Passport Photo Size in Pixels (600x600 — Exact Specs)
A US passport photo for online submission must be at least 600x600 pixels in a square (1:1) aspect ratio, ideally at 300 DPI. This page covers the exact pixel specifications, file size limits, and how to check your image.
Pixel Specifications Breakdown
The US State Department specifies exact pixel dimensions for passport photos submitted through their online portals. These specifications apply to DS-82 (online passport renewal), DS-11 (new passport application uploads), and DS-160 (US visa application) submissions.
| Specification | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Minimum dimensions | 600 x 600 pixels |
| Recommended dimensions | 1200 x 1200 pixels |
| Aspect ratio | 1:1 (square) |
| Minimum DPI | 300 |
| Physical size at 300 DPI | 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm) |
| File format | JPEG |
| Color space | sRGB |
| Recommended file size | 240 KB or less |
| Maximum file size | 5 MB (portal-dependent) |
The key number is 600x600 pixels. This is the minimum the portal accepts. At 300 DPI, 600 pixels equals exactly 2 inches — the required physical size of a US passport photo. Submit anything smaller and the portal rejects it outright. Submit anything non-square and it fails the aspect ratio check.
GetPassPhoto outputs every photo at exactly 600x600 pixels, 300 DPI, JPEG format, sRGB color space. The file size is compressed to under 240 KB. This combination passes the State Department's automated checks consistently.
Why 600x600 Pixels?
The 600x600 pixel specification comes from a simple calculation. A US passport photo is 2x2 inches. Standard print resolution is 300 DPI (dots per inch). At 300 DPI, 2 inches requires 600 pixels per side: 2 inches multiplied by 300 DPI equals 600 pixels.
This is the minimum resolution that produces a sharp, printable 2x2 photo. Going below 600 pixels means either the print is smaller than 2x2 inches at 300 DPI, or the image must be upscaled — which introduces blur and artifacting that can trigger rejection.
The State Department also accepts photos up to 1200x1200 pixels. A 1200x1200 pixel photo at 300 DPI would print at 4x4 inches, but the portal handles the scaling internally. The recommended sweet spot is 600x600 for digital-only submissions and 1200x1200 if you also plan to print the photo at high quality.
File Format and Size Limits
Beyond pixel dimensions, the State Department has specific requirements for file format and size:
JPEG only
The upload portal accepts only JPEG (.jpg / .jpeg) files. PNG, HEIC, TIFF, BMP, WebP, and other formats are rejected. If your phone shoots in HEIC (common on iPhones), you must convert to JPEG before uploading. GetPassPhoto accepts JPEG, PNG, and HEIC inputs and always outputs JPEG.
sRGB color space
The file must use the sRGB color space. Photos taken with professional cameras may use Adobe RGB or ProPhoto RGB. Phones may use Display P3. Uploading a non-sRGB file can cause color shifts — skin tones may appear wrong in print. GetPassPhoto converts all inputs to sRGB to prevent this issue.
File size: under 240 KB recommended
The State Department recommends a file size of 240 KB or less. Some portals accept files up to 5 MB, but larger files increase the risk of upload failures, timeouts, and processing errors. A 600x600 JPEG at quality 90-95 typically comes in at 80-200 KB — well within limits. GetPassPhoto compresses to under 240 KB while maintaining visual quality at JPEG quality 90-95.
How to Check Your Photo Dimensions
Before uploading a photo to the State Department portal, verify it meets the pixel requirements. Here is how to check on each platform:
iPhone / iPad
Open the photo in the Photos app. Tap the info button (the circled "i" at the bottom). Under the file name, you will see the pixel dimensions (e.g., "4032 x 3024"). If the dimensions are at least 1000x1000, the photo is large enough for GetPassPhoto to process into a 600x600 output.
Android
Open the photo in your Gallery or Google Photos app. Tap the three-dot menu, then select "Details" or "Info." Look for the resolution line (e.g., "4000 x 3000"). Some Android phones list this as "Dimensions."
Windows
Right-click the image file in File Explorer. Select "Properties," then click the "Details" tab. Look for "Width" and "Height" under the Image section. These values are in pixels.
Mac
Open the image in Preview. Go to Tools, then "Show Inspector" (or press Command-I). The inspector shows the pixel width and height. You can also see the DPI under the "General" tab of the inspector.
GetPassPhoto checks dimensions automatically when you upload. If your photo is under 1000x1000 pixels, we reject it with a clear message before any processing begins. There is no charge for rejected uploads.
DPI Explained for Passport Photos
DPI stands for "dots per inch." It defines how many pixels fit into one inch of a printed photo. For passport photos, the State Department requires 300 DPI minimum. This is important because DPI determines the physical size of the printed photo.
Here is how pixel count and DPI relate:
| Specification | Requirement |
|---|---|
| 600 px at 300 DPI | 2.0 inchesCorrect passport size |
| 600 px at 72 DPI | 8.3 inchesWrong — too large for passport |
| 600 px at 96 DPI | 6.25 inchesWrong — too large for passport |
| 600 px at 150 DPI | 4.0 inchesWrong — too large for passport |
| 1200 px at 300 DPI | 4.0 inchesPortal will scale to 2x2 |
| 300 px at 300 DPI | 1.0 inchToo small — rejected |
A common mistake: setting DPI to 72 (the default for web images) instead of 300. A 600x600 pixel image at 72 DPI prints at 8.3 inches per side — far too large for a passport photo. The pixel count is correct, but the DPI is wrong, so the physical print size is wrong.
For online submission, the State Department portal primarily checks pixel dimensions, not DPI metadata. However, if you plan to print the photo, correct DPI is essential. GetPassPhoto sets DPI to 300 in the JPEG metadata for all outputs, ensuring correct print size at any photo lab.
Passport Photo Pixel Sizes by Country
Different countries require different photo sizes. If you are applying for a non-US passport or visa, check the specific requirements. This table compares common passport photo pixel sizes:
| Specification | Requirement |
|---|---|
| US Passport (digital) | 600 x 600 px at 300 DPI2 x 2 inches |
| US Passport (print) | 600 x 600 px minimum2 x 2 inches at 300 DPI |
| US Visa (DS-160) | 600 x 600 pxSame as passport |
| UK Passport | 600 x 750 px45 x 35 mm |
| EU/Schengen Visa | 472 x 591 px35 x 45 mm |
| Canadian Passport | 420 x 540 px50 x 70 mm |
| Indian Passport | 350 x 350 px2 x 2 inches |
GetPassPhoto is optimized for US passport and visa photos (600x600 px at 2x2 inches). For non-US applications, contact us before ordering to confirm compatibility. See the full US passport photo requirements for 2026 for the complete specification.
Common Pixel-Related Mistakes
Upscaling a small photo
If your photo is under 600x600 pixels, do not upscale it with image editing software. Upscaling adds pixels by interpolation, which blurs the image. The State Department's quality check may reject blurry photos even if the pixel count is technically correct. Take a new photo at higher resolution instead.
Cropping too aggressively
Many people crop their phone photo to just the face, then try to upload the cropped version. A 4000x3000 phone photo cropped to just the face area may end up at 400x400 pixels — below the minimum. GetPassPhoto handles cropping automatically and ensures the output is 600x600 pixels regardless of how much cropping is needed.
Screenshotting instead of saving
Screenshots of photos (e.g., screenshotting a photo from a message or social media) reduce the resolution significantly. A screenshot of a photo on an iPhone screen may be only 400x400 pixels in the actual face area. Always use the original photo file.
Using social media downloads
Photos downloaded from Facebook, Instagram, or WhatsApp are compressed and resized. They may be well below 600x600 pixels and have visible compression artifacts. Use the original photo from your phone's camera roll.
Wrong aspect ratio
The photo must be square (1:1 aspect ratio). A 600x800 pixel photo is rejected because it is rectangular, not square. Most phone cameras shoot in 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratios. GetPassPhoto crops to 1:1 with correct head positioning as part of the auto-format process.
How GetPassPhoto Handles Photo Sizing
When you upload a photo to GetPassPhoto, the sizing process is fully automatic:
- We check the input is at least 1000x1000 pixels. Smaller photos are rejected.
- We detect your face and calculate the required crop region to place your head at 50-69% of frame height with eyes at 56-69% from bottom.
- We crop to a 1:1 square aspect ratio centered on your face.
- We resize the cropped image to exactly 600x600 pixels at 300 DPI.
- We export as JPEG in sRGB color space at quality 90-95, compressed to under 240 KB.
The resulting digital passport photo meets every pixel specification required by the State Department. The print sheet is output at 1800x1200 pixels (4x6 inches at 300 DPI). For printing instructions, see our passport photo printing guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size is a US passport photo in pixels?
A US passport photo for online submission must be at least 600x600 pixels in a 1:1 (square) aspect ratio at 300 DPI. The recommended size is 1200x1200 pixels for best print quality. The maximum accepted varies by portal, but files up to 1200x1200 are universally accepted.
What is the maximum file size for a passport photo?
The State Department recommends 240 KB or less. Some portals accept files up to 5 MB, but larger files may cause upload errors or timeouts. GetPassPhoto compresses every output to under 240 KB while maintaining the required 600x600 pixel resolution.
What happens if my photo is less than 600x600 pixels?
The State Department upload portal rejects photos below 600x600 pixels. You will see an error message and the application cannot proceed. Do not upscale a small photo — upscaling adds blur and may cause the photo to fail quality checks. Instead, take a new photo at higher resolution.
Can I use a 1200x1200 pixel photo?
Yes. Photos up to 1200x1200 pixels are accepted and will print at higher quality. The portal may downscale them internally, but larger files within the size limit are not rejected. GetPassPhoto outputs at 600x600 pixels, which is the standard accepted size.
What DPI should a passport photo be?
The minimum is 300 DPI. At 600x600 pixels, 300 DPI produces a 2x2 inch print — the exact required physical size. Higher DPI with correspondingly higher pixel counts is acceptable. Do not set DPI to 72 or 96 (common screen resolutions) as this produces a print that is the wrong physical size.
How do I check the pixel dimensions of my photo?
On iPhone: open the photo, tap the info button (i), and look for dimensions. On Android: open in Gallery, tap Details or Info. On Windows: right-click the file, select Properties, then Details tab. On Mac: open in Preview, go to Tools then Show Inspector. GetPassPhoto checks dimensions automatically on upload.