A US passport is issued to US citizens who wish to travel abroad by the Department of State. A Green Card, officially named Permanent Resident Card, is issued to those who want to live and work permanently in the United States by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Both documents have head-and-shoulder photographs on them so as to identify your identity, and these photos must strictly comply with a series of official guidelines.
Then here comes a question: Is passport photo and Green Card photo the same? If I have one of them, can I use it for another? In this passage, you will find out the answers.
First of all, let’s learn about the official requirements for both photo types.
US Passport Photo Requirements
Here are photo tips from the Department of State.
- One colored photo taken within the last 6 months is required.
- The paper passport size photo must be 2″ x 2″ (51 x 51 mm) for in-person or mail application. The digital passport size picture must be at least 600 x 600 pixels (ratio aspect of width & length: 1:1), at least 54kb, and in JPEG format. The head in both versions should be centered and measure between 1” – 1.4” (25 – 35 mm).
- The background should be white or off-white without any shadows, texture, or patterns.
- The image quality should be clear and sharp.
- The photo should not have any visible pixels or printer dots and printed on high-quality glossy or matte paper.
- The photo must be original without retouching and filters that are commonly used on social media.
- Selfies are not allowed.
- Eyeglasses are not allowed even if they are daily worn, and neither are sunglasses nor tinted glasses. Please take them off. On the condition that you have to wear glasses for medical reasons, a signed statement from your doctor is required to submit. Make sure the lenses are transparent and the frames don’t cast shadows on the face.
- It is suggested to look straight at the camera with a neutral expression while unacceptable to show a side face, look around, laugh, open your mouth and close your eyes.
- You must show the whole face. Hats and head covering are only permitted for religious or medical reasons and a signed statement is required to prove that you have to wear them. In no case should your face be covered or have shadows. Pay attention not to leave a pacifier to babies. You should wear daily-worn clothes instead of uniforms or similar attire.
- For a baby passport picture, please make sure only the baby appears in the frame, no other person, toys, snacks or other irrelevant items. Attract the baby to look at the camera. It is acceptable if the newborn does not fully open its eyes. Don’t amuse them too much in case of distorted facial expressions, such as sticking your tongue out, giggling, etc.
Green Card Photo Requirements
A picture is required along with fingerprints and signature while submitting biometrics and here are detailed criteria for the image.
- The Green Card photo should measure 2″ x 2″, with a head height of 1.29″ and a height of 1.18″ from the bottom edge to the eye line.
- The background should be white or off-white.
- The digital photo should be at least 301 dpi in JPEG format. The width and height should measure 600 x 600 to 1200 x 1200 pixels. The file size should be 240k at most.
- The photos should be taken within the last six months, revealing your current look.
- Try to relax and hold a neutral facial expression.
- Look straight at the camera without anything covering your face and eyes.
- Hold your head centered and straight without tilting to any side.
- Wear plain and casual clothes, no fancy, extravagant outfits or uniforms. Religious attire is allowed in the event of a statement from your religious community.
- Glasses, headphones, headbands or similar items are not acceptable.
Comparison Between Passport Photo & Green Card Photo
Now that you can see Green Cards and US passports share almost the same photo requirements in terms of all important aspects, including size, photo quality, dress code and position.
The only difference between them is the version. As passport applications are filed in person or by mail, you have to submit a paper passport photo while the Green Card photo should be a digital one for online application.
Therefore, it is possible to use an existing passport size photo for a Green Card as long as it is taken within the last 6 months upon the date of application. However, if it is expiring soon or your appearance has changed during this time, you must retake a new one.
Make Biometric Photos at Home
No matter which identity document you are applying for, it is acceptable to take a photo at home, which is more economical compared with going to a photo vendor or an acceptance facility.
Thanks to AiPassportPhotos, you can make 100% compliant photos for both passports and Green Card with just one click.
With built-in AI algorithms, it can ensure the acceptability of your photo, crop to the required size, and replace unqualified backgrounds. What you need is to take a picture with a smartphone or camera and upload it to U.S. Passport Photo Maker or Green Card Photo Maker.
Moreover, it also supports a variety of photo editing features, such as old photo restoration, photo retouching, background removing/blurring, etc. All these are done automatically, which is quite efficient and user-friendly.
Summary
After learning about the US passport and Green Card photo requirements, you can see that they are almost the same, except for a printed version for the former and a digital version for the latter, so they are exchangeable. In order to secure photo compliance, we suggest you use AiPassportPhotos, the online passport photo editor to check before submitting it to the authority.