🇺🇸 United States
United States passport, visa & USCIS photo requirements
US State Department and USCIS photo rules share a familiar 2×2 inch square format, but each portal enforces its own file-size ceiling and appearance policy. PicsForm maps every US document in our catalog to published millimetre, pixel, head-height, and background rules — last verified 2026-08-18 against travel.state.gov and uscis.gov guidance.
Create photo for United StatesUS Passport
51×51 mm · white bg
US Visa / DS-160
51×51 mm · white bg
Green Card / USCIS
51×51 mm · white bg
Documents covered in this hub
Choose the exact document before you upload. A DS-160 photo may look identical to a passport photo, but file-size limits and submission paths differ.
- US Passport — 51×51 mm (2×2 in), white background, max ~240 KB digital
- US Visa / DS-160 — same 2×2 in framing; confirm current upload limits on the CEAC portal
- Green Card / USCIS — 2×2 in passport-style; many filings now use biometrics appointments instead of self-submitted prints
Key US photo rules (2026)
Neutral expression, both eyes open, no glasses, plain white or off-white background. Head height must fall between 50% and 69% of the image height with eyes positioned 56–69% from the bottom edge.
Selfies are allowed if lighting is even and the camera is at eye level — but automatic beauty filters must be off so facial-recognition systems see your true features.
Common US rejection reasons
- Head too small or too large in the 2×2 frame
- Shadows on the face or background
- Glasses glare or tinted lenses
- JPEG file exceeds portal size limits
- Smiling or mouth open
Quick links
Jump straight to document-specific guides or open the creator with the correct template pre-selected.
- /us-passport-photo — US Passport specs
- /us-visa-photo — DS-160 / US Visa specs
- /us-green-card-photo — USCIS / Green Card specs
US Passport — catalog specs
- Size: 51×51 mm (600×600 px @ 300 DPI)
- Head height: 50–69% of frame height
- Eye line: 56–69% from bottom
- Background: white (#FFFFFF)
- Smile: not allowed — neutral expression
- Glasses: not allowed
- Head coverings: not allowed (except religious/medical where permitted)
- Max file size (when specified): 240 KB
- Print size: 2×2 in
US Visa / DS-160 — catalog specs
- Size: 51×51 mm (600×600 px @ 300 DPI)
- Head height: 50–69% of frame height
- Eye line: 56–69% from bottom
- Background: white (#FFFFFF)
- Smile: not allowed — neutral expression
- Glasses: not allowed
- Head coverings: not allowed (except religious/medical where permitted)
- Max file size (when specified): 240 KB
- Print size: 2×2 in
Green Card / USCIS — catalog specs
- Size: 51×51 mm (600×600 px @ 300 DPI)
- Head height: 50–69% of frame height
- Eye line: 56–69% from bottom
- Background: white (#FFFFFF)
- Smile: not allowed — neutral expression
- Glasses: not allowed
- Head coverings: not allowed (except religious/medical where permitted)
- Max file size (when specified): 240 KB
- Print size: 2×2 in
FAQ
- Can I use one 2×2 photo for passport and DS-160?
- Often yes if size, background, and recency rules match — but always export a fresh file sized to each portal's KB limit. PicsForm lets you pick the exact document so limits are enforced before checkout.
- Does USCIS still accept mailed photos?
- Many adjustment-of-status and naturalization flows now capture biometrics at an ASC appointment. Check your specific form instructions on uscis.gov before printing.
- Where are these specs sourced?
- US Passport: travel.state.gov photo page. US Visa: travel.state.gov visa photo resources. USCIS: Policy Manual Volume 7, Part A, Chapter 4.
Other country hubs
PicsForm matches photos to published requirements. This is not legal or immigration advice and does not guarantee application approval. Always confirm current rules on the official portal.