How to print a passport photo
For a US passport, you do not need a special photo shop. The State Department asks for a 2 × 2 inch colour photo on matte or glossy photo-quality paper, with no visible printer dots, and does not accept photocopies or scanned photos (source). A standard 4 × 6 photo print with six 2 × 2 photos on it meets that, as long as the size comes out exact.
Check your country first
- US: drugstore, kiosk, or a good home photo printer on photo paper is fine.
- UK paper forms: GOV.UK requires photos printed to a professional standard and not cut down from a larger picture, so order 35 × 45 mm prints from a lab or booth instead.
- Australia: photos must be professionally printed on glossy, heavy paper.
- Canada: photos must be taken and printed by a commercial studio; home prints are refused.
1. Download the 4 × 6 sheet
PassPhotoSnap exports a 4 × 6 inch sheet with six 2 × 2 photos and light cut guides. Save it as a JPG to your phone or a USB stick.
2. Print at a kiosk or pharmacy
- Choose a standard 4 × 6 print, not square or panoramic.
- Turn off "fit to page", "borderless", "auto-enhance" and "auto-crop". These change the size or the colours.
- Check the preview: the sheet should fill the frame without any extra zoom.
- Glossy or matte photo paper both work. Avoid textured "silk" or lustre finishes with a heavy pattern.
3. Or print at home
- Use real photo paper, not plain paper, and the printer's highest photo-quality setting.
- Set the paper size to 4 × 6 and the scale to 100% or "actual size". Disable "fit to printable area".
- Print one sheet, then measure one photo with a ruler: it must be exactly 2 inches (51 mm) each way. If it is off, fix the scale setting rather than resizing the image.
- Let the ink dry fully before cutting, so it does not smudge.
4. Cut and check
Cut along the guides with a paper trimmer or sharp scissors and a ruler. Edges should be straight. Then measure the head: from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head must be 1 to 1⅜ inches. Do not use a photo that is creased, smudged or damaged.
5. Keep spares
You get six photos from one sheet. Keep the extras flat in an envelope for a visa or a second application, but remember most countries want photos taken in the last 6 months.