US Passport & Visa Photo Maker (2" × 2" / 600×600 px)
Format, validate, and download 100% compliant U.S. passport, DS-160 nonimmigrant visa, and DV Lottery photos meeting strict Department of State and USCIS guidelines. Features 2×2 inch (600 × 600 px) square calibration, 50%–69% head height lock, under 240 KB file size optimization, and printable 4×6" 6-photo sheets.
Why Make Your US Passport Photos on Kagazo?
Engineered to meet exact Bureau of Consular Affairs and CEAC portal technical requirements.
Strict 2×2" Square Lock
Locks exact 1:1 aspect ratio and 600×600 px minimum resolution mandated by the U.S. Department of State.
50%–69% Head Height Guide
Interactive biometric caliper verifies your head measures between 1" and 1 3/8" (28–35 mm) from chin to crown.
DS-160 <240 KB Budget Lock
Intelligently compresses output between 80 KB and 180 KB to prevent CEAC portal upload errors.
Save $17 on Drugstore Prints
Generates an 6-photo 4×6" sheet. Print at CVS, Walgreens, or Walmart for $0.35 instead of paying $16.99.
Embedded 300 DPI JFIF
Writes binary 300 DPI tags directly into the JPEG APP0 segment to pass automated consular scanners.
Zero-Upload RAM Security
Your biometric facial photos are processed locally on your device. Zero cloud uploads, zero tracking.
Official U.S. Passport & Visa Photo Requirements (22 CFR 51.26)
Verified against the Bureau of Consular Affairs and USCIS guidelines.
| Parameter | Official Department of State Rule | Common Failure Point |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Dimensions | 2" × 2" inches (51 mm × 51 mm) | Uploading standard rectangular 35×45mm photos |
| Digital Dimensions | 600 × 600 pixels minimum (up to 1200×1200 px @ 300 DPI) | Uploading non-square images with mismatched aspect ratios |
| Head Height Ratio | 50% to 69% of total height (1" to 1 3/8" / 28–35 mm) | Taking photos too close (face >70%) or too far away (<50%) |
| Eye Level Position | 56% to 69% from the bottom of the photo (28 mm to 35 mm) | Camera tilted downward or upward away from direct eye line |
| Digital File Size | Strictly under 240 KB (Minimum 10 KB, 24-bit sRGB JPEG) | Portal rejection: "File size exceeds maximum limit of 240 KB" |
| Background Color | Plain White or Off-White (Zero shadows, uniform illumination) | Cast shadows behind ears, door frames, or colored walls |
| Eyeglasses | Strictly prohibited (Effective Nov 1, 2016; medical waiver only) | Flash reflection on lenses, tinted glass, or frame covering iris |
| Facial Expression | Neutral expression, mouth closed, both eyes open facing camera | Open-mouthed smiles showing teeth or tilted head posture |
How to Create an Official US Passport Photo in 5 Steps
Follow this verified 5-step process for guaranteed consular acceptance:
Capture Frontal Portrait
Stand 4 feet in front of a plain white wall in even natural daylight without eyeglasses.
Select 2x2" US Standard
Kagazo locks the canvas to an exact 2x2 inch square at 300 DPI (600x600 px).
Align 50%–69% Head Markers
Scale so head height measures between 1" and 1 3/8" (28–35 mm) from chin to crown.
Enforce <240 KB DS-160 Limit
Engine compresses output between 80 KB and 180 KB for instant CEAC portal upload.
Download Photo or 4x6" Sheet
Export digital JPEG or 6-photo 4x6" card to print at Walgreens or CVS for 35 cents.
Common US Passport Photo Rejections and How Kagazo Fixes Them
Avoid common passport photo mistakes that trigger application rejection:
Spectacles Prohibited under 22 CFR 51.26
Glasses cause instant refusal at consular portals due to lens glare and facial obscuration.
CEAC Portal Upload Failure
DS-160 and DV Lottery reject images over 240 KB. Kagazo compresses within 80–180 KB.
Head Height Outside 50%–69% Zone
Photos where head is smaller than 1" or larger than 1 3/8" fail automated State Dept checks.
Off-White Wall Tint or Cast Shadows
State Dept mandates pure white or off-white background with zero patterns or shadows.
Frequently Asked Questions (US Passport & DS-160 Photo)
Everything you need to know about US passport guidelines, print sheets, and DS-160 rules.
01.What are the official U.S. Department of State photo dimensions in inches, mm, and pixels?
The official physical size is 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm). For online DS-160 visa, DS-260, and Diversity Visa (DV) lottery applications, the digital image must be a 1:1 square measuring at least 600 × 600 pixels (up to 1200 × 1200 pixels) at 300 DPI, in sRGB JPEG format with a file size strictly under 240 KB.
02.Are eyeglasses allowed in US passport and visa photos?
NO. Effective November 1, 2016, eyeglasses are strictly prohibited in all U.S. passport and visa photographs, even if you wear them daily. The only rare exception is for urgent medical conditions (such as recent eye surgery), which requires a signed explanatory letter from an ophthalmologist.
03.How do I verify that my head height is between 50% and 69%?
The U.S. Department of State mandates that your head (from the bottom of your chin to the top of your hair) must occupy between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches (50% to 69%) of the photo. Kagazo’s interactive biometric framing overlay draws official guideline markers so you can center and scale your head to the exact 50%–69% target zone.
04.Why does the CEAC DS-160 portal reject photos with "File size exceeds 240 KB"?
The Department of State consular electronic application portal has a hard 240 KB file ceiling. High-resolution smartphone cameras produce 3 MB to 8 MB JPEGs, triggering immediate rejection. Kagazo automatically balances compression so your 600×600 px photo is saved between 80 KB and 180 KB at crisp 300 DPI, safely below the 240 KB limit.
05.How does Kagazo’s 4×6" sheet save $17 at Walgreens or CVS?
CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid charge $16.99 to $18.99 for two 2×2" passport photos. When you download Kagazo’s printable 4×6" photo card (which tiles 6 identical 2×2" photos with millimeter cut guides), you can order a standard 4×6" photo print at the same store or photo kiosk for just $0.35 to $0.40, saving over 97%!
06.Can I smile in my US passport photo?
While a gentle, unexaggerated smile is technically acceptable under 22 CFR 51.26, the U.S. State Department strongly recommends a neutral facial expression with both eyes open and mouth closed. Broad grins that show teeth or crinkle your eyes can trigger automatic biometric rejections during consular facial recognition checks.
07.What clothing should I wear for a US passport or visa picture?
Wear normal, everyday civilian clothing in darker solid colors (such as navy blue, black, or burgundy) to contrast against the white background. Do NOT wear white shirts (which blend into the background), uniforms, clothing resembling a uniform, or camouflage attire.
08.Are hats or religious head coverings permitted?
Hats and casual headbands are not allowed. Religious head coverings (such as hijabs, yarmulkes, or turbans) are permitted if worn daily for religious purposes, provided they do not obscure any part of your face from the bottom of your chin to the top of your forehead, or cast shadows across your features.
09.How should infants and babies be photographed for US passports?
Lay the baby on their back on a clean white sheet or cover a car seat with a white cloth. Ensure no hands, toys, pacifiers, or supporting parents are visible in the frame. The infant should be looking toward the camera. For newborns under 1 year, partially open eyes are acceptable.
010.Does Kagazo store, process, or sell my biometric facial photos?
Never. Kagazo operates with zero-upload in-browser processing. Your portrait is cropped, scaled, verified, and converted into 300 DPI JPEGs entirely inside your browser’s volatile RAM. No image data is ever transmitted to our servers or saved in any database.