US passport card photo: 600×600 px
US passport card ID photo requirement: 600×600 px (51×51 mm), file size ≤ 240 KB. Size, head ratio and file size are checked on your device — the photo is never uploaded.
- Pixel size
- 600 × 600
- Print size
- 51×51 mm
- Background
- White
- Head ratio
- 50–69%
- File size
- ≤ 240 KB
About the US passport card photo
The Passport Card uses the same 2×2in spec as the passport book; it only works for land or sea travel between the US, Canada and Mexico, not by air.
Photo requirements
Face fully visible with both ears showing; no hat, no heavy makeup
Common review practice — the official rules in force always take precedence
Common questions
- Why does my US passport card photo keep getting rejected?
- Usually one of three things: wrong pixel size, a file size outside the accepted range, or the head too small in the frame. Measure the result before submitting — cheaper than a rejection.
- Can I take it myself?
- Yes. Face the camera, even lighting, plain background, shoulders in frame and a little space above the head. The rear camera is sharper than the front one.
- Will compressing to the limit blur it?
- A little detail is lost, but at ID-photo dimensions the result still passes review. The tool starts at high quality and steps down to the first value within range.