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Crop a photo to 51 × 51 mm — USA passport

Upload a photo — the frame is already set for a USA passport. Ready to print or upload.

Document

No sign-up · no watermarks · your photo stays in your browser

Want studio precision?AI correction fixes the light, shadows, clothing and pose — to the document's rules.€5.99
Example · selfie → document photo
01Requirements

Exact numbers for this document

ParameterWhat it must be
Print size51 × 51 mm
Digital resolution600 × 600 px
Pixels at 300 dpi602 × 602 px
Pixels at 600 dpi1205 × 1205 px
Aspect ratio1:1
Head, share of height49–69% of photo height
BackgroundWhite or off-white background. #ffffff
GlassesGlasses prohibited, except for rare documented medical exceptions.
Head coveringReligious reasons only; must not cover the facial oval.
Format51 × 51 mm
Head49–69 %
02Three steps

How to crop it, in three steps

  1. 01

    Upload a photo taken face-on, in even light

  2. 02

    The tool finds the face and aligns the frame itself — check that the head lands in 49–69%

  3. 03

    Save the 51 × 51 mm result — print it or attach it to the application

03What we fix

What we fix for free, and what AI fixes

Fixed for free

  • Background. Replaced with the one this document asks for: white or off-white background.
  • Head tilt. Straightened if the head leans slightly to one side.
  • Frame. Exactly 51 × 51 mm, by the document’s rules.
  • A light shadow on one side of the face. Gently brightened.
  • File and print sheet. A file to the document’s rules and a 10 × 15 or A4 sheet to print.

What can't be fixed for free, AI correction fixes

  • Hard shadows and uneven light on the face.
  • A smile, raised brows or a half-open mouth. Cropping keeps the face it was given.
  • Too few pixels. If the original is smaller than 602 × 602 px, enlarging it only blurs the face.
  • Clothing and pose. Shoulders out of frame, body turned away from the camera.
Make it with AI €5.99 · you see the result before paying

Glasses in the frame. This document does not accept them at all — take them off and shoot again.

04Rejections

Why these photos get rejected — and how to fix each one

ReasonFix
Dimensional non-compliance (head height outside 1"-1 3/8" range)Re-shoot with the head occupying ~50-69% of the frame height
Background not plain white/off-white (texture, shadow, gradient)Stand 1-2m from a flat light wall with frontal daylight
Glasses present (since 1 Nov 2016)Remove glasses; medical exception requires GP letter
Photo older than 6 months from submission dateRe-shoot with current appearance
Non-neutral expression (smile, raised brows, closed eyes)Practice the relaxed-jaw expression for 30s before the shot
Digital quality issues (low resolution, JPEG compression artefacts)Use rear camera and hold phone still
05Good to know

USA-specific things to know

  • Renewal by mail (DS-82) uses the same photo as a new application: one 2 × 2 inch (51 × 51 mm) colour print taken in the last 6 months
  • Many Post Offices that act as Acceptance Facilities also take passport photos for a fee (around $15–20)
06Printing

Printing on a single sheet

2 × 2 frames fit on one 10×15 cm sheet — 4 copies from a single print.

Print at 100% scale, borderless, and turn off fit-to-page so each photo keeps its exact size.

Print it at home: free 10×15 photo sheet →

10 × 15 cm · 4 × 6″Photos: 4 (2 × 2)

A4 · 21 × 29.7 cmPhotos: 20 (4 × 5)

07Source

Where these numbers come from

Source: U.S. Department of State. Last checked against the official page on 21 May 2026.

What the source confirms

  • The U.S. Department of State requires one color passport photo taken within the last 6 months.
  • The correct printed passport photo size is 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm).
  • Head height must be between 1 and 1 3/8 inches from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head.
  • The photo must use a white or off-white background without shadows, texture or lines; eyeglasses must be removed except documented medical cases.

U.S. Department of State passport photos ↗

08Questions

Questions people ask before cropping

What size must a passport photo be in USA?

51 × 51 mm. 49–69% of photo height.

How many pixels is 51 × 51 mm when printed?

602 × 602 px (300 dpi) · 1205 × 1205 px (600 dpi).

How much of the frame should the head take?

49–69% of photo height.

What background does this document need?

White or off-white background.

What can’t be fixed here for free?

Hard shadows and uneven light on the face. A smile, raised brows or a half-open mouth. Cropping keeps the face it was given. Clothing and pose. Shoulders out of frame, body turned away from the camera. AI fixes this from the same photo — you see the result before paying.

How many photos fit on one 10×15 cm sheet?

2 × 2 frames fit on one 10×15 cm sheet — 4 copies from a single print.