International travelers that want to spend time abroad will need a passport that complies with all regulations and is approved by the U.S. State Department. According to their requirements, the good news is that tourists can take their own picture using an ordinary household camera. In order to do this however, very strict guidelines must be followed precisely for the picture to be approved. For many travelers, this means that finding an expert to guide them through the photograph submission process might be necessary. This article provides an outline of the requirements for a legal passport photograph and where to go if you need assistance.
Photo Specifications
A passport photograph should be no more than 2" X 2" in size. Further, the image must be between 600 and 1200 pixels in size along each dimension, and be provided in a square format. The image must also be taken in full sRBG color (the general format of most household digital cameras). In addition to color requirements, passport holders must not modify their images in any way, including with color filters or touch-ups. The image must be presented to the State Department on photo-quality paper and use full-resolution printing. Any image that does not meet these requirements exactly will not be approved.
Picture Setting
In addition to size requirements, the State Department has very clear guidelines regarding the actual setting of the image. Photographs must be taken in front of a plain white or off-white backdrop with nothing in the background that could serve as a distraction. The subject in the image must face the camera directly and have a neutral facial expression. Smiling, laughing, or frowning is not permitting for passport photographs. Clothing accessories such as headphones, hats, and large earrings must be removed before taking the picture. Additionally, anything that could be construed as a uniform cannot be worn in the photograph except for religious purposes.
Composition Schemes
The subject's head must be no more than 1/8" away from the top of the image, and the head must take up at least one inch of the image's horizontal space. The face should be centered inside the frame, and eyes should be between 1 1/8" and 1 3/8" away from the bottom of the photograph.
Getting Help
According to the State Department, compliant passport photographs must adhere to very strict criteria and be submitted as part of a passport application. Photographs that fail to adhere to these standards can result in extra fees and a longer wait time to go abroad. For this reason, many foreign travelers use the assistance of travel experts to help them take the photograph correctly. If you have a travel agent, usually these agents can help you make sure your picture is compliant without any extra cost. Simply bring the photograph in to your travel agent and he or she will generally tell you if it is compliant. For those that don't want to take a picture themselves, most local photographers can assist with taking the picture professionally and offer assurances that the picture will be compliant. Pictures may also be offered to be taken by local post offices, libraries, or pharmacies.
