USA Biometric Photo Size
2×2 inch (51×51 mm), US Department of State
How should a USA passport photo look?
The US sits outside the 35×45 mm world standard: the official format is a 2×2-inch (51×51 mm) square on a white or off-white background, with a head height of 25-35 mm. The same square size applies to passports, B1/B2 tourist, F1 student, H1B work visas, Green Card (I-485), naturalisation (N-400), EAD (I-765), Global Entry, NEXUS and the DV Lottery. For studios outside the US, the most critical difference is the square aspect ratio.
Photo Size
2×2 inch (51×51 mm)
Head size
50-69%
Eye Position
56-69% from bottom
Head Height
25-35 mm
Background Color
White / Off-White
Standard
US Department of State
Real 2×2 inch (51×51 mm) Biometric Photo Example for USA
See the top of the head, pupil line, and bottom of the chin on a real PhotoID Studio output.
Photo Size
51 × 51 mm
Head size
%70
Eye Position
%61.9 from bottom
Requirements may vary by document type. Check the official authority's current rules for USA before applying.
Requirements & Notes
US photo is square format (2×2 inch). Head height must be 50-69% of the photo. Glasses have been prohibited since 2016.
Regulatory authorities and the recency rule
The specification is set by the U.S. Department of State (22 CFR 51.27) and published on travel.state.gov. USCIS uses the same 51×51 mm format for Green Card, naturalisation and EAD applications, CBP for Global Entry and NEXUS, and the State Department for the DV Lottery. There is alignment with ICAO 9303, but the square ratio is unique to the US. The application must be filed within six months of the capture date.
Workflow after the shoot
The captured frame goes into PhotoID Studio. The US preset is selected; the app detects the face, places the head height inside the 25-35 mm range and produces a 51×51 mm square at 300 DPI. USCIS applications usually require two copies; the multi-print layout fits onto 10×15 cm paper automatically. For the DV Lottery, a 600×600 px ≤240 KB JPEG digital variant is produced from the same frame.
Capture setup and customer direction
Seat the customer 1.5-2 m in front of the white backdrop with the shoulders parallel to the camera. The camera is on a tripod with the lens at eye level. Standard setup: a 50-85 mm portrait lens, f/8, a softbox at 45°, a reflector on the opposite side. The official spec allows a neutral expression or a natural smile, but consular face-recognition systems (VIS) prefer a closed mouth; studios use the cue "mouth closed, jaw relaxed, eyes fully open". Glasses have been banned since 1 November 2016; a medical exception requires a doctor's note, clear non-reflective lenses and a thin frame that does not cover the eyes. Babies are photographed lying on their back on a white sheet, with the parent staying out of frame. With a religious headscarf, the face must be visible from below the hairline to the chin.
Rejection reasons at consulates and USCIS
• A photo with glasses: banned since 1 November 2016. • A background other than white: cream, light grey or tinted backdrops are not accepted. • Head height outside the 25-35 mm range. • Visible teeth or a pronounced smile. • A hard one-sided shadow under the chin or on the cheek. • A frame older than six months from the capture date. • A DV Lottery file exceeding 600×600 px or 240 KB. • AI filters, beautify apps or retouching: the State Department moved to a zero-tolerance policy in October 2025. • Wrong format: a 35×45 mm portrait print is rejected for US applications.
For studios serving US visa and immigration applicants
Studios in Turkey, India, China, the Philippines, Mexico and Brazil see a regular flow of B1/B2, F1, H1B and DV Lottery customers. US consular appointments are booked weeks or months ahead, so first-time acceptance is decisive. The PhotoID Studio US preset locks 51×51 mm + 25-35 mm head + white background; from one shoot you produce two USCIS prints and a DV Lottery digital file together.
Used For
- Passport
- Visa (B1/B2, F1, H1B)
- Green Card (I-485)
- Citizenship application (N-400)
- Employment authorization (EAD)
- Global Entry
- NEXUS card
- DV Lottery
- Re-entry permit (I-131)
Official Sources
Official websites where USA biometric photo size and requirements are verified:
Similar Sizes
Related guides
Passport Photo
ICAO 9303 standard, country sizes and the mistakes that get photos rejected
Passport Photo Software
AI-powered passport, visa and ID photos in seconds: Mac & Windows, fully offline
Passport Photo Requirements
Size, background, head height, glasses and expression: what every authority checks
Passport Photo Size
US 2×2 in, Europe 35×45 mm: every dimension in one chart
Frequently asked questions
- What is the US passport photo size in centimetres?
2×2 inches (51×51 mm), i.e. a 5.1×5.1 cm square. The same format is valid for passport, visa, Green Card, naturalisation and the DV Lottery.
- Should I smile in the US photo?
The official spec allows a neutral expression or a natural smile, but consular face-recognition systems prefer a closed mouth. To reduce rejection risk, studios recommend keeping the mouth closed.
- How do I prepare a digital photo for the DV Lottery?
600×600 px square, JPEG, ≤240 KB, sRGB colour profile. From the same studio shoot, both the print and the DV Lottery digital file are produced with one click.
- Are AI-retouched selfies accepted?
No. The State Department issued a warning in 2024 and moved to a zero-tolerance policy in October 2025. Frames altered with phone beautify filters, AI retouching or virtual make-up are rejected automatically.
- How are baby photos taken?
USCIS accepts a baby photographed lying on its back on a white sheet. The parent stays out of frame; the same 51×51 mm format and 25-35 mm head rules apply.
Author: Murat Duru
Founder of PhotoID Studio: biometric photo software
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