Passport Photo Rejected? Why It Happens and How to Fix It

If your photo does not meet the requirements, the U.S. Department of State does not deny your passport. It puts the application on hold and contacts you, usually by letter or email, asking for a new photo.

• Read the notice carefully. It explains what to send and how to send it.
• Get a new photo that fixes the problem, taken recently.
• Send it exactly the way the notice says, with any form or reference number it asks for.
• Processing continues once the new photo arrives, so act fast if you have a trip coming up.

In most cases you answer the request with a new photo rather than starting a new application. If you applied online, follow the instructions in the email you receive.

These are the State Department rules a photo most often breaks, with the fix for each. Most come down to lighting, framing and editing.

The sections below explain each group in more detail. For the full rulebook, see passport photo requirements.

Shadows and backgrounds are the easiest problems to spot in a photo and the easiest to prevent.

Shadows

Shadows on one side of the face come from side light. Shadows behind the head come from standing too close to the wall or using flash. Face a window with soft light and step 2 to 3 feet away from the wall.

Background

Only plain white or off-white passes for US passports. Gray walls, cream walls under yellow light, patterns, door frames and furniture in the frame all fail. A white poster board taped behind you is the cheapest fix.

Glare and red-eye

Flash causes shiny skin, glare and red-eye. Turn the flash off and use daylight. Our passport photo at home guide shows a full lighting setup.

The head must be 1 to 1 3/8 inches from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head, which is 50% to 69% of the photo height. A head that is too big or too small is a rejection.

• Too big: the camera was too close or the crop was too tight. Leave space above your head.
• Too small: the photo shows too much body or background. Crop closer.
• Off-center or tilted: the head must be centered and level.
• Distorted: arm's-length selfies make noses look bigger and faces narrower. Shoot from 4 to 5 feet away.

A head that looks right on screen can still print the wrong size if the printer scales it. Always print at actual size (100%), and measure the photo with a ruler.

Your full face must be visible and look natural. These are the face-related rules that catch people out.

• Glasses: banned since November 1, 2016, unless a medical professional signs a statement that you cannot remove them. See glasses in passport photos.
• Expression: a neutral face or a natural, unexaggerated smile. A closed-mouth smile is safest. See can you smile in a passport photo.
• Eyes: open, both visible, with no hair over them.
• Head coverings: only for religious or medical reasons, with a signed statement, and never covering the face.
• Clothing: no uniforms, clothing that looks like a uniform, or camouflage. See what to wear for a passport photo.
• Headphones and wireless devices: not allowed.

Even a well-framed photo fails if it is soft, edited, old or badly printed.

Face edits and filters

The State Department says not to change your photo with computer software, phone apps, filters or artificial intelligence, says it checks photos for this, and does not accept edited or filtered photos. Beauty mode, skin smoothing, face slimming and blemish removal all count. Cropping to size is normal: the online renewal tool has its own crop step.

Old photos

The photo must be taken in the last 6 months and look like you today. Do not reuse the photo from your old passport.

Print problems

Prints must be 2 x 2 inches on matte or glossy photo-quality paper, with no creases, smudges or ink lines. Plain paper fails. See how to print passport photos.

Low resolution

Screenshots, heavily compressed files and photos sent by text message lose detail. Use the original file from the camera.

Digital applications check some rules automatically, but an upload check only covers the basics.

• Online passport renewal: the photo tool checks basic requirements when you upload and tells you what to change. Files must be JPG, PNG, HEIC or HEIF, between 54 KB and 10 MB. If there is a problem after you submit, follow the instructions you receive. See online passport renewal photo.
• US visa (DS-160): the upload rejects files that are not square JPEGs from 600 x 600 to 1200 x 1200 pixels and 240 kB or less. Passing that check does not guarantee the photo is acceptable; the consular officer still reviews it. See US visa photo.
• DV lottery: the photo must be a 600 x 600 pixel JPEG of 240 kB or less, taken within 6 months. Reusing an old photo or editing it can disqualify the whole entry. See DV lottery photo.
• USCIS forms: two identical 2 x 2 photos, unmounted and unretouched, on thin glossy paper. See green card photo.

Check every item before you send a new photo. If you can say yes to all ten, the common rejection reasons are covered.

• Exactly 2 x 2 inches, measured with a ruler, or a square digital file.
• Head 1 to 1 3/8 inches from chin to top of head.
• Plain white or off-white background with no shadows or objects.
• Even light, no glare, no red-eye.
• Facing the camera, head level, both eyes open.
• Neutral face or natural, closed-mouth smile.
• No glasses, hat, headphones or earbuds.
• No uniform or camouflage.
• No filters, beauty mode or retouching of your face.
• Taken in the last 6 months and printed on matte or glossy photo paper.

The free photo checker runs in your browser and tests a photo before you pay for anything.

PhotoForPass is built to fix the problems that cause most rejections. We fix the lighting, replace the background with plain white, size and crop the photo to the official 2 x 2 inch layout, and check it against the requirements, keeping your face exactly as it is. Final acceptance is up to the issuing agency.

• Up to 5 photo checks and 3 free redos per person in every order.
• The free checker runs in your browser before you pay, so your photo stays on your device.
• A 14-day money-back guarantee, and a full refund if an agency rejects the photo.
• Digital photo $16.95, photo + print sheet $18.95, family packs from $29.95.