PassPose checks a US passport photo against 11 State Department rules in a few seconds, for free. Take the photo with your phone or upload one, and see each rule pass or fail with the reason and the fix. You pay only if you want to download the cropped photo.
A checker cannot promise that the State Department accepts a photo. The office that takes your application decides. A checker finds the problems that you can fix before you print or upload.
What the check measures
| Rule | What PassPose measures |
|---|---|
| One face, clearly visible | Exactly one face in the photo |
| Facing the camera, head straight | The turn and the tilt of the head |
| Eyes open | Both eyes open. A baby's eyes may be partly closed |
| Expression | Mouth closed. A child needs a neutral face |
| Head size and position | Head 1 to 1⅜ inches from chin to top of head, eyes at the right height, after the crop to 2 × 2 inches |
| Enough resolution | Enough pixels for the official size without a large enlargement |
| Background | Plain white or off-white, no color, no objects |
| No shadows on the background | One side of the background darker than the other |
| Even light on the face | One side of the face darker than the other |
| Not too dark, not washed out | The brightness of the face |
| In focus | Blur on the face |
It also warns when it sees glasses. The rules come from the State Department photo requirements.
What the check does not measure
- Hats, head coverings, uniforms, and headphones. Take them off yourself.
- When the photo was taken. It must be from the last 6 months.
- Edits made before the upload. Use the original photo from your camera.
- The print. Use photo paper, and check the size with a ruler.
Why photos fail: our own numbers
From October 5 to October 19, 2026, people checked 80 photos on PassPose. 26 passed every rule. These rules failed most often (one photo can fail more than one rule):
| Rule that failed | Photos | The usual cause |
|---|---|---|
| Shadow on the background | 27 | Standing close to the wall, or light from one side |
| Head size and position | 19 | The phone too close (a selfie) or too far, or no space above the head |
| Background not plain white | 19 | A gray or colored wall, a door, or a picture behind the head |
| Uneven light on the face | 15 | A window or a lamp at one side |
| Not in focus | 11 | Movement, low light, or the front camera |
| Head not straight | 3 | The head turned or tilted |
This is a small sample. We update the numbers as more photos are checked.
How to fix the most common failures
Shadow on the background
Step about 3 feet away from the wall, and turn so the light comes from in front of you. The State Department says: “Position yourself several feet away from the wall.”
Head size and position
Let someone else hold the phone at eye level, 4 to 5 feet away. Leave space above the head and around the shoulders. “Photos that are taken too close or too far away will be rejected.”
Background not plain white
Use a plain white or off-white wall, or hang a white sheet: “Use a white blanket or sheet to cover a non-white wall.” Do not replace the background in an app. That is a digital change.
Uneven light on the face
Face the window, or put the lamp behind the phone. Both cheeks need the same light.
Not in focus
Use the back camera, stand still, and take the photo in good light. Tap the face on the screen to focus.
What if a photo passes the check and is still rejected?
It can happen, because the office makes the final decision. If an office rejects a photo that passed the PassPose check, email us the notice within 90 days and we refund you in full. See the terms.
Rules: travel.state.gov, Passport Photos. Page updated March 24, 2026. Read on October 19, 2026. Failure numbers: PassPose usage counts, which hold no photo or face data.