Frequently Asked Questions

How many passport photos are required to be ted with the
passport application?Two (2) identical photos must be ted with the
passport application.
What type of paper are the photographs to be printed on?The photos
should be printed on thin photo-quality paper.
Do the photos have to be in color?Yes, the photos to must be in color.
How recent must the photos be?The photos must be no older than 6
months.
How big must the photos be?The photos must measure exactly 2 inches by
2 inches.
What pose should the photos show?The photo should show a clear, front
view, full face of the customer. The customer should be in normal street attire,
without hat or dark glasses against a plain white or off-white background. The
customer should have a natural expression, mouth closed, and eyes open and
looking directly ahead. Photos in which the face of the person being
photographed is not in focus will not be accepted.
How big should the head be in the photo?The customer''s head, measured
from the bottom of the chin to the top of the hair, should be between 1 inch
and 1-3/8 inches. The head should be centered in the photo. The head of the
person being photographed should not be tilted up, down or to the side. It
should cover about 50% of the area of the photo.
Can hats or religious headgear be worn for the photo?Unless worn daily
for religious reasons, all hats or headgear should be removed for the photo. In
all cases, no item or attire should cover or otherwise obscure any part of the
face.
Can eyeglasses be worn for the photo?Eyeglasses worn on a daily basis
can be worn for the photo. However, there should be no reflections from the
eyeglasses that obscures the eyes.
http://travel.state.gov/passport/guide/faq/faq_881.html (1 of 2) [5/2/2007 4:48:15 PM]