US passport photo size: 2 x 2 inches, and the 54 KB minimum nobody mentions
A US passport photo is 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm), and the digital upload must be between 54 KB and 10 MB, so the file has a floor as well as a ceiling. Every rule below is quoted from the US Department of State, with the source linked, and you can resize the photo without uploading it.
The two rules that decide whether your photo is accepted
"The correct printed size of a passport photo is 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm)." US Department of State, Passport Photos
"The file size should be between 54 KB and 10 MB." US Department of State, Uploading a Digital Photo
A range, not a ceiling. That is the part that catches people out.
Every requirement, quoted
| Requirement | Rule | Source page |
|---|---|---|
| Printed size | 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm) | Passport Photos |
| Head height | 1 to 1 3/8 inches (25 to 35 mm), chin to top of head | Passport Photos |
| Background | Plain white or off-white, no shadows, textures or objects | Passport Photos |
| Age of photo | Taken in the last 6 months | Passport Photos |
| Glasses | Not permitted. Remove eyeglasses, sunglasses and tinted glasses | Passport Photos |
| Expression | Neutral, both eyes open and visible, mouth closed, facing the camera | Passport Photos |
| Digital file formats | JPG, JPEG, PNG, HEIC or HEIF | Uploading a Digital Photo |
| Digital file size | Between 54 KB and 10 MB | Uploading a Digital Photo |
Checked against travel.state.gov, Passport Photos and Uploading a Digital Photo on 20 September 2026. Government requirements change, so confirm on the official page before you submit.
Why a minimum exists at all
A file size floor looks strange until you think about what the photo is for. The image has to carry enough detail for facial identification. Heavy JPEG compression removes exactly the fine detail that makes a face distinguishable: it smooths skin texture, blurs the edges of the eyes and mouth, and introduces blocky artifacts around high-contrast areas. A 30 KB photo can look acceptable on a phone screen and still be useless as an identification document.
So the sensible target is the middle of the range, not either edge. Aim for something in the region of 1 to 3 MB. That is comfortably above the 54 KB floor, comfortably below the 10 MB ceiling, and leaves room for the difference between how your device counts a kilobyte and how the upload system does.
iPhone photos are accepted as they are
HEIC and HEIF appear on the accepted list alongside JPG, JPEG and PNG, so an iPhone photo does not need converting before you upload it for a passport renewal. This is worth knowing because a lot of advice still assumes HEIC has to be converted everywhere.
Converting to JPG is still useful in one situation: when some other system later in your process refuses HEIC. If you hit that, the HEIC to JPG converter handles it on your device. Note that converting usually changes the file size, so check the result is still inside the 54 KB to 10 MB range afterwards.
Getting your photo into the range
If the file is too large, open the image compressor and reduce the quality while watching the file size, which updates as you adjust. Stop while it is still measured in megabytes rather than pushing it as small as it will go. If you also need the 2 x 2 framing, the passport photo maker crops to the right proportions.
If the file is somehow under 54 KB, the fix is to go back to the original photo rather than to enlarge the small one. Once compression has discarded detail, increasing the file size again does not bring it back.
All of this runs in your browser. The photo is never uploaded to a server, which is the point when the file is an identity document.
Frequently asked questions
What size does a US passport photo need to be?
Printed, it is 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm), with your head measuring between 1 and 1 3/8 inches (25 to 35 mm) from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head. For an online renewal you upload a digital file instead, and the file itself must be between 54 KB and 10 MB.
Is there really a minimum file size?
Yes. The State Department states the file size should be between 54 KB and 10 MB. Almost every guide mentions a maximum and stops there. If you compress a photo down to 30 or 40 KB to be safe, you have gone under the floor and the upload can be rejected for being too small.
My photo is 12 MB. What do I do?
Compress it. A photo straight from a modern phone is often 3 to 12 MB, which can sit above the 10 MB ceiling. Reduce the file size until it lands comfortably inside the range, somewhere around 1 to 3 MB, rather than pushing it as low as it will go.
Can I upload the HEIC file straight from my iPhone?
Yes. HEIC and HEIF are both on the accepted list, alongside JPG, JPEG and PNG. You do not have to convert an iPhone photo first, though converting to JPG is still useful if another system in the process refuses HEIC.
Can I wear my glasses?
No. The instruction is to take off any eyeglasses, sunglasses or tinted glasses. This is not a preference, it is a listed requirement, and glasses are a common reason photos come back rejected.
Do I have to send my photo to a website to resize it?
No. Compression and cropping can happen entirely in your browser, on your own device. On PixMidas the file is never uploaded to a server, which matters when the file is a photo of your face attached to a passport application.