USATPS Travel Authorization Photo Requirements (Form I-131): Two 2x2 Photos, White Background, Head 1–1 3/8 Inch
For a TPS Travel Authorization on Form I-131 you send two identical 2x2 inch colour photos on a white to off-white background, head 1–1 3/8 inch.
Key points
5 points- A TPS Travel Authorization Document (issued as Form I-512T) is requested on Form I-131.
- Applying from inside the United States, you submit two identical colour passport-style photos taken recently.
- Size 2 x 2 inches; head 1 to 1 3/8 inches from the top of the hair to the chin; eyes 1 1/8 to 1 3/8 inches from the bottom of the photo.
- White to off-white background, thin glossy paper, unmounted; name and A-Number (if any) printed lightly on the back.
- Head bare unless religious headwear is required; digital photos from a camera of at least 3.5 megapixels.
People with Temporary Protected Status who want to travel abroad and come back ask USCIS for a TPS Travel Authorization Document. It is requested on Form I-131 and issued as Form I-512T. The photo rules are in the Form I-131 Instructions (edition 01/20/25), Part 8.A “Photographs”. Here they are in plain words.
How many photos and what kind
- Two identical colour passport-style photographs of yourself, taken recently.
- Background: white to off-white.
- Printed on thin paper with a glossy finish, and unmounted.
- Print your name and A-Number (if you have one) lightly on the back of each photo.
Size, head and eyes
| Parameter | Form I-131 Instructions |
|---|---|
| Photo size | 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm), full face, frontal view |
| Head height | 1 to 1 3/8 inches, from the top of the hair to the bottom of the chin |
| Eye height | 1 1/8 to 1 3/8 inches, from the top of the eyes to the bottom of the photo |
| Digital camera | At least 3.5 megapixels |
USATPS Travel Authorization · requirements
In other words, the head fills about half to two-thirds of the frame, and the eyes sit a little above the middle.
Headwear and glasses
The head must be bare, unless the headwear is required by your religious denomination. The Instructions publish no glasses rule and no pixel, file-size or format limits for this photo — it is a printed photo sent with the paper form.
Quick checklist before you mail the form
- Two prints, identical, recent, in colour.
- 2 x 2 inches, head 1–1 3/8 inches, eyes 1 1/8–1 3/8 inches from the bottom.
- White to off-white background, thin glossy paper, not mounted.
- Name and A-Number lightly on the back.
Our TPS travel authorization photo tool builds the 2x2 frame with the head and eye line inside these bands.
05Questions
5 answers01How many photos do I need for a TPS Travel Authorization?
Two identical colour passport-style photographs taken recently, when you apply from inside the United States.
02What size is the photo?
2 x 2 inches, with the head 1 to 1 3/8 inches from the top of the hair to the chin.
03What background colour is required?
White to off-white.
04What do I write on the back of the photos?
Your name and A-Number, if you have one, printed lightly.
05Can I wear a head covering?
Only if it is required by your religious denomination; otherwise the head must be bare.
06Official sources
- USCIS — Form I-131 Instructions (edition 01/20/25), Part 8.A Photographs
uscis.gov - USCIS — Form I-131, Application for Travel Documents, Parole Documents, and Arrival/Departure Records
uscis.gov - U.S. Department of State — U.S. passport photo requirements (2 x 2 inch format, for comparison)
travel.state.gov
Author: Yevhen Kravchenko. Published . Checked against official sources on .
USAFirst U.S. Passport Online: America.gov Will Let You Take the Passport Photo at Home
Rubio, 29 Sept 2026: first passports fully online on America.gov from next year, photo taken on your phone.
USAForm I-130 Photos for a Spouse Petition: Two 2x2 Inch Prints, Who Needs Them and the Head-Height Rule
USCIS asks for two identical 2x2 inch colour photos of the petitioner and of the spouse (if in the US), taken within 30 days.
USAUS Refugee Travel Document Photos (Form I-131): Two 2x2 Inch Prints, Head Height and What USCIS Says
USCIS asks for two identical colour 2x2 inch photos, white to off-white background, head 1 to 1 3/8 inches, printed on thin glossy paper.
Make the photo for this document
Upload a selfie — we crop it to 51 × 51 mm, replace the background and check it against the document rules. Free.
TPS Travel Authorization · USAUpload