head 49–69 %no glasses
Free: cropping, background replacement, check
14-day refund if the authority rejects the photo
SourceUSCIS
Verified
Quick answer: A USA green card photo must be 51 × 51 mm. White or off-white background. Head occupies 49–69% of photo height. Neutral expression, glasses prohibited. Last verified .
Requirements
| Format | 51 × 51 mmICAO 9303: 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Head height | 49–69% of photo heightICAO 9303: 70–80% |
| Background | White or off-white background. Make photo background white — USA green card → |
| Pose | Strictly full face, no tilt. |
| Expression | Neutral expression, eyes open. |
| Glasses | USCIS does not accept glasses, apart from rare medical cases confirmed by documents; under the 2016 rule a photo the applicant submits in glasses is rejected. See full rules → |
| Lighting | Shadows and reflections not permitted. |
| Head covering | Religious reasons only; must not cover the facial oval. |
| Attire | Neutral everyday clothing. |
| Digital resolution | 600 × 600 px |
| File format | JPEG · sRGB / 24-bit |
| Millimetres | 51 × 51 mm |
|---|---|
| Centimetres | 5.1 × 5.1 cm |
| Inches | 2 × 2″ |
| Pixels at 300 dpi | 602 × 602 px |
| Pixels at 600 dpi | 1205 × 1205 px |
US Green Card (Permanent Resident Card) photos are administered by USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services). The format is 2×2 inches (51×51mm square) with head 25-35mm (1 to 1⅜ inches) chin-to-crown.
Background plain white or off-white only. The Form I-485 instructions still require two identical photographs with the application. Critical update: USCIS policy alert PA-2025-29 of 12 December 2025 states that USCIS will not use or reuse self-submitted photographs, and that Forms I-485 and I-90 always require new biometrics including a new photograph.
The portrait printed on the card is therefore taken at a USCIS Application Support Center (ASC). A photo you prepare yourself may still have to be enclosed with the filing, but it will not become the photograph on your card.
Examples and mistakes
A photo that will be accepted, next to the six most common reasons USA green card photos get rejected.
Common reasons a document photo is rejected, checked against the requirements USCIS publishes: what is wrong and what to change.
| Reason | Fix |
|---|---|
| Photo not 2×2 inch (51×51mm) square | Re-crop to USCIS spec |
| Head height outside 25-35mm | Re-shoot at correct distance |
| Background not white or off-white | Re-shoot against plain backdrop |
| Glasses worn (USCIS forbids except medical proof) | Remove glasses; medical exception requires documentation |
| Photo older than 6 months | Re-shoot |
| Expecting a self-submitted photo to appear on the card (not used since Dec 12, 2025) | Attend USCIS ASC for biometrics-captured photo |
How to take it
Background: white or off-white
The tool puts in the required background. Stand half a metre from a plain light wall, face a window and shoot without flash — then there are no shadows on your face or on the wall.
Head: 49–69 % of the photo height
Camera at eye level, about a metre away; head and shoulders in the shot. The tool crops it to 51 × 51 mm.
Glasses prohibited
Take them off before the shot.
Neutral expression, eyes open
Look straight into the lens with your head level; keep hair away from your eyes and eyebrows.
An ordinary selfie will do: we fix the background, light and framing ourselves — to this document's rules. The preview is free.
Head straightHold the phone at eye level and your head straightens by itself.
Face uncoveredMove your hair away so your eyes and eyebrows show.
No glassesTake your glasses off — this document's rules require it.Printing and submission
| 10 × 15 cm · 4 × 6″ | 4 (2 × 2) |
|---|---|
| A4 · 21 × 29.7 cm | 20 (4 × 5) |
Print at 100% scale, borderless, and turn off fit-to-page so each photo keeps its exact size.
US Green Card (Permanent Resident Card) applications are administered by USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services). Since December 12, 2025 the portrait printed on the card is captured at an Application Support Center (ASC) and a self-submitted photograph is not reused for it — while the current form instructions still require two 2×2 inch photographs in the filing package.
uscis.gov + USCIS ASC network
After I-485 filing, USCIS schedules an ASC appointment for biometric capture (photo + fingerprints + signature). The portrait on the card comes from that appointment; the two 2×2 inch photographs remain required by the form instructions.
Authority pageNVC (National Visa Center) handoff + consular interview
For applicants outside the US. Photo: 2×2 inch white background, taken within 6 months. Bring 2 printed photos to embassy interview.
Authority page| Authority | USCIS |
|---|---|
| Source | USCIS — Form I-485 instructions |
| Verified |
Questions
Yes — send them. The Form I-485 instructions in force (edition 01/20/25) still list two identical 2×2 inch colour photographs among the required initial evidence. What changed on December 12, 2025 (USCIS policy alert PA-2025-29) is separate: USCIS does not use or reuse a self-submitted photograph for the card itself — the portrait printed on your Green Card is captured at an Application Support Center during the biometrics appointment. Both hold at once: the photo you file is evidence in the package, the photo on the card is taken by USCIS.
No, the DV Lottery (Diversity Visa) is administered by the State Department, not USCIS. DV entry still requires the applicant to upload a digital photo at dvprogram.state.gov: 2×2 inch square aspect ratio, JPEG ≤240 KB, 600×600 px. An automated scan rejects non-compliant photos before a human reviewer sees them.
Yes. Wear regular clothes (no uniforms, no military fatigues). Religious head coverings are allowed provided the face is fully visible from chin to forehead. Glasses must be removed unless you have documented medical justification. The ASC officer will reshoot if needed.
The USA green card photo must be 51 × 51 mm. The head must occupy 49–69% of the photo height. For digital upload, use 600 × 600 px.
Usually no older than six months; some immigration offices ask for a more recent one. Take a new photo that looks like you on the day you apply.
White or off-white background. A plain, evenly lit wall without shadows or pattern is enough — the tool sets the required background colour.
Only if the size and rules are the same and the photo is still recent. Otherwise take a new one: the same selfie can be turned into photos for both documents.
Take a new photo: it should show how you look now — hairstyle, beard, glasses.
We refund the payment in full. Email us within 14 days of purchase with your order number and the rejection notice from the USA immigration office.
51 × 51 mm = 5.1 × 5.1 cm = 2 × 2 inches. At 300 dpi that is 602 × 602 pixels; at 600 dpi, 1205 × 1205 pixels.
Religious reasons only; must not cover the facial oval. The face must stay fully visible from chin to forehead and on both sides, with no shadow across it.
Yes. The same 51 × 51 mm format and head size apply to: naturalization certificate, passport, work authorization (EAD).