Most people don’t think much about passport photos until they’re standing in a drugstore wondering if their shirt will pass inspection, but you have more options than you might expect — from a quick booth at your local pharmacy to a DIY shot on your phone that can cost less than a dollar. This guide compares the best places across the US, UK, and Ireland, and walks you through how to get a photo that won’t get rejected.

4 related posts

Average passport photo cost in the US: $15 · Percentage of passport applications rejected due to photo: 2% · Number of Photo-Me booths in Ireland: 250+ · Minimum digital photo resolution required: 600 x 600 pixels

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact acceptance rate of DIY photos across different passport offices
  • Whether future updates will require AI-based verification for all photos
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • More countries are expected to adopt fully digital photo uploads for renewals
  • AI-based verification tools may become standard for detecting non-compliant photos

Here are the key facts at a glance:

Metric Value
US passport photo cost $15 average at retail locations
UK digital photo code £9 for code from post office or booth
Irish passport photo online Free upload; verification fee €0 if using digital
Photo rejection rate Approximately 2% of all applications globally
Baby photo guidelines Infant may be photographed lying down; no visible hands or toys

How to take your own passport photo?

Using a smartphone

Taking a compliant passport photo at home is easier than ever, but the margin for error is slim. Choose a room with even, shadow-free lighting — natural daylight near a white wall works best. Place your phone on a stable surface or use a tripod. Ensure the background is plain white or off-white with no texture or patterns. The US requires a 2×2 inch photo with the head between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches from chin to crown (US State Department (passport issuing authority)). For the UK, the photo must be 45mm x 35mm with a face height of 29mm to 34mm (UK Government Passport Office). Ireland requires a digital image with a minimum resolution of 600 x 600 pixels (Irish Department of Foreign Affairs).

The trade-off

DIY photos cost under $1 when printed on a standard 4×6 sheet (Smartphone ID (passport photo service comparison)), but you trade convenience for precision — one shadow or wrong head size can mean a rejection.

Taking a baby passport photo

Babies pose a unique challenge. The US State Department permits photographing infants lying down on a plain white sheet, as long as no hands or toys are visible (US State Department). In the UK, the same rule applies — the baby’s eyes must be open and the face forward (UK Government). Ireland’s guidelines require the baby to be alone in the frame with no pacifier or other objects (Irish Department of Foreign Affairs).

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Uneven lighting that casts shadows on the face or background
  • Wrong head size – too large or too small within the frame
  • Eyes closed or mouth open (neutral expression required)
  • Glasses – banned in US photos since 2019; in UK and Ireland they are allowed only if eyes are clearly visible and no glare
  • White or light-coloured clothing that blends into the background

The pattern: Most rejections come from violating one of these simple, non-negotiable rules. Following each country’s official checklist before you snap is the single best way to avoid a second trip.

For a DIY passport photo, the trade-off is cost vs. precision: careful setup eliminates rejection risk, but one mistake can waste time.

Where is the best place to get a passport photo?

Pharmacies and drugstores

Drugstores are the default choice for millions of travellers. In the US, CVS offers passport photos at $17.99 with no appointment needed, and you can buy two additional prints for $3.99 or a digital copy for as low as $3.99 (CVS (US pharmacy chain)). Walgreens charges $16.99 — find a 24-hour location with our 24-Hour Walgreens Near Me guide. In the UK, Boots offers the service, while in New Zealand Unichem provides passport photos (PhotoAiD (passport photo service comparison)).

Passport photo booths

Photo-Me booths are DFA-approved in Ireland and located at more than 250 sites (Smartphone ID). They cost around £6–£9 and produce a code you can use for digital UK applications. In the US, booths are less common but still available in some transit hubs and post offices.

Online services

Online print-and-deliver services like Snapfish and Amazon Photos let you upload a compliant image and receive prints by mail. Some offer a compliance guarantee, meaning they refund your order if the photo is rejected. However, CVS states its passport photos cannot be ordered online and must be taken in store (CVS).

Cost comparison

Here’s a snapshot of US prices from top providers (Smartphone ID (passport photo service comparison)):

Provider Price (US) Walk-in / Appointment Notes
Walmart $7.64 Walk-in, 5–10 minutes Cheapest in-store option
AAA (members) $8.00 Walk-in Members only at this price
AAA (non-members) $16.00 Walk-in Higher price for non-members
UPS Store $11.99–$15.00 Walk-in Price varies by location
USPS $15.00 Walk-in Post office – use our What’s My ZIP Code? USPS Lookup & Ireland Eircode Guide to find your nearest
FedEx Office $15.95 Walk-in Available at most FedEx locations
Walgreens $16.99 Walk-in Digital copy available extra
CVS $17.99 Walk-in Additional prints $3.99

Five providers, one pattern: Walmart stands out by undercutting every other chain by at least $4, making it the budget winner for US applicants. For travellers who value speed and don’t mind paying a premium, CVS and Walgreens offer comparable service.

For US applicants, Walmart is the cheapest in-store option at $7.64; for UK and Ireland, digital uploads are free or low-cost.

What should you not wear for a passport photo?

Colors to avoid

White, light blue, and pastel clothing can blend into the white background and cause your photo to be rejected. The same applies to patterned or textured shirts that create moiré effects on digital cameras. Dark colours like black, navy, or burgundy work best (US State Department).

Clothing restrictions

  • No uniforms (military, police, airline) unless required for official identification
  • No camouflage patterns
  • No headphones, earpieces, or wireless headsets

Facial accessories

  • Glasses: banned in US photos since 2019; UK and Ireland allow them if eyes are clearly visible without glare
  • No hats or headwear except for religious or medical reasons (with written confirmation in some cases)
  • Large earrings, necklaces, or piercings that obscure facial features should be removed

The catch: what seems like a minor accessory can trigger an automatic rejection. If you’re unsure, default to the most minimal look possible — plain dark shirt, bare face, no jewellery.

Choosing dark, plain clothing and removing accessories dramatically lowers rejection risk.

Who can verify a photo for an Irish passport?

Eligible witnesses

For paper applications, the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs requires a witness to confirm the photo is a true likeness. Eligible witnesses include Gardaí, doctors, solicitors, school principals, and other listed professionals (Irish Department of Foreign Affairs). For online renewals, a witness is still needed if you are not using the digital upload option.

Identity verification process

The witness must sign the application form and write “I certify that this is a true likeness of [name]” on the back of the printed photo. Since 2023, the digital online service allows applicants to upload a photo directly, bypassing the need for a physical witness (Irish Department of Foreign Affairs). However, first-time applicants and those renewing by post still require witness verification.

Digital vs printed photo

The shift to digital has simplified the process: you take a photo with your phone, upload it to the Irish passport website, and an official checks it electronically. For printed photos, the witness role remains critical. The cost is nil for digital uploads, whereas printed photos incur postage and witnessing fees.

Why this matters: digital-first renewals save time and eliminate the risk of a witness rejecting your likeness, but they require a device and basic tech comfort. For older applicants or rural residents, the paper route with a local garda remains the default.

Irish applicants benefit most from digital renewal: no witness needed and zero cost for photo upload.

What documents do you need for a passport?

Proof of citizenship

Photo identification

You’ll need a current, valid photo ID — usually a driver’s licence or previous passport. In Ireland, some professionals (e.g., a doctor or garda) can also verify your identity as part of the witness process.

Application forms

All countries require a completed application form (DS-11 for US first-time applicants, OS for UK, APS for Ireland). Fees vary by processing speed: standard US adult passport is $160, UK adult passport is £88.50, Irish adult passport is €80 for online renewals. A compliant photo is required with every submission.

The implication: having the right documents sorted before you take your photo prevents the frustration of a completed application stuck in the mail for a missing certificate.

Gather citizenship documents first; they are non-negotiable and vary by country.

Pros & cons of each photo method

Upsides

  • DIY smartphone: Lowest cost ($0.15 per print); takes 10 minutes; no appointment needed
  • Pharmacy/drugstore: Quick (under 15 minutes); staff often familiar with local rules; physical print in hand
  • Photo booth: Automated and fast; DFA-approved in Ireland; digital code for UK apps
  • Online services: Multiple copies delivered; compliance guarantee available

Downsides

  • DIY smartphone: High rejection risk if not precise; requires editing tools
  • Pharmacy/drugstore: More expensive ($14–$18); quality depends on staff
  • Photo booth: Limited retakes; can’t adjust head size; potential overexposure
  • Online services: Waiting time for delivery; shipping costs; digital upload only

The choice depends on how much you’re willing to trade off cost against convenience and certainty.

DIY is cheapest but riskiest; pharmacy is reliable but pricier; booths and online services sit in between.

Step-by-step: Taking your own passport photo with a smartphone

  1. Find a plain white wall or hang a white sheet. Ensure even lighting — use a window or two lamps at 45-degree angles.
  2. Position your phone on a tripod or stack of books at eye level.
  3. Stand 30–60 cm from the background. Keep a neutral expression, eyes open, mouth closed.
  4. Take several shots and check for shadows, glare, or hair covering the face.
  5. Use a free online crop tool or app to cut the photo to your country’s exact dimensions (e.g., 2×2 inches for US, 45×35 mm for UK).
  6. Save at the required resolution (at least 600×600 pixels for Ireland).
  7. Print on standard 4×6 photo paper at a drugstore or online printer — cost under $1.

UK Government Passport Office notes that you can use a digital camera or smartphone to take the photo at home.

Following these steps reduces the risk of rejection to near zero if done carefully.

The step-by-step process is straightforward: correct lighting, size, and expression are the only variables that matter.

Clarity: What’s confirmed and what’s not

Confirmed facts

  • Passport photos must meet strict size, background, and expression standards in all countries (US State Department)
  • Pharmacy passport photos are accepted by passport offices when taken correctly (CVS)
  • DIY photos with a smartphone are acceptable if guidelines are followed exactly (UK Government)
  • Walmart is the cheapest in-store option in the US (Smartphone ID)

What’s unclear

  • Exact acceptance rate of DIY photos across different passport offices (limited published data)
  • Whether future updates will require AI-based verification for all photos
  • How consistently staff at pharmacy chains follow the official guidelines

These facts come from official government sources, giving confidence in the DIY approach.

What the authorities say

“Your photo is a vital part of your passport application. Follow our specifications exactly to avoid delays.”

— US State Department travel website

“Digital photos must be taken within the last six months and reflect your current appearance.”

— Irish Department of Foreign Affairs

“You can take your own passport photo at home if you have a digital camera or smartphone.”

— UK Government Passport Office

Additional sources

remitly.com, passport-photo.online, youtube.com, tripadvisor.com

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Frequently asked questions

Can I use a selfie for a passport photo?

In most countries, yes, if the selfie meets all requirements: even lighting, plain background, neutral expression, and the correct head size. Use a timer or a remote to avoid blurred shots.

How much do passport photos cost at Walgreens?

Walgreens charges $16.99 for a set of two prints. You can also buy a digital copy for an additional fee.

Do passport photos need to be printed on special paper?

Standard glossy or matte photo paper is fine. What matters is the dimensions, resolution, and colour accuracy. Professional printers use high-quality paper that meets DFA and State Department standards, but any decent photo lab works.

What is the size of a UK passport photo in pixels?

The UK requires a digital image that is at least 600 x 750 pixels and no larger than 1200 x 1600 pixels, with a face height between 29mm and 34mm.

Can I wear glasses in my passport photo?

No — the US banned glasses in passport photos in 2019. The UK and Ireland allow them only if your eyes are clearly visible and there is no glare on the lenses. It’s safest to remove them.

How long does it take to get a passport photo at a booth?

Most photo booths take less than 5 minutes from insertion of payment to print. In Ireland, Photo-Me booths provide a digital code that can be used immediately for online renewals.

Are digital passport photos accepted for all countries?

Not yet. Many countries accept digital uploads for renewals but still require printed photos for first-time applications. The US currently requires printed photos, while the UK and Ireland accept digital files for renewals.

What should I do if my passport photo is rejected?

Check the rejection reason — usually it’s a size, expression, or background issue. Retake the photo addressing that specific problem. If you used a pharmacy, request a free retake (most chains offer one within 30 days).

Getting your passport photo right is a small but crucial step. For a family of four flying out of the US, choosing Walmart over CVS saves $40 on photos alone. For an Irish applicant renewing online, a digital upload costs nothing and eliminates the witness hassle. The choice you make depends on your country, your budget, and your confidence in following guidelines. For US travellers who want the cheapest in-store option, Walmart at $7.64 is the clear winner. For UK and Irish applicants, the digital route is hard to beat — if you have a smartphone and patience to follow the rules.