CVS Passport Photo: Cost, How It Works & What to Expect

You can get your US passport photos taken at select CVS Pharmacy locations. No appointment is needed; an associate takes your photo with the Kodak Moments system, and your two 2×2 inch prints are ready within minutes for $17.99. Keep in mind that the digital copy isn't included; it's a $3.99 add-on at select stores, delivered by email.

But how does CVS compare to Walgreens and the other photo counters? What happens if your photo gets rejected? And is there a way to get your passport photos done without leaving the house?

Price and details verified from the official CVS Passport Photos page. Last verified July 29, 2026.

$17.99

two printed 2x2 photos
digital copy $3.99 extra

CVS passport photo price, verified July 29, 2026.

How Much Is a Passport Photo at CVS?

A CVS passport photo costs $17.99 for two printed 2×2-inch (US government-compliant) photos, taken at the photo counter without an appointment. Your prints come with a verification certificate and are usually in your hand within minutes.

The digital copy is where CVS differs from some other pharmacies. It costs $3.99 extra, it's offered at select locations, and it arrives by email. There's also a Kodak Moments USB stick with your files for $10.99. So if you want the prints plus the file you need to renew online, plan on $21.98.

Price

$17.99 for two prints

Digital file

$3.99 add-on, emailed

Size

2x2 in, U.S. government compliant

Appointment

None. Walk-in only

Turnaround

Ready within minutes

Where

Select CVS Pharmacy locations

Does Every CVS Do Passport Photos?

No, only select locations.

Passport photos live in the photo department, and not every CVS has one. So before you head out, call your local store to make sure yours takes passport photos; it saves you a wasted trip.

Where the service is offered, it's walk-in only. Keep in mind that the photo department can keep shorter hours than the pharmacy or the front of the store, so hours vary by location and a late-evening visit may be a gamble.

Are CVS Passport Photos Good Quality?

Mostly, yes. An associate takes your photo with the Kodak Moments Passport & ID Photo System, the prints come with a verification certificate, and you're usually out the door in minutes.

The catch is that a pharmacy aisle isn't a portrait studio. You stand against a plain background under store lighting, and a white or pale top can melt into it and give you that dreaded floating head look. Harsh overhead light can also throw shadows across your face or flatten the shot.

And the certificate covers what the system can measure; it's still the passport office that decides whether your photo is accepted (or not). If it's rejected, that usually means a second trip to CVS to redo the photo.

What Should You Wear for a Passport Photo?

Wear what you'd wear on a normal day, in a plain, solid color that isn't white or cream. CVS won't photograph you in a uniform, anything that looks like one, or camouflage, and glasses and sunglasses are off the table too. Hats and head coverings are only allowed for religious or medical reasons. Jewelry is fine, and you don't need to remove facial piercings.

A white shirt against the plain background is still the fastest way to end up with a floating head, so a solid color does you a double favor. And when the associate counts to three, don't smile; the State Department wants a neutral expression, mouth closed, both eyes open.

All of this is easy to get right at home too, where nobody is waiting in line behind you. The advantage is that a service like OnePassPhoto checks your photo against every rule before anything is printed, so you know it passes before you pay.

What size is a US passport photo?

Whether it's taken at CVS or in your living room, a US passport photo has to hit the same official size: a 2 x 2 inch square, with your head 1 to 1⅜ inches from chin to crown. Get the head too small or too large and the passport office rejects it, no matter how good the photo looks.

At the CVS counter the Kodak system frames this for you. From home you don't have to eyeball it either. We measure your head and set it to the regulation size before you pay, and you can see the full US passport photo requirements spelled out.

US passport photo size: 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm), with the head 1–1⅜ in (25–35 mm) from chin to crown. Source: U.S. Department of State.

The from-home option

How to Get Your Passport Photo Online

Surprisingly, you don't need a photo counter at all. A photo taken at home works fine for a US passport, as long as it meets the State Department's rules. And this is where OnePassPhoto can help.

All you need to do is snap a selfie and upload it. We size your head to the proper specifications, tidy up the background if needed, and check your lighting, framing, and expression against every official US rule, all before you pay a cent. The digital file is included, not an add-on, and it downloads instantly. We never retouch your face, so it still looks like you. And if a passport office ever turns it down, you get your money back.

CVS vs. OnePassPhoto: Side-By-Side Comparison

With both, you get a compliant US passport photo. The difference is where the photo is taken, what the digital file costs, and who catches a problem before the passport office does. This table offers a quick side-by-side comparison:

	CVS in-store	OnePassPhoto from home
Price	$17.99 for two prints	Free preview, price shown at checkout
Digital file	$3.99 add-on, select stores	Instant download, included
Where	A trip to a select location	Your phone, anywhere
Compliance check	Kodak system at the counter	Every official rule, before you pay
If it's rejected	Redo trip to the store	Money back, guaranteed

What About the Other Pharmacies and In-Person Options?

Walgreens charges $16.99 for two prints and emails you the digital copy for free, which makes it the slightly cheaper counter once you count the $3.99 file. Meanwhile, Walmart usually runs a few dollars cheaper still. But wherever you go, the in-store experience is pretty much the same, and so is the risk of having to redo your photo. With OnePassPhoto, you skip the trip to the store and the second trip if your photo gets rejected.

Ready to get started from the comfort of your own home?

CVS figures verified from the official CVS page, July 29, 2026. Walgreens pricing verified June 29, 2026. Walmart pricing varies by store, so confirm with your local location.

CVS Passport Photo FAQ

Does CVS take passport photos?

Yes, at select CVS Pharmacy locations with a photo department. A store associate takes your photo with the Kodak Moments system, no appointment needed, and your two prints are ready within minutes.

How much is a passport photo at CVS?

A passport photo at CVS costs $17.99 for two printed 2×2 photos. The digital copy is separate; at select stores you can add an emailed copy for $3.99.

Does CVS give you a digital copy of your passport photo?

Not for free. At select locations you can add an emailed digital copy for $3.99, or have your files put on a Kodak Moments USB stick for $10.99. If you plan to renew your passport online, you'll need that digital file, so factor it into the price.

Do I need an appointment for a CVS passport photo?

No, passport photos at CVS are walk-in only. Find a location that offers the service, head to the photo department, and ask to have your passport photo taken.

Is there a CVS passport photo coupon?

Don't count on one. Photo deals come and go at CVS, and they rarely apply to the passport photo service, so plan on paying the full $17.99.

What if my CVS passport photo gets rejected?

If the passport office rejects your CVS passport photo, you're usually looking at a second trip to the store to redo it. From home, OnePassPhoto checks your passport picture against every official rule before you pay; we also refund you if it's ever rejected.

Does CVS take passport photos for babies and children?

Yes, CVS takes passport photos for all ages, including infants. An infant's eyes don't have to be fully open, but any child older than that needs both eyes open, which can turn the counter visit into an adventure. At home you can take as many tries as your little one needs, and OnePassPhoto checks the result against every rule before you pay.

Can I wear glasses in my CVS passport photo?

No, glasses and sunglasses aren't allowed in US passport photos. If you can't remove them for medical reasons, you'll need a signed statement from your doctor with your passport application.

Can CVS print a passport photo I took myself?

Sort of. The counter service is for photos CVS takes, but you can lay two 2×2 photos onto a 4×6 template and order it as a regular print. OnePassPhoto gives you a print-ready file set up this way already, plus the instant digital copy, so you can print at CVS for the price of a single standard photo.

Can I apply for or renew my passport at CVS?

No, CVS isn't a passport acceptance facility and doesn't issue passports; it only takes the photo. You apply through the State Department, and if you renew online, remember you'll need the digital copy of your photo, not just the prints.