Free · No sign-up · Zero uploads to remote servers
U.S. passport photos from your phone in 60 seconds
Take a selfie at home, align it with our official biometric guide, and download a 2×2 in digital photo plus a 4×6 print sheet. Zero uploads, 100% free and private.
- 1 Upload
- 2 Adjust
- 3 Download
- 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm)
- Head 1 – 1⅜ in
- White or off-white
Order a standard 4×6 in photo print (10×15 cm in Europe) at Walgreens, CVS, Walmart, Boots or any local kiosk for ~35¢. Cut along the dashed guidelines.
How to avoid "Printer Scaling" passport rejections
1. Scale must be 100%: In your printer settings or kiosk software, choose "Actual Size" or "Scale: 100%". Never check "Fit to Printable Area" or "Shrink to Fit" (which shrinks 2×2 in down to 1.7 in).
2. Physical Ruler Calibration: We include an exact 1.00 inch (25.4 mm) reference scale printed in the margin of the 4×6 sheet. Lay a real ruler over that bar—if it measures exactly 1 inch, your head dimensions are 100% compliant!
3. Paper Quality: Use glossy or matte photo paper (never plain copy paper).
Complete Guide: How to Take and Print a U.S. Passport Photo at Home
Taking your own U.S. passport photo at home is fully legal and approved by the U.S. Department of State under 22 CFR 51.26. By using a standard smartphone camera and formatting your photo on a 4×6 inch print sheet, you can print 6 official photos at Walgreens, CVS, or Walmart for under $0.40—saving over $16 compared to in-store retail pharmacy photo services.
1. Position and Lighting
Stand 4–5 feet away from a plain white or off-white wall. Use natural daylight facing a window to avoid harsh facial shadows. Do not use flash directly if it casts strong shadows behind your ears or head.
2. Camera Angle & Framing
Hold your phone at eye level. Look straight into the camera lens with a neutral facial expression or natural, unforced smile. Both eyes must be wide open and clearly visible.
3. Attire & Accessories
Eyeglasses of any kind are strictly prohibited by the State Department. Wear normal street clothing in a dark or contrasting color (avoid white shirts that blend into the wall). Uniforms or camouflage are not allowed.
4. Printing at CVS, Walgreens, or Walmart for 35¢
Do NOT order a 'Passport Photo' at the pharmacy counter (they will charge you $17.99). Instead, upload our downloaded 4×6 inch print sheet as a standard '4×6 Photo Print'. It prints on glossy photo paper for ~35 cents. Then simply cut along the dashed guidelines.
Three steps. Under a minute.
-
1
Snap a photo
Stand facing a plain light wall in daytime lighting. Hold your smartphone camera at eye level.
-
2
Align with biometric guide
Drag, zoom, and tilt until chin and crown fit the official U.S. Passport Photo tolerance zones.
-
3
Save & print for 35¢
Download the uncompressed digital file and the 4×6 print sheet with multiple copies.
Zero Data Storage · Verified Privacy
Your photo never leaves your device.
PassSnap does not maintain any remote photo storage server, database, or tracking cookies. All geometric computations execute locally inside your browser's memory sandbox.
Client-Side Processing
HTML5 Canvas API extracts and rescales the cropped pixels on your phone or computer. The data is discarded the moment you close the tab.
No Database or Cloud Uploads
Zero backend image upload scripts. We physically have no means to inspect, view, or retain your personal biometric photo.
Hardened Security Headers
Our HTTP Content-Security-Policy disallows connect-src 'none', prohibiting your browser from transmitting payloads out.
Works Fully Offline
Load this webpage once, disconnect your internet connection completely, and process your photos in 100% offline mode.
- Network requests since photo load
- 0
- Cookies saved on this site
- 0
- Items in browser local storage
- 0
- Third-party advertising trackers
- 0
U.S. Passport Photo Official Specifications (2026)
- Photo Size
- 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm / 600 × 600 px @ 300 DPI)
- Head Height
- 1 – 1⅜ in (25 – 35 mm), chin to top of hair (50 – 69%)
- Eye Height
- 1⅛ – 1⅜ in (28 – 35 mm) from the bottom of the photo
- Background
- Plain white or off-white, free of patterns or shadows
- Expression
- Neutral expression or natural smile, eyes open looking ahead
- Eyeglasses
- Strictly forbidden (unless signed medical waiver provided)
- Head Coverings
- Not permitted, except for documented religious/medical reasons
- Recency
- Taken within the last 6 months, in color
Government compliance notice: Guidelines strictly correspond to Code of Federal Regulations 22 CFR 51.26 and ICAO Doc 9303.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I legally take my own U.S. passport photo at home?
Yes. The U.S. Department of State officially accepts photos taken by applicants themselves. As long as the photo strictly adheres to dimensions (2x2 inches), head proportions (1 to 1-3/8 inches), and background rules, it is guaranteed to be accepted.
How do I print passport photos at CVS or Walgreens for 35 cents?
Download our free 4×6 inch print template (which contains 6 copies of your 2x2 photo). Go to Walgreens.com, CVS.com, or Walmart Photo and order a standard '4×6 photo print' for ~35¢. Do not order a 'passport photo' on their site, or they will charge you $17.99 for the same paper.
Are glasses allowed in US passport photos?
No. Since 2016, eyeglasses of any kind (prescription or sunglasses) are strictly banned in U.S. passport photos to prevent biometric scanner reflection errors.
Is my photo uploaded to your server?
No. PassQuickSnap performs 100% of the cropping, alignment, and print-sheet generation directly inside your web browser. Your photo never touches our server or any database.
How PassQuickSnap compares to pharmacies & paid apps
| Feature | PassQuickSnap (In-Browser) | Walgreens / CVS | Paid Photo Apps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Cost | Free (+ ~$0.35 for 4×6 print) | $16.99 – $17.99 | $12.00 – $16.00 paywall |
| Photos Included | 6–8 print photos + Digital JPEG | Only 2 physical prints | 1 digital file (sheet costs extra) |
| Biometric Privacy | ✓ 100% on-device (0 uploads) | Stored on store kiosk | Uploaded to cloud servers |
| Unlimited Retakes | ✓ Unlimited at home | 1–2 rushed shots in store | Pay per export |