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U.S. Document Style Photos

Passport, Non Immigrant and Immigrant Visa Services, all U.S. document services require photographs of this format.
Further down this page you will find a list of photoplaces that can make photos of this format.

(if you got here through the visa steps, click here to get back)

American passport photo requirements are different from Dutch passport photo requirements and must conform to the following guidelines:

  • Image: Photograph must be recent (within six months), with a clear full face and front view image, ensuring the ears of the customer are showing, in color.
  • Size: The photograph must be at least two inches by two inches (51 mm by 51 mm) in size, exclusive of any white borders. The image size, from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head (including hair), should measure between one inch and one and three-eighth's inches. There should be at least one-half inch between the top of the head and photograph's border.
  • Background: There must be a clear contrast between the background and the customer's image. The background of the photographs must be white. Photographs that are grainy in appearance cannot be accepted.

Example of acceptable photograph (white or off-white background only):

 

Please click on the photo to download our instruction sheet that you can take to your photographer to ensure you get the correct pictures.
No head covering or dark glasses should be worn.  For exceptions, religious headcoverings for instance, and more information on what photographs are acceptable for U.S. documents, please see the State Department website.

 Correct U.S. document photograph 

Please click here for a partial list of photographers in the Netherlands, capable of making U.S. style Passport/Visa photographs.

A State Department brochure with guidelines for photographers to take proper U.S. document photos can be downloaded here.

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