US passport online renewal photo – upload rules and why photos get rejected
Updated 31 October 2026
To renew a US passport book or card online, you upload one colour photo: a JPG, JPEG, PNG, HEIC or HEIF file between 54 KB and 10 MB, taken in the last 6 months, on a plain white or off-white background, without glasses and without any filters or edits. The State Department says unacceptable photos are the number one reason it puts passport applications on hold.
The upload rules
From the State Department’s online renewal photo page:
| Rule | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Number | 1 colour photo |
| File type | JPG, JPEG, PNG, HEIC or HEIF |
| File size | 54 KB to 10 MB |
| Age of photo | Taken in the last 6 months |
| Background | Plain white or off-white, no shadows, texture or objects |
| Framing | Head centred and fully visible; bottom of the frame at the edge of your shoulders |
| Expression | Neutral or natural smile, eyes open, no teeth showing |
| Glasses and hats | Not allowed, except for documented religious or medical reasons |
| Editing | Original photo only: no filters, retouching or digital changes |
The printed passport photo is 2 x 2 inches with the head 1 to 1 3/8 inches tall. Online, you can crop in the application, but a photo already framed to those proportions passes the first check more often.
Who can renew online
Online renewal is open if all of these are true:
- The passport you’re renewing was valid for 10 years, and it expires within a year or expired less than 5 years ago.
- You’re 25 or older.
- You’re not changing your name, sex or other personal details.
- You’re not travelling for at least 6 weeks. Online renewals can’t be expedited.
- You’re in a US state or territory when you apply.
- You have the passport, it isn’t damaged, and you haven’t reported it lost or stolen.
It works for a passport card too. You can renew a book, a card, or both online, and a book holder can add a card. A card-only holder who wants a book renews by mail, and so does a book-only holder who wants just a card. Fees are $130 for a book, $30 for a card and $160 for both.
Your old passport is cancelled when you submit, so you can’t travel on it while you wait.
Why online renewal photos get rejected
The upload tool checks the basics straight away and tells you what to change. A person reviews the photo later, and that’s when most rejections happen:
- Edited photos. Beauty filters, smoothing, portrait mode blur and background replacement are all refused. The State Department checks for digital changes.
- Photo of a photo. Scanning a printed photo or photographing an old one lowers the quality and isn’t allowed.
- Wrong distance. Too close and the head is too big; too far and it’s too small. Ask someone to take it from several feet away rather than taking a selfie at arm’s length.
- Shadows and glare. Shadows on the face or the wall behind you, or a washed-out face. Face a window in daylight instead of using a flash.
- Glasses. Still the most common rule people miss.
- Blurry or compressed. Don’t send the photo to yourself by text message: that shrinks and compresses it. Transfer the original file, or use AirDrop or email.
- File too small. A heavily compressed file under 54 KB is refused at upload.
Getting a photo that passes
- Stand a few feet in front of a plain white wall (or a white sheet) facing a window, with no shadow behind you.
- Take off glasses and hats. Keep a neutral face with your mouth closed.
- Ask someone to take the photo at eye level, framed from the chest up, with no filters or portrait mode.
- Upload it to the US passport photo tool. It crops the photo around your face to the 2 x 2 inch proportions, with the head at the required height, and saves a JPEG between 54 KB and 10 MB. It doesn’t touch the background or retouch your face.
Already have a photo? Check it with the free photo checker. Renewing a card? Use the passport card photo tool. The State Department decides whether a photo is accepted.
Only renew at the official site, opr.travel.state.gov. Other sites offering to file your online renewal are not authorised.
Common questions
What file does the online passport renewal accept?
One colour photo saved as JPG, JPEG, PNG, HEIC or HEIF, between 54 KB and 10 MB, taken in the last 6 months, on a plain white or off-white background.
Can I renew my passport card online?
Yes, if the document you are renewing is a card, or a book and card. A card-only holder can't switch to a book online, and a book-only holder can't switch to a card online; those renew by mail.
Can I crop my photo before uploading it?
Yes. The application itself lets you reposition and crop the photo. What it won't accept is an edited photo, such as a filter, retouching or a replaced background.
Can I wear glasses in my passport renewal photo?
No. Remove glasses and hats unless you need to wear them for documented religious or medical reasons.
What happens if my photo is rejected after I submit?
An employee reviews the photo after the application arrives. If there's a problem, the State Department sends a letter or email asking for a new photo, which delays your passport.