2x2 Passport Photo: Exact Size, Specs, and Uses

A 2x2 passport photo is a square photo measuring 2 inches by 2 inches (51 mm by 51 mm), with the head taking up between 1 and 1 3/8 inches of that height. It is the standard format for the United States and a long list of other documents, and it is not interchangeable with the 35x45 mm size used by the UK and the Schengen area. Getting the head size right inside the square is what separates an accepted 2x2 photo from a rejected one.

This page gives the exact specification, the documents that require a 2x2 photo, the most common mistakes, and a reliable way to produce one at home.

The exact 2x2 specification

Property	Requirement
Photo size	2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm), square
Head height (chin to crown)	1 to 1 3/8 inches (25–35 mm)
Eye height from bottom	1 1/8 to 1 3/8 inches (28–35 mm)
Resolution	300 DPI minimum, around 600 x 600 pixels
Background	Plain white or off-white
Color	Full color, no filters
Expression	Neutral, eyes open, mouth closed
Recency	Taken within the last 6 months

The head-size rule is the part most people miss. The face must not fill the entire square — there has to be space above the head and below the chin so the head occupies roughly 50% to 69% of the photo height. A selfie cropped to a square almost always has the head too large.

The authoritative source for the US standard is the State Department photo page (travel.state.gov).

Which documents need a 2x2 photo

The 2x2 inch format is used far beyond the US passport. You will need it for:

• US passport and passport card
• US visa applications (DS-160)
• Green card / permanent resident applications
• US citizenship and naturalization (N-400)
• Employment authorization and many USCIS forms
• Passports and visas for several other countries, including India and a number of Asian and African nations that follow the 2-inch square standard (always confirm the exact size, since the UK, Schengen, and Canada use 35x45 mm or other formats)

Because so many documents share this size, a single correctly made 2x2 photo can often be reused — as long as it was taken within the last six months and your appearance has not changed.

2x2 inches vs 35x45 mm: do not convert

The most common 2x2 mistake is converting a photo from the European 35x45 mm format. The two standards place the head differently, so a straight resize pushes the head outside the accepted range. If you need both sizes, start from the original image and crop each one to its own template rather than converting one into the other. For a side-by-side breakdown, see our guide on the difference between 2x2 and 35x45 photos.

The most common 2x2 mistakes

• Head too large: cropping a selfie to a square leaves no margin and oversizes the head.
• Off-center crop: the face must be centered with even space on both sides.
• Shadow on the background: standing close to a wall creates a shadow that breaks the plain-background rule.
• Wrong resolution: a screenshot or a heavily compressed file fails even at the right dimensions.
• Converted from another size: see above — never resize a 35x45 mm photo into a 2x2.

How to make a 2x2 photo correctly

1. Set up the shot. Stand 1.5 metres in front of a plain, evenly lit wall so no shadow falls behind you. Use front light from a window, not a flash.
2. Frame straight on. Camera at eye level, face forward, neutral expression, eyes open, mouth closed.
3. Capture at high resolution. Use the main camera, not a low-resolution front camera, and keep the image sharp.
4. Crop to the 2x2 template. Place the eyes between 1 1/8 and 1 3/8 inches from the bottom and keep the head within the 1 to 1 3/8 inch range. Do not crop by eye.
5. Check the background. Confirm it is one even tone with no shadow or object.
6. Export once at 300 DPI as a 600 x 600 pixel image and verify the file is not a screenshot or chat download.

The fastest way to do this correctly is the dedicated 2x2 passport photo maker, which crops to the exact template, and the free passport photo checker to confirm head size and background before you print or upload.

Frequently asked questions

Is a 2x2 photo the same as a passport photo? In the US, yes — the standard US passport photo is 2x2 inches. Some other countries use 35x45 mm instead, so always match the size to the country you are applying to.

How many pixels is a 2x2 passport photo? At the recommended 300 DPI, a 2x2 inch photo is about 600 x 600 pixels. Higher is fine as long as the file stays sharp and within any service-specific size limit.

Can I cut a 4x6 print into 2x2 photos? Yes. A standard 4x6 print fits multiple 2x2 photos. Many people print a 2x2 photo doubled or in a grid on a 4x6 sheet to save money.

What is the head size for a 2x2 photo? The head, measured chin to crown, should be 1 to 1 3/8 inches (25–35 mm), with the eyes 1 1/8 to 1 3/8 inches from the bottom of the photo.

Can I use a 35x45 mm photo as a 2x2 photo? No. The head is positioned differently in each standard, so converting one to the other usually places the head outside the accepted range. Crop a fresh 2x2 from the original image instead.

A 2x2 photo is simple once the head size is right. Frame it with margin above the head, keep the background plain, and crop to the template rather than by eye.