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How we verifyPricing$11.86Where to get oneMoney-back guaranteeDigital file · 1200×1200 pixels · JPEG
Digital Passport Photo
Renewing your passport online? The portal needs a digital photo that passes strict automated checks. Upload a phone photo taken from six feet or so away — we return a 1200×1200 pixel file that sails through.
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Digital photo requirements (US online renewal)
| Dimensions | Square, minimum 600×600 pixels, maximum 1200×1200 pixels |
| Format | JPEG, in color |
| File size | Under 10 MB, no visible compression artifacts |
| Head & eyes | Same geometry as print: head 50–69% of frame, eyes in the required band |
| Background | Plain white or off-white, evenly lit |
| Source | Taken in the last 6 months; no filters, no edits to your face |
Why digital photos get rejected
The online portal runs automated checks on head size, eye position and background. Photos from phone cameras usually fail on framing — the head is too large or the eyes sit too low. We measure your photo against the exact geometry before you pay, so what you upload to the portal is what the portal accepts.
Who can renew online — and who cannot
Online renewal is only open to some applicants. Broadly, your most recent passport must be undamaged and in your possession, issued when you were 16 or older, issued within the last 15 years, and in your current name — or you have documentation for a name change. First-time applicants, children, and anyone replacing a lost or stolen passport apply on paper instead, which needs a printed photo rather than a digital one.
It is worth checking before you pay for a photo of the wrong kind. We include both files either way, so a wrong guess costs nothing here — but it does change which one you upload.
Why the portal rejects digital photos
Uploading is where a lot of renewals stall, and the reasons are mundane rather than mysterious. In rough order of frequency:
| Not square | Phone cameras shoot 4:3 or 16:9. The file must be a perfect square, and cropping one yourself usually breaks the head-size rule at the same time. |
| Head too large or too small | The automated check measures head height against the frame. Arm's-length photos come out too large; photos taken across a room come out too small. |
| Below 600 pixels | A screenshot, a photo pulled from social media, or an image someone messaged you has usually been recompressed well below the minimum. |
| Visible editing | Filters, beauty modes, smoothing and background replacement done badly are all detectable and all refused. |
| Shadows | On the face or behind the head. Indoor ceiling lights are the usual culprit. |
Why we deliver 1200×1200 rather than the minimum
The State Department accepts anything from 600 × 600 to 1200 × 1200 pixels, and plenty of services ship the minimum. The problem is that the same photo often gets printed later — for a visa application, a second document, or a paper form you did not expect to need. At 2 inches wide, 600 pixels is exactly 300 dpi, which is the floor for acceptable print quality and leaves nothing spare.
At 1200 × 1200 the same file prints at 600 dpi and still satisfies the portal. There is no downside to the larger file, so we send it.
Independent service
Our checks follow the official photo requirements published by the U.S. Department of State — Bureau of Consular Affairs. Final acceptance is always determined by the issuing authority — which is why we back every photo with a money-back guarantee.
Frequently asked
Good questions, straight answers
Is this the same as a printed passport photo?+
Same rules, different delivery. The digital file is for the online renewal portal; if you also need prints (for a first-time paper application), your download includes a printable 4×6 inch sheet at no extra cost.
Will it pass the portal's automated check?+
That is exactly what we verify: head height, eye band, background and format are measured against the portal's requirements. If it's rejected anyway, you get your money back.
Can I take the photo with any phone?+
Yes. Any modern phone camera is more than sharp enough. Face the camera in daylight and we handle the rest.
How fast do I get the file?+
About a minute after uploading. No account, no waiting for an email.
One photo. One minute. Portal-ready.
Take or upload a photo$11.86 · verified before you pay · ready in 1 minute