For a U.S. passport application, two identical photographs are required.
Getting your passport photos right is a crucial step in the application process. These two photographs must meet specific U.S. Department of State requirements to be accepted.
Essential Passport Photo Requirements
The two photographs you submit for your passport must adhere to strict guidelines to ensure they accurately reflect your appearance and can be used for identification purposes.
Key Specifications for Passport Photos
Here's a breakdown of the critical specifications for your passport photographs:
- Quantity: You must provide two identical photographs.
- Size: Each photo must be 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm).
- Recency: Photos must have been taken within the last 6 months to accurately reflect your current appearance. This ensures recent changes in your appearance (e.g., hair color, facial hair, weight) are represented.
- Background: The background must be plain white or off-white. No patterns, textures, or shadows are allowed.
- Pose: You must be photographed with a full face pose, directly facing the camera. Your head should be centered in the frame.
- Expression: A neutral facial expression or a natural, slight smile is acceptable. Your eyes must be open and clearly visible.
- Lighting: The lighting should be uniform, without shadows on your face or the background.
- Quality: Photos must be in color, clear, in focus, and printed on matte or glossy photo quality paper.
- Glasses: Eyeglasses are generally not permitted in new passport photos, even if you wear them daily. The only exception is if you cannot remove them for medical reasons, which would require a signed doctor's statement.
- Headwear: No hats or head coverings are allowed unless worn for religious purposes. In such cases, your full face must be visible, and the head covering cannot obscure your facial features or cast shadows.
- Attire: Wear everyday clothes. Uniforms of any type are not permitted.
- Resolution: The image should be high-resolution, free from pixelation or blurring.
Why Are Two Photos Needed?
Providing two identical photos allows the U.S. Department of State to use one for the physical passport document and the other for their internal records. This ensures consistency and accuracy in your application.
For detailed information and additional guidelines on U.S. passport photo requirements, you can refer to official sources like the U.S. Embassy in Chile's Passport Photo Instructions.
