Passport Photos: Everything You Need to Know

A passport photo looks like the simplest part of any application. It’s also the easiest part to get wrong, and a rejected photo can send your whole file back and cost you days you didn’t plan to lose.

Here’s everything you actually need to know about size, rules, where to get one, and whether same-day is realistic, based on how it works at the Sameday Passport & Visa Los Angeles office.

The Size Depends on the Country

There’s no single “passport photo size.” Every government sets its own rule:

• U.S. passport photo: 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm), plain white background
• Canadian passport photo: 50 x 70 mm, neutral background
• European and Schengen photo: 35 x 45 mm, biometric format, light grey or white background
• British passport photo: 35 x 45 mm, plain cream or light grey background
• Visa photos for other countries (China, India, Brazil, Russia, and more): each consulate’s own size and background, matched individually
• Green card and citizenship photos: 2 x 2 inches, USCIS compliant

If you’re not sure which format applies to you, that’s fine, just tell the counter which country you’re applying to and the photo gets taken to that specification.

The Rules That Actually Get Photos Rejected

Most rejections come down to a handful of repeat mistakes:

• Wrong dimensions. A standard 2 x 2 inch U.S. crop won’t pass where 35 x 45 mm is required, and the head has to fill a specific proportion of the frame.
• Wrong background. Off-white, patterned, or shadowed backgrounds are the single most common reason a consulate sends a photo back.
• Glasses, hats, or expression. Glasses aren’t permitted on U.S. passport photos, and the expression has to be neutral with both eyes open.
• Too old. A U.S. passport photo has to have been taken within the last six months. Several consulates ask for one taken within the last month.

Where to Get Them

At the Los Angeles office, 11022 Santa Monica Blvd, Suite 100, a photo set is $20, flat rate, whether it’s a U.S. passport photo or a visa photo for another country. No appointment is needed. Walk in any day the counter is open:

• Monday to Friday: 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM
• Saturday: 8 AM to 3 PM
• Sunday: 9 AM to 3 PM

The photo is taken at the counter, checked against the current specification for your country before you leave, and printed in a few minutes.

Same-Day: What’s Actually Possible

The photo itself is genuinely same-day, taken and printed in minutes while you wait. If you’re also filing a passport or visa application, the photo, the application review, and the filing can all happen in that same visit.

What isn’t same-day anymore is passport issuance itself; that changed nationwide in 2021. So a same-day photo, yes. A same-day passport in hand, no. The fastest passport turnaround through this office is a separate timeline listed on their fees & processing times page.

Passport Photo Requirements for 2026

The core U.S. requirements haven’t changed for 2026: 2 x 2 inches, plain white background, neutral expression, no glasses, taken within the last six months. What does change year to year is which countries update their own visa photo specs, which is part of why it’s worth having a photo taken by someone who checks it against the current rule rather than printing a generic drugstore crop.

Real Questions People Actually Ask

How much does a passport photo cost? $20 for a set, whether it’s a U.S. passport photo or a visa photo for another country.

Do I need an appointment? No. Walk in during open hours and it takes a few minutes at the counter.

Can you do visa photos, not just U.S. passport photos? Yes. Each consulate’s size and background rule is matched, including China, India, Brazil, Russia, Canada, the UK, and the Schengen countries.

Is the photo included with a passport or visa application? No, it’s a separate $20 charge, but it’s taken at the counter as part of the same visit if you’re also filing.

Before You Go

Bring nothing but yourself. The photo is checked against the current specification before you leave the counter, so the size, background, and framing are correct the first time, not something you find out is wrong after mailing it in.

For current hours or to confirm before crossing town, call (310) 402-1619.