U.S. PASSPORT PHOTO GUIDE
What can a free passport photo checker tell you?
A passport photo checker can measure file properties and flag possible image problems. It cannot decide whether the government will accept your photo. Use the results to review your original and decide whether to retake it.
Updated · Published by French Connection Limited, Hong Kong.
Check my photo — freeFree public beta: browser-local screening estimates and a watermarked print-crop preview only. Payments and downloadable print files are not available.
Measured properties are different from estimates
The browser can read a file's size and, when it can decode the image, its pixel dimensions. File-format checks depend on the file information and browser support. These properties do not prove that the picture itself meets every requirement.
Face position, head visibility, eye visibility, sharpness, background and lighting checks are automated estimates. A missed face, unusual lighting or an incorrect head guide can affect the result. Inspect the original alongside each result; a passing label is not a certificate.
Start with the original file for online renewal
The State Department's online-renewal photo instructions list JPG/JPEG, PNG, HEIC and HEIF files from 54 KB to 10 MB. Preserve your original camera file, upload it to the official system and use that system's positioning and cropping tools.
Our watermarked preview is for reviewing a possible print crop. It is not the original online-renewal upload and should not be submitted as one. If the browser cannot open your file, that does not itself establish whether the official system can accept it.
Official requirements and this tool's limits
Online uploads and physical prints have different requirements. The online-renewal instructions and printed-photo requirements are the authoritative sources. Checked October 8, 2026.
| Requirement | Official rule and context | What this beta provides |
|---|---|---|
| Online file | JPG/JPEG, PNG, HEIC or HEIF; 54 KB–10 MB. Submit the original unedited photo. | Reads file size and supported format. Decoding depends on browser compatibility; no official upload or acceptance decision. |
| Physical size | Printed passport photo: 2×2 inches (51×51 mm). | Watermarked print-crop preview. A six-photo 4×6 sheet is a planned layout, not an official requirement or a current download. |
| Printed head height | Bottom of chin to top of head: 1–1⅜ inches (25–35 mm) in the printed photo. | Estimated guides that you must verify. Physical size must be measured on the finished print. |
| Pixels and quality | Use a sharp, high-quality color original; avoid blur and pixelation. Online renewal uses the official system's crop tools. | Checks available pixels for our 600×600 print preview. This is our preparation target, not a quoted universal online-renewal minimum. 300 DPI is a print-file convention, not proof of acceptance. |
| Background and lighting | Plain white or off-white background, no shadows, texture or objects; evenly lit face. | Automated estimates only. Inspect the original yourself; we do not replace backgrounds or retouch faces. |
| Originality and age | Color photo taken within six months, without filters or changes to appearance. | Requires your review. We cannot authenticate capture date, identity, editing history or AI generation. |
Review what software cannot establish
We cannot authenticate your identity, the capture date or the originality of a photo. We cannot definitively verify whether it contains AI generation, filters, retouching or eyewear. You must review those issues yourself against the official passport photo requirements.
Look at the whole head and face, including the eyes and mouth, rather than relying on a result badge. If a shadow or background issue is visible, use our lighting and shadows guide before taking another photo.
Choose the next step for your application
For online renewal, keep the original file available for the official upload. For a paper application, review the separate 2×2 photo and 4×6 print-layout guide; physical size depends on the finished print, not just the image on a screen.
FixMyPassportPhoto processes your selected photo locally in your browser. The beta provides no human expert review or government approval. The State Department makes the final acceptance decision.
Questions about passport photo checks
Does a pass mean my photo will be accepted?
No. Automated screening can miss problems, and acceptance remains a government decision. Review the original and official instructions even when the estimates pass.
Can the checker prove my photo is unedited?
No. It cannot definitively verify originality, filtering or retouching. Keep the original camera file and review how it was created.
Can I download a print file during the beta?
No. The free beta offers screening estimates and a watermarked print-crop preview. There is no payment or print-file download service yet.