Contact usHelp Center

United States · residence

Green card photo, checked against the USCIS standard

Green card applications, including I-485 adjustment of status, consular processing and most other USCIS forms, use the US passport photo standard: 2×2 inches (51×51 mm), head measuring 50–69% of the frame, plain white background, neutral expression, no glasses, taken within the last six months.

Cover of the United States passport
Official specimen
Size
50.8×50.8 mm
Digital file
600×600 px JPEG
Background
white
Head height
50–69%
Price
$5.99 · once

Select country and document

Step 1/3

Popular: · ·

  • Head size62.4% · 50–69%
  • Eye line61.2% · 56–69%
  • Backgroundwhite · σ 6
  • Lightingeven
  • Resolution1832px

MEETS SPEC · ESTIMATED

Checked against the official specification, with the source cited on every document.

How our US Green Card (Permanent Residence) photo tool works

Add a photo you already have and we measure it against the official US Green Card (Permanent Residence) specification (50.8×50.8 mm, 600×600 px, white background), then produce the exact files you need. Checking is free; you pay $5.99 only if you want the files.

  1. Add your photo

    A selfie or any recent photo of yourself, straight from your phone.

  2. See every measurement

    Ten checks run against the official spec and show you the numbers.

  3. Fix what's off

    Drag to reposition and zoom to resize, or retake the photo if something can't be fixed.

  4. Download your files

    Exact digital file, print-ready sheet and compliance report.

What is a US Green Card (Permanent Residence) photo?

A green card photo follows the US passport standard: 2×2 inches (51×51 mm) with the head measuring 50–69% of the frame against a plain white background, neutral expression, no glasses, taken within the last six months. Paper filings typically include two identical prints with the applicant's name and A-Number pencilled on the back.

The standard covers the I-485 adjustment of status and most USCIS photo requirements. USCIS applies the State Department's no-alteration rule: digitally edited, filtered or AI-enhanced photos are grounds for rejection. That is why a measuring tool is more use here than an editing tool.

Paper filings typically need two identical printed photos with your name and A-Number pencilled on the back; online filings upload a digital file. This page checks the geometry and gives you both: a 600×600+ pixel file and a 2×2 inch print sheet.

Cover of the United States passport
Public domain · Department of State · source

US Green Card (Permanent Residence) photo requirements

Size50.8×50.8 mm · 600×600 px @300 DPI
Digital file600×600px JPEG
Backgroundwhite
Head height50–69% of frame height
Digital uploadaccepted
Background editingnot permitted, so we leave yours as it is
  • Same photographic standard as the US passport photo.

Source: official requirements · verified 2026-07

US Green Card (Permanent Residence) photos that pass the checks

  • Woman with grey hair and thin silver glasses against a plain pale background
    Thin frames, no glare, eyes fully visible
  • Young man in a plain grey t-shirt against a plain pale background
    Even light, plain background, neutral expression
  • Baby photographed from above on a plain sheet, eyes open
    Infant alone in frame, eyes open, plain sheet
  • Man wearing a kippah, full face visible, against a plain pale background
    Religious head covering with the full face visible
  • Woman with braided hair worn back, against a plain pale background
    Hair back, forehead and both ears clear

US Green Card (Permanent Residence) photos that don't pass

  • Woman with her head tilted and a hard shadow falling across the wall behind her
    Head tilted, hard shadow on the background
  • Man photographed from too far away, head small in the frame
    Taken too far away, head too small in the frame
  • Baby with an adult's hand supporting the head, visible in the frame
    Someone else's hand in the frame
  • Woman photographed in a living room with patterned wallpaper and a framed picture behind her
    Patterned wall and furniture behind

Illustrative examples created for this guide. They are not customer photos, and not decisions by any authority.

What you get for $5.99

  • High-resolution file in the exact spec (600×600px)
  • Printable compliance report with everything we measured
  • Print-ready 10×15 cm sheet with 4 copies and cut lines
A 10x15 cm print sheet of four identical photos with cut lines, next to a pair of scissors
Your print sheet: 4 copies with cut lines, ready for any photo kiosk

one-time payment, no subscription

Photos that pass

  • Exact dimensions: 600×600px
  • Plain white background, evenly lit
  • Head filling 50–69% of the frame
  • Taken in the last 6 months, neutral expression

Photos that get rejected

  • Edited, filtered or AI-retouched photos
  • Shadows on the face or background
  • Busy walls, gradients or the wrong background colour
  • Head too large, too small, or off-centre
  • Glasses (banned for this document)
  • Old photos, or photos of printed photos

Why use PassportClerk for your US Green Card (Permanent Residence) photo

Convenience
Make it at home from a photo you already have, without booking a studio or queueing for a booth. You get a file sized for the official upload and a print sheet for the times you need paper.
Built from the official specification
Every measurement on this page comes from the official US Green Card (Permanent Residence) requirements, and the source is linked, dated and re-checked.
Works from any phone
Nothing to install. A recent phone camera and a plain wall are enough.
You see the numbers
Head height, eye line, background and resolution are all measured and shown to you before you pay.
Private, then deleted
We only receive your photo if you buy, and everything is deleted within 48 hours.

If the files we produce don't match the specification on this page, we'll fix them or refund you. The decision on any application always rests with the issuing authority.

Frequently asked questions

How many photos does a green card application need?

Paper I-485 filings ask for two identical passport-style photos (some categories more). Write your name and Alien Registration Number lightly in pencil on the back. The print sheet gives you four identical copies.

Are the rules the same as a passport photo?

Yes. USCIS uses the Department of State standard: 2×2 inches, head 25–35 mm chin to crown (50–69%), white background, no glasses, no retouching. A photo that passes here works for both.

Can the photo be edited or enhanced?

No. USCIS follows the same no-alteration rule as the State Department. Background replacement, AI enhancement and heavy filters are rejection grounds, which is why this tool measures your photo instead of editing it.

What about the biometrics appointment?

USCIS also photographs you at the Application Support Center, but the photos submitted with your filing must still meet the standard. A non-compliant submission can delay the case before biometrics ever happen.

How we handle compliance

  • We check your photo against the official rules. We never retouch your face, and we only normalize the background where the destination country permits it.
  • Every requirement is cited from official government sources, with the verification date shown on the page.
  • What you get is a report of measurements, not a guarantee. Final acceptance always rests with the issuing authority.

official requirements · verified 2026-07

Related