What the upload accepts
| Rule | Requirement |
|---|---|
| File type | JPG, JPEG, PNG, HEIC or HEIF |
| File size | 54 KB to 10 MB |
| Photo | Color, taken in the last 6 months, one photo |
| Framing | Bottom of the frame at the edge of your shoulders. You can reposition and crop in the app. |
| Background | White or off-white, plain, no shadows |
| Not allowed | Filters, retouching, AI-made photos, photos of a printed photo, scans |
Taking it for free
Have someone take your photo against a plain white wall or sheet in even light. Do not send it by text message, since that lowers the quality. The upload tool checks basic requirements and tells you what to change. An employee reviews it after you submit. If there is a problem they ask you for a new photo.
When a ready-sized file helps
No white wall, no helper, or a cropping tool that keeps fighting you? Upload any selfie to Framefare for a free preview. For $2.49 you get a 600 × 600 JPEG between 54 KB and 240 KB, inside the upload limits, plus a print sheet.
Framefare crops and sizes your photo and, if your wall is not white, replaces the background with plain white. The State Department says photos must be original and unedited, and that a background removed with a retouching tool is not acceptable. The safest route is a real white wall or sheet. If you use our background step, look at the preview and keep in mind that staff decide.
Eligibility is a separate question
Not everyone can renew online. The State Department’s online renewal page lists who can. Photo rules are the same either way.
Common questions
Can I use a selfie for online passport renewal?
The State Department says to have someone take your photo before you start. It does not ban a timer shot, but the photo must meet the same rules and be taken from several feet away.
What file format does online renewal take?
JPG, JPEG, PNG, HEIC or HEIF between 54 KB and 10 MB.
Is a digital passport photo free?
Yes, if you take it yourself. Paid tools add sizing and checks.
Will my photo be checked?
Yes, twice: automatically by the upload tool, then by an employee after you submit.
Sources
Rules checked October 21, 2026. Framefare is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of State, USCIS or any government agency, and cannot guarantee that your photo is accepted.