How to Crop a Photo for US Passport Size (2x2 Inches)

The US State Department requires passport photos to be exactly 2x2 inches (51x51 mm). Get it wrong and your application gets rejected — along with your $130 fee. Thousands of applicants face delays every year because their photo dimensions are off by just a few millimeters.

The good news: you don't need to visit a pharmacy or photo studio. You can crop any decent photo to the perfect passport size at home, for free, in under a minute.

Quick method: Open the Tools Oasis Image Cropper, set the aspect ratio to 1:1 (square), crop your photo with your head centered, then use the Background Remover to get the required white background. Done.

Exact US Passport Photo Dimensions

Before cropping, you need to know the precise requirements the State Department enforces:

The most common mistake is cropping too tight or too loose. Your head must occupy 50% to 69% of the total image height.

Step-by-Step: Crop Your Passport Photo

1. Take a suitable photo — Stand against a plain light-colored wall. Use natural light or even indoor lighting. Face the camera directly with a neutral expression. Remove glasses unless medically required.
2. Open the Image Cropper — Go to toolsoasis.dev/image-cropper and upload your photo.
3. Set a 1:1 aspect ratio — This ensures a perfect square crop, which is what the 2x2 inch format requires.
4. Position the crop area — Center your face in the frame. Leave equal space above your head and below your chin. Your head should fill roughly 50-69% of the vertical space.
5. Crop and download — Apply the crop and save the image.
6. Remove the background — If your background isn't perfectly white, use the Background Remover to replace it with pure white.

Common Mistakes That Get Passport Photos Rejected

The State Department rejects more passport photos than you might expect. Here are the most frequent reasons:

• Wrong dimensions — Photos that aren't perfectly square or don't meet the 2x2 inch requirement.
• Head too large or too small — Your head must be between 1 inch and 1-3/8 inches from chin to crown. Use the cropper to adjust precisely.
• Shadows on face or background — Even subtle shadows can trigger a rejection. Ensure flat, even lighting.
• Non-white background — Off-white is acceptable, but gray, blue, or patterned backgrounds will be rejected. The Background Remover solves this instantly.
• Glasses or headwear — As of 2016, the State Department no longer accepts photos with glasses except for documented medical reasons.
• Incorrect expression — A neutral expression with both eyes open is required. No smiling with open mouth.
• Low resolution — Blurry or pixelated images are rejected. Ensure your source photo is at least 600x600 pixels after cropping.

For Online Applications vs. Printed Photos

If you're submitting online through the State Department website, you need a JPEG file between 600x600 and 1200x1200 pixels. If you're printing the photo for a mail-in application, crop digitally first, then print at exactly 2x2 inches on glossy or matte photo paper.

A helpful check: after cropping, the file should be between 54 KB and 10 MB. If it's smaller than 54 KB, your source image was likely too low-resolution to begin with.

Pro Tips for a Perfect Passport Photo

• Use a recent photo — The photo must be taken within the last 6 months.
• Natural daylight works best — Stand facing a window for even, flattering light without harsh shadows.
• Have someone else take it — Selfies can distort facial proportions. Ask someone to photograph you from about 4 feet away.
• Take multiple shots — Take at least 5-10 photos and pick the one with the best positioning and expression.