Skip the trip to the pharmacy and the line at the photo counter. Upload a smartphone selfie to PhotoGov to create an official U.S. passport photo — a square 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm) image cropped, framed, and checked against U.S. Department of State standards in about 30 seconds. Download a digital passport photo for online renewal right away, or save a printable sheet ready to print at CVS or any local photo center. Works on iPhone, Android, and any browser; no editing skills required.
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PhotoGov is an independent service. We are not affiliated with any government, embassy, or consulate, or with CVS Pharmacy. All information on this website is based on official government requirements and verified primary sources. Final acceptance is determined solely by the issuing authority.
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Photo Upload
Take a selfie against a plain white or light wall and upload it to the CVS passport photo tool: PhotoGov service works in any mobile or desktop browser
Processing
Wait about 30 seconds while the tool crops your photo to 2 × 2 inches, adjusts the head size, and checks the image against official requirements
Service Selection
Select your preferred download format or add Human Verification for a manual review by a PhotoGov specialist
Download
Get a digital passport photo for online renewal, or a printable sheet with 2 × 2 inch photos for paper applications
Written by Olia Potiagaeva, Managing Editor Reviewed by the PhotoGov Editorial Team★ 4.8 / 5.0 GoogleChecked against official government requirements
On THIS PAGE:
A CVS passport photo is a standard 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm) U.S. ID headshot on a plain white or off-white background, taken within the last 6 months.
At participating CVS Pharmacy stores, staff take and print two physical 2 × 2 inch photos on-site for $17.99, while an emailed digital copy costs $3.99 extra.
With PhotoGov, you can create the exact same U.S. passport photo from home in 30 seconds — download a digital file for online renewal or print a 4 × 6 sheet at any CVS photo counter.
Select CVS Pharmacy locations across the United States offer walk-in passport and ID photo services. A staff member takes and prints your CVS passport photo at the in-store photo counter in a few minutes, with no appointment required. Below is an overview of current pricing and service terms listed on cvs.com (verified in October 2026):
Service / Option | Details from cvs.com |
|---|---|
CVS passport photo price | Two 2 × 2" printed ID photos for $17.99 |
CVS passport photo digital copy | Digital image sent to your email for $3.99 extra (at select locations) |
USB drive copy | Photo files saved on a Kodak Moments Memory Saver 8GB USB for $10.99 |
Appointment | Walk-in service; printed passport photos are ready within minutes |
Online ordering | Not available on CVS.com — photos must be taken in person at a store |
Biometric check | Verified via the Kodak Moments Passport & ID Photo system (with a print certificate) |
If the photo fails | Return the prints with your receipt to any CVS Pharmacy store |
Keep in mind that CVS is not an official passport acceptance facility and does not process passport applications — you will still need to submit your paperwork through a designated post office, acceptance center, or the State Department portal. In line with federal rules, CVS does not allow eyeglasses, sunglasses, uniforms, camouflage attire, headphones, or face masks in passport photos. Head coverings are permitted only when worn daily for religious or documented medical reasons.
If you paid for the CVS passport photo digital copy, CVS emails it to the address you gave at the store, so check that inbox first to download your CVS digital passport photo.
If you have a digital delivery code, you can also download your photo from CVS Photo's Digital ID Photo page: enter the code and your phone number, then select Download. Photos stored there expire after a while, so save the file to your phone or computer soon after your visit.
Before you upload a CVS digital copy to your online passport renewal, check that it's a JPG, JPEG, PNG, HEIC, or HEIF file between 54 KB and 10 MB, as the State Department requires. You can reposition or crop the photo in your online renewal application.
If you have neither the email nor a code, or your CVS file won't upload, you can make a new digital passport photo online with PhotoGov from a selfie and download it right away.
Whether you visit a pharmacy counter or use an online tool, every U.S. passport photo must meet the exact same federal biometric standards. The real differences come down to convenience, turnaround time, and cost:
Feature | CVS passport photo | PhotoGov Online Photo Tool |
|---|---|---|
Where to get it | In person at select CVS stores | Online from your phone or computer |
Availability | Limited to local store photo hours | Available 24/7 |
Digital copy | Email delivery, $3.99 extra (select locations) | Included — instant digital download |
U.S. pricing | $17.99 for two 2 × 2" prints | $6.90 for Digital Photo HD (6 digital photos); printable sheet $2.90 extra |
Compliance check | In-store Kodak software & certificate | Automated biometric sizing + optional Human Verification by a specialist |
If the photo is rejected | In-store return with original receipt | Free retake or full refund if rejected due to an error on our side |
Prices were verified on cvs.com and PhotoGov in October 2026 and are subject to change.
Regardless of whether you apply by mail, in person, or through the online renewal portal, your photo must meet the official U.S. Department of State requirements:
Specification | Printed Photo (Mail / In Person) | Online Passport Renewal |
|---|---|---|
Size | 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm) | No fixed pixel size required; the portal crops and centers your uploaded image |
Head Size | 1 to 1-3/8 inches (25–35 mm) from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head | Reviewed by a U.S. Department of State specialist after submission |
Background | Plain white or off-white, free of shadows, textures, or objects | Plain white or off-white, free of shadows, textures, or objects |
Photo Recency | Taken within the last 6 months | Taken within the last 6 months |
File & Paper | Matte or glossy photo-quality paper; no scans or photocopies | JPG, JPEG, PNG, HEIC, or HEIF file between 54 KB and 10 MB |
Digital Edits | No retouching, filters, or AI alterations | Screened for filters, digital retouching, and AI tools |
Eyeglasses are not permitted in U.S. passport photos. If you cannot remove your glasses for medical reasons, you must include a signed doctor's statement with your application. According to the U.S. Department of State, non-compliant photos are the single most common reason passport applications are delayed or placed on hold.
PhotoGov automatically applies all official U.S. Department of State requirements to your original photo. The final image is ready for submission or printing and doesn't require any adjustments from you. Below are the key technical parameters of your final U.S. passport photo from PhotoGov.
Parameter | Your Final Photo |
Digital photo file | High-resolution file (54 KB to 10 MB) ready for online passport renewal |
Printed photo size | 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm) on a printable sheet |
Head size | 1 – 1 3/8 inches (25 – 35 mm), chin to top of head |
Background | Plain white or off-white |
File format | JPEG / Printable PDF or JPEG sheet |
Resolution | High-resolution digital file |
Head positioning | Automatically centered |
Color | Full color |
Face visibility | Fully visible, no retouching |
For a full overview of official standards, please see our U.S. Passport Photo Requirements Guide.
Your photo is processed in a private session in a secure environment. Facial features are never altered — our online passport photo tool only resizes and crops the image to official dimensions. If your photo is rejected because of an error on our side, we offer a free retake or a full refund.
Stand in front of a plain white or off-white wall, facing a window. Good natural lighting prevents facial and background shadows, which are a common reason for photo rejections. See our Background and lighting errors in passport photos guide to prepare the right setup for your capture.
Remove your glasses, hats, headphones, and any head coverings (unless you wear them daily for religious or documented medical reasons).
Have someone else take your photo, or use a tripod. Position the camera at eye level and turn off portrait mode and all filters.
Face the camera directly with a neutral facial expression, both eyes open, and mouth closed.
Upload a sharp, high-quality photo to the online passport photo maker. Do not edit or retouch it manually — the U.S. Department of State rejects photos altered with apps, filters, or AI tools, whereas our tool strictly resizes and crops your photo. If you’re going to apply later, remember the 6-month recency rule.
Take and format your photo from home 24/7, without planning your day around CVS passport photo hours or waiting in line at the counter.
Download your high-resolution digital passport photo right away, without paying an extra $3.99 fee for email delivery.
Download a printable 4 × 6 sheet and print your 2 × 2 inch photos at CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, or at home on glossy or matte photo paper.
Add Human Verification at checkout: an in-house specialist reviews your photo against the U.S. Department of State official passport photo rules.
Your image is processed in a private session, and your data is never shared with third parties.
While U.S. passports and visas require a standard 2 × 2 inch square photo (official size applied by CVS), most international documents use different dimensions — such as 35 × 45 mm for UK passports and Schengen visas.
The PhotoGov visa and passport photo tool maintains a dedicated template for every supported document across 150+ countries: simply select your document type, and the tool automatically applies the required size and framing.
PhotoGov’s U.S. passport photo templates are built on the photo rules published by the U.S. Department of State and the biometric framework described in ICAO Doc 9303. The requirements are regularly monitored by our compliance team, and the templates are updated as new revisions come into force.
The tool only adjusts the size and crop of your photo; it does not retouch skin, alter facial features, or add filters.
If your application is time-sensitive, or a photo rejection would cause significant inconvenience, select our Human Verification service at checkout. Our senior compliance specialist will manually review your photo against the latest U.S. Department of State requirements, provide feedback, and recommend a retake if any errors are detected.
The U.S. Department of State prohibits digital alterations of ID photographs. Our platform provides sizing and cropping services only and does not modify or enhance images. Final acceptance is determined solely by the U.S. Department of State or the passport agency reviewing your application.
At CVS Pharmacy, two printed 2 × 2" ID photos cost $17.99. Adding an emailed digital copy costs $3.99 extra (at select stores), and saving the files to a Kodak USB drive costs $10.99. With PhotoGov, the Digital Photo HD package costs $6.90 in the U.S. (six digital photos), and a printable sheet is $2.90 extra. Within the free limit, PhotoGov also offers two free ID photos per day, depending on your location — no coupon or promo code is needed, and all prices and options are displayed before download.
Yes, select CVS branches offer a CVS passport photo digital copy as a paid in-store add-on for $3.99 on top of the print package, delivered by email. With PhotoGov, your digital passport photo is generated online and is ready for download in under 30 seconds.
The CVS digital copy goes to the email address you gave at the store. If you can't find your CVS passport photo download link, search that inbox, including spam, for the CVS email. With a digital delivery code, you can also download the photo from CVS Photo's Digital ID Photo page using the code and your phone number. If you have neither the email nor a code, ask the CVS store that took your photo, or make a new digital passport photo online with PhotoGov.
No. CVS does not offer an online passport photo tool on CVS.com — all passport photos must be taken in person at a participating store. PhotoGov lets you create, check, and download your passport photo entirely online.
CVS does not have a dedicated passport photo app; its service is in-store only. To make a passport photo on your smartphone, open PhotoGov directly in your mobile browser — no app installation or registration is required.
Not every CVS location has a photo center equipped for ID photos. Check the store locator on cvs.com and filter for passport photo services before visiting your local branch.
In-store at CVS, printed photos are typically ready within a few minutes after your picture is taken, with no appointment required — though you still have to factor in travel and counter wait times. With PhotoGov, automated processing takes about 30 seconds from home.
Yes. Download the printable 4 × 6 inch sheet from PhotoGov and print it at actual size (100% scale, without cropping) at any CVS photo kiosk or local print shop.
If a photo taken at CVS is rejected, you can return the prints with your original receipt to any CVS Pharmacy store. With PhotoGov, if your photo is rejected because of an error on our side, we offer a free retake or a full refund.
Yes. We treat your personal data and images with great care. PhotoGov uses your information solely to generate your photo and deletes it from our servers once the process is complete. We never share your data with third parties or external AI services. If you have any questions, you can always contact our Customer Support team or read more details in our Privacy Policy.
PhotoGov.net strictly adheres to Global regulations for ID photos.
PhotoGov is an independent service. We are not affiliated with any government, embassy, or consulate. All information on this website is based on official government requirements and verified primary sources. Final acceptance is determined solely by the issuing authority.
Checked against the U.S. Department of State and other official authorities · Last checked: October 16, 2026
U.S. Passport Photo Requirements: U.S. Department of State
Online Passport Renewal — Upload a Digital Photo: U.S. Department of State
CVS Passport Photo Services (Commercial Source): CVS Pharmacy (cvs.com)
Biometric Regulations for International ID Documents: International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Document 9303
United States
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