How Many Passport Photos Do You Need? (2026, by Country and Document)

For a US passport you need one 2×2 inch photo, whether you apply in person with Form DS-11 or renew by mail with Form DS-82, and no print at all if you renew online. Most USCIS forms that ask for photos (such as I-485, I-765 and I-131) want two identical 2×2 photos, and countries such as the UK (paper form), Canada and Australia also ask for two. Visa applications vary: a US DS-160 takes a digital upload, while a Schengen or Chinese visa usually takes one printed photo.

How many passport photos do you need, by application?

This table covers the applications people ask about most. Counts are per applicant, so a family of four applying together needs four sets. Always check the current form instructions before you print, because agencies update them.

How many photos do you need for a US passport?

One. The instructions printed on both Form DS-11 and Form DS-82 say to attach one color photograph 2×2 inches in size, taken in the last 6 months. Photo services often sell them in pairs, but the U.S. Department of State does not ask for a second copy.

If you apply in person with Form DS-11 (first passport, or when you are not eligible to renew by mail), do not staple the photo yourself. The acceptance agent reviews it and attaches it. Children under 16 always apply in person with a DS-11, and they also need one photo; the State Department says the same rules apply to babies and toddlers, including a neutral expression and a full face visible.

How many photos do you need for a passport renewal?

For a US renewal by mail with Form DS-82, you need one printed photo, and you staple it yourself. The form instructions say to use four staples, placed vertically in the corners as close to the outer edges as possible, and not to bend the photo.

If you renew online, you need no prints at all. You upload one digital photo during the application, and the State Department says not to take a picture of a printed photo or scan a print to create the file. Check the upload page on travel.state.gov for the current file types and size limits before you start.

How many photos for a green card or USCIS form?

When a USCIS form asks for photos, the usual answer is two identical color passport-style photos. The instructions for Form I-485 (adjustment of status) and Form I-765 (employment authorization) both say you must submit two identical color passport-style photographs taken recently, 2×2 inches, on a white to off-white background, printed on thin paper with a glossy finish, and unmounted.

• Form I-131: two identical photos if you are in the United States applying for an Advance Parole Document or TPS Travel Authorization, or outside the United States applying for a Refugee Travel Document.
• Form N-400: the instructions ask for two photos only from certain applicants who live outside the United States, such as some members of the armed forces and their spouses. Most applicants inside the US do not mail photos with the N-400.
• Form I-90 (green card renewal or replacement): the current instructions do not list passport-style photos among the documents to send.
• On each photo, the USCIS instructions say to lightly print your name and A-Number (if you have one) on the back in pencil or felt pen.

These counts apply to paper filings. If you file a form online, follow the evidence instructions in your USCIS online account rather than assuming you need to mail prints.

How many photos do you need for a visa application?

It depends on the country, and the trend is toward one photo or a digital upload.

• US visa (DS-160): you upload one digital photo inside the online form. The State Department says that if the upload fails, you should bring one printed photo that meets the requirements to your embassy or consulate interview, along with your DS-160 confirmation page.
• DV Lottery: one digital photo for you, plus a separate photo of your spouse and each eligible child you list on the entry. No prints are sent. See our DV Lottery photo guide at /dv-lottery-photo.
• Schengen visa: the EU Visa Code asks applicants to present one photograph that meets ICAO standards, and EU guidance says consulates should collect only one. Most consulates use 35×45 mm.
• China visa: Chinese Visa Application Service Centers state that applicants submit one photo, 48 mm high by 33 mm wide, printed on glossy photo paper.

Visa centers sometimes add their own checklist items, so read the checklist for the exact location where you will apply. Our document pages at /photo/us-visa, /photo/schengen-visa and /photo/china-visa list the size rules for each.

How many photos for a UK passport?

If you apply with a paper form, GOV.UK says you need 2 identical printed photos, 45 mm high by 35 mm wide, and they must not be a cut-down version of a larger picture. When your application needs a countersignatory (for example, a first adult passport or a replacement for a lost one), they sign the back of only one photo and the second is left blank. If you apply online, you provide one digital photo instead and no prints.

How many photos for a Canadian passport?

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada says you must submit 2 identical and unaltered photos with each passport application, 50 mm wide by 70 mm high. Canada expects these to come from a commercial photographer or studio, with the studio's details on the back, so home-printed photos do not qualify. If you are renewing online, IRCC says you need a digital photo instead, with its own pixel and file-size rules.

How many photos for an Australian, Indian or OCI application?

Australia: the Australian Passport Office says to include 2 photos, 35–40 mm wide and 45–50 mm high, less than 6 months old. If you use a paper form, your guarantor signs the back of one of them.

India passport: for applications submitted at a Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or Post Office Passport Seva Kendra in India, Passport Seva says a photograph is not required, because your photo is captured at the appointment. Indians applying through a mission abroad should follow that mission's checklist.

OCI card: the online OCI application asks you to upload one square JPEG photo, at least 200×200 and at most 900×900 pixels, under 200 KB. Some consulates or their service providers also ask for printed copies with the paper file, so check the checklist for your jurisdiction. Our /photo/india-oci-card and /photo/india-e-visa pages cover the size details.

How do you get extra passport photos cheaply?

Pharmacy photo services typically sell photos in pairs, which is more than a US passport needs and fewer than a family applying for several documents needs. A cheaper route is to put several copies of your photo on one 4×6 inch image and order it as a regular photo print. Here is how many fit on one sheet:

One 2×2 sheet covers a US passport (1) plus a USCIS filing (2) with three spares. For the step-by-step ordering process and how to avoid scaling errors, see our guide How to Print Passport Photos on a 4×6 at Walgreens, CVS, Walmart or Costco.

Free tools that can help

If you already have a correctly sized photo, the free 4×6 Print Sheet Maker at /passport-photo-print-sheet tiles it into six 2×2, eight 35×45 mm, nine 33×48 mm or four 50×70 mm copies. The free Passport Photo Checker at /passport-photo-checker runs basic checks before you print, and /free-tools lists the rest. They will not tell you how many photos a form needs, so keep the official instructions open as you go.