Yes, the Post Office does take passport photos, and more than 17,000 USPS locations offer the service.1USPS. Photo Op A set of two printed 2×2-inch photos costs $15 and meets U.S. Department of State specifications.2USPS. Passports The appointment itself takes about five minutes, and you can book a photo-only visit without filing a passport application that day.
How to Book a Passport Photo Appointment
Scheduling ahead is the reliable path. You can book through the USPS Retail Customer Appointment Scheduler online, at a self-service kiosk in a Post Office lobby, or at the retail counter. Appointments open up to four weeks out.3USPS. USPS Retail Customer Appointment Scheduler – FAQ
When you book, the appointment type matters. Choose “Photo Services Only” if you just need a picture. Choose “New Passport with Photo Services” if you’re filing an application at the same visit. For a child’s passport, select “New Passport Only” or “New Passport with Photo Services” rather than the photo-only option.2USPS. Passports
Some locations offer limited walk-in hours, but availability is unpredictable and gets worse during peak travel season. An appointment is the safer bet.
What You Get for the $15 Fee
You walk out with two printed photos sized for a U.S. passport application. That’s it. The Post Office does not provide a digital copy of the image, and there’s no option to buy one.
This matters if you’re renewing your passport online. Online renewals require you to upload a digital photo file (JPG, JPEG, or HEIF, between 54 kilobytes and 10 megabytes), and the Department of State’s online tool checks the image against basic requirements before it accepts it.4U.S. Department of State. Uploading a Digital Photo A Post Office print won’t help you there. You’d need to take one yourself or use a service that includes a digital file.
What the Photo Has to Look Like
Having a postal employee take the picture reduces mistakes, but photos still get rejected. Knowing the rules helps you catch problems before you leave the counter.
The Department of State requires a color photo taken within the last six months, measuring 2×2 inches. Your head, from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head, must be between 1 inch and 1⅜ inches in the image. The background must be plain white or off-white with no shadows, textures, or patterns.5U.S. Department of State. U.S. Passport Photos
Keep a neutral expression, both eyes open, mouth closed. Take off all eyeglasses, including prescription lenses, sunglasses, and tinted glasses. If you can’t remove them for medical reasons, you’ll need to include a signed doctor’s note with your application. Hats and head coverings also come off unless worn daily for religious or medical reasons, in which case you need a signed statement or doctor’s note and your full face must remain visible with no shadows on it.5U.S. Department of State. U.S. Passport Photos
The most common reasons photos get kicked back are shadows on the background or face, hair falling across the forehead or cheeks, and glasses left on by habit. If the Department of State rejects your photo after you’ve already submitted an application, you’ll get a letter or email requesting a new one, which adds weeks to processing.4U.S. Department of State. Uploading a Digital Photo
Clothing and Uniforms
You cannot wear a uniform, anything that resembles a military or law-enforcement uniform, or camouflage clothing. The rule protects travelers from being targeted abroad based on a perceived connection to the U.S. military or law enforcement. Children 15 and under get a reasonable exception, though officials can still reject the photo if the child could be perceived as a child soldier. Whimsical camouflage patterns, such as one made of cartoon elephants, are generally fine.6U.S. Department of State. Passport Photograph Requirements Jewelry and facial piercings are allowed as long as they don’t obscure your face.5U.S. Department of State. U.S. Passport Photos
Babies and Young Children
Passport photos of infants are difficult, and the Department of State gives some room. Lay the baby on a plain white or off-white sheet, or drape one over a car seat to create a clean background. Make sure no shadows fall on the baby’s face. For infants specifically, the eyes don’t need to be fully open. All other children have to have their eyes open.5U.S. Department of State. U.S. Passport Photos
Other Places That Take Passport Photos
The Post Office isn’t the only option, and for some travelers it isn’t the best one. Pharmacies with photo departments are the most common alternative. Walgreens charges $16.99 for two printed photos and emails a free digital copy.7Walgreens. Passport and Visa Photos CVS charges $17.99 for two prints, with a digital copy available for an additional $3.99.8CVS. Passport, Visa and ID Photos If you’re renewing online, that digital file is the reason to skip the Post Office.
Local photography studios generally charge between $10 and $20, though you may need to book ahead. Apps and mail-order services also let you take a photo at home and receive compliant prints. If you go the DIY route, check every specification before you submit; a rejected photo delays your passport.
Getting Both a Photo and an Application Done in One Visit
If you’re applying for a passport in person, the Post Office can handle the whole visit. USPS is one of over 7,500 passport acceptance facilities nationwide, alongside clerks of court, public libraries, and other government offices.9U.S. Department of State. Where to Apply for a U.S. Passport You apply in person if you’ve never had a U.S. passport, your most recent passport was issued when you were under 16, or you’re otherwise ineligible to renew by mail or online.2USPS. Passports
Book the “New Passport with Photo Services” appointment type, and the postal employee will take your photo and process your DS-11 application in the same visit. The $15 photo fee is separate from your Department of State application fee and the $35 execution fee paid to the Post Office.10Travel.State.Gov. Passport Fees
One boundary worth naming: if your travel date is less than three weeks away, an acceptance facility like the Post Office can’t move fast enough. Urgent travel goes through a regional passport agency by appointment.