Sizing photos correctly for American passports
This page last updated: September 2024
General information about passport photos
If you've been asked to take a passport photo, make sure you go to your country's government website and read the requirements carefully. Passport authorities are very picky.
Broadly speaking, the actual photography requirements don't vary much across the world. Even lighting, plain background, straight angle, nothing obscuring the face, etc. I know that you'll be able to follow all the guidelines fairly easily.
There are two areas where photographers tend to get confused:
- "No retouching": When the guidelines say this, don't be fooled into thinking the photos must be completely SOOC. You must shoot raw as usual, and you must do the standard raw processing (white balance, exposure, contrast, etc) as usual. The "No retouching" rule refers to pixel editing - that is, you must not edit out wrinkles or pimples or flyaway hairs or anything like that.
- Sizing: Everyone gets confused by the size requirements, and they vary from country to country. But don't worry, it's really easy to get exactly right when you know how. That's why I've written this tutorial.
USA passport photo size requirements
At the time I last updated this page, these were the specifications on the Passport Office website:
PLEASE make sure you check these specs for yourself. I won't accept responsibility for sudden changes by the government. If you discover a change, please contact me so I can update this page.
STEP 1: Do the raw processing
Process the raw file in the usual way - white balance, exposure, contrast, etc, etc. When you've finished, don't open the photo into Photoshop. Just press Done to close it.
STEP 2: Make the new blank document
In Photoshop, set up a new document 2x1.2in at your lab's print resolution. (Most labs are 300ppi, but yours might differ.) Of course it must be sRGB colour profile:
STEP 3: Add a centre guide
This step isn't compulsory, but I think it's a very good idead to add a vertical guide right in the centre of the document:
STEP 4: Place the photo
Go to File>Place Embedded and choose the edited raw photo. (If you have Photoshop Elements, or an older version of Photoshop, it might be simply called "File>Place".)
STEP 5: Resize
Resize the photo so that the crown of the head is just touching the top of the window, and the tip of the chin is just touching the bottom of the window. Also move the photo sideways if necessary, to make sure the nose is centred on the guide.
STEP 6: Increase height
Go to the Canvas Size dialog and change the height of the file to 2 inches:
This will reveal more of the photo:
And you're done! The overall file is the correct size, and the face is the correct height, exactly as the requirements state. Save the master file as a PSD, then flatten and save as a jpeg for printing.