Passport Photo Size — Dimensions for US Passport, Visa & ID
Complete reference for passport photo sizes and dimensions. US Passport (2x2"), US Visa, Green Card, DMV ID, and more — with pixel counts and DPI.
US Passport Photo Size
The standard US passport photo size is 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm). This is a square photo — both width and height are identical.
Head Size Within the Photo
The head (from chin to top of hair) must measure between 1 inch and 1-3/8 inches (25 to 35 mm). Eyes should be between 1-1/8 and 1-3/8 inches from the bottom edge of the photo.
These precise measurements are what make passport photos tricky to get right without a tool. The US Passport Photo app measures these automatically using face detection.
Pixel Dimensions by DPI
If you're preparing a digital photo, the pixel dimensions depend on the DPI (dots per inch):
| DPI | Pixel Dimensions | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| 300 DPI | 600 x 600 px | Standard quality |
| 600 DPI | 1200 x 1200 px | High quality (Pro) |
For online passport renewal submissions, the State Department accepts photos between 600x600 and 1200x1200 pixels in JPEG format.
US Visa Photo Size
US visa photos follow the same 2 x 2 inch standard as passport photos. The requirements are virtually identical — same background, same head size, same expression rules.
The key difference: visa photos submitted online must be exactly 600 x 600 pixels in JPEG format, with a file size between 54 KB and 240 KB.
Green Card (Permanent Resident) Photo Size
Green card photos also use the 2 x 2 inch format with the same head-size requirements as passport photos. The USCIS follows State Department photo standards.
DMV / State ID Photo Size
DMV photo requirements vary by state, but most follow a similar pattern. The DMV typically takes the photo in-house, but if you need to provide your own, common sizes include:
- Most states: 2 x 2 inches
- Some states: different aspect ratios — check your state's DMV website
The US Passport Photo app includes presets for common document types so you don't need to look up the specs yourself.
Other Document Photo Sizes
| Document | Size | Format |
|---|---|---|
| US Passport | 2 x 2 in (51 x 51 mm) | Square |
| US Visa | 2 x 2 in (51 x 51 mm) | Square |
| Green Card | 2 x 2 in (51 x 51 mm) | Square |
| Canadian Passport | 2 x 2.75 in (50 x 70 mm) | Portrait |
| UK Passport | 1.38 x 1.77 in (35 x 45 mm) | Portrait |
| Schengen Visa | 1.38 x 1.77 in (35 x 45 mm) | Portrait |
Key Takeaway
For any US government document — passport, visa, or green card — the photo size is 2 x 2 inches. The US Passport Photo app handles all the sizing and compliance automatically, so you get the right dimensions every time.