U.S. FEDERAL REQUIREMENT
U.S. Passport Photo Requirements for Online Renewal
Digital photo upload rules for eligible U.S. passport online renewals, including file types, size, and what edits to avoid.
Eligible applicants upload a digital photo.
Sources reviewed: October 11, 2026
What to prepare
Eligible applicants upload a digital photo.
This route is only for applicants who qualify to renew online. Take an original photo and upload it through the official Department of State application. Use its crop and reposition tools.
- Accepted file types: JPG/JPEG, PNG, HEIC, or HEIF; 54 KB through 10 MB.
- Color photo taken within the last six months.
- Plain white or off-white background, even lighting, face centered.
- Do not use filters, retouching, appearance changes, or AI edits.
- Do not export an edited passport image from this guide; use the government application tools.
Official laws, regulations, and agency instructions
Check your application
Instructions can depend on the exact application path. Confirm the agency’s current requirements before preparing a photo.
Open the photo checker