State Department’s upload page gives no pixel size. It asks for a file between 54 KB and 10 MB and lets you crop in the application. Complyshot saves a square 600 × 600 JPEG framed to the passport head-size rule.

Can I take it as a selfie?

The State Department does not ask for a professional photo, but it asks you to stand several feet from the camera so your head is the right size. That is easier with someone else holding the phone, or with the phone propped up on a timer.

What happens if my photo is not accepted?

The photo tool tells you what to change when you upload. After you apply, an employee reviews the photo and sends a letter or email if you need to send a new one.

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 Store

Complyshot 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.