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

You can get your US passport photos taken and printed at many The UPS Store locations, walk-in or by appointment. Every store is independently owned, so there's no single national price; each franchise sets its own, and hours and services differ from store to store. Keep in mind that the photo counter may not exist at every location, so a quick call ahead saves the trip.

But what will it actually cost you? What happens if your photo gets rejected? And is there a way to get your passport photos done without visiting a counter at all?

Details verified from the official The UPS Store passport photo services pages. Last verified July 31, 2026.

Varies
each franchise store
sets its own price
The UPS Store passport photo pricing, verified July 31, 2026.

How Much Is a Passport Photo at UPS?

The UPS Store doesn't publish a national passport photo price. Every location is a franchise, and by the company's own note, products, services, prices, and hours all vary by store. So the price you pay in one town can differ from the price two blocks away.

That makes the pre-trip phone call part of the routine: you call, ask what the photo costs and whether a digital file is included, and then decide. The taking and printing happen in one visit, and you can schedule an appointment online if you'd rather not wait in line.

Price
Set by each store
Digital file
Varies. Ask your store
Size
2x2 in, U.S. government compliant
Appointment
Optional. Walk-ins welcome
Turnaround
Taken and printed in one visit
Where
Participating locations

Does Every UPS Store Do Passport Photos?

No, only participating locations.

Passport photos sit alongside printing, notary, and mailbox services, and each franchise decides what it offers. Your local store's page lists its services, or you can simply call and ask; the store finder on theupsstore.com shows both.

Where the service exists, it's flexible: walk in whenever the store is open, or book a slot online. Hours differ by location too, so an evening visit is worth confirming first.

Are UPS Passport Photos Good Quality?

They can be. An associate takes the photo, the prints come out in the same visit, and stores handle passport photos routinely alongside their document services.

The catch is that a shipping counter isn't a portrait studio, and the same store-lighting problems apply here as at any pharmacy: a white or pale top can melt into the background and give you that dreaded floating head look, and harsh overhead light can throw shadows across your face.

And whoever takes the photo, it's the passport office that decides whether it's accepted (or not). If it's rejected, you're back at the store for a redo, this time knowing exactly what it costs.

What Should You Wear for a Passport Photo?

The UPS Store's own advice is a solid-color top, and it's good advice. Skip distracting prints and patterns, hats (unless you wear one for religious reasons), and sunglasses. Regular glasses stay off too; they're not allowed in US passport photos at all.

Make the solid color anything but white or cream. Against a white background, a white shirt turns your head into a floating one, and that's a rejection waiting to happen. Keep your expression neutral, mouth closed, both eyes open.

People also miss that the photo has to be fresh. Anything used for a new passport should be taken within the last six months, so an old print from the drawer won't do.

What size is a US passport photo?

Whether it's taken at The UPS Store or at your kitchen table, 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 store the associate 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 diagram A 2 by 2 inch (51 by 51 mm) square photo with a centered head and shoulders, where the head measures 1 to 1 and three-eighths inches (25 to 35 mm) from the chin to the top of the head. Example US passport photo of a woman, sized to the official 2x2 inch spec with the head 1 to 1 3/8 inches from chin to crown and eyes 56 to 69 percent up from the bottom. 2 in · 51 mm 2 in · 51 mm head 1–1⅜ in
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 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 price is shown upfront, the digital file is included, 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.

UPS vs. OnePassPhoto: Side-By-Side Comparison

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

 The UPS StoreOnePassPhoto from home
PriceSet by each store; call aheadFree preview, price shown at checkout
Digital fileVaries by storeInstant download, included
WhereA trip to a participating storeYour phone, anywhere
Compliance checkThe associate's eyeEvery official rule, before you pay
If it's rejectedRedo trip to the storeMoney back, guaranteed

What About the Pharmacies and Other In-Person Options?

If you'd rather know the price before leaving the house, Walgreens charges $16.99 for two prints with a free digital copy emailed, and CVS charges $17.99 plus $3.99 for the digital file. The in-store experience is much the same wherever you go, and so is the risk of having to redo your photo. With OnePassPhoto, you skip the trip and the second trip if your photo gets rejected.

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

The UPS Store details verified from the official The UPS Store site, July 31, 2026. Walgreens pricing verified June 29, 2026; CVS pricing verified July 29, 2026.

UPS Passport Photo FAQ

Does UPS take passport photos?

Yes, many The UPS Store locations take and print passport photos in one visit. Not every store offers it, though; the service runs at participating locations, so check your local store's page or give them a quick call first.

How much is a passport photo at UPS?

There's no national price. Every The UPS Store is independently owned, and each franchise sets its own passport photo price and hours. The only way to know what yours charges is to call or check its store page before you go.

Do I need an appointment for a UPS passport photo?

No, you can walk in at participating stores. If you'd rather not wait, The UPS Store also lets you schedule an appointment online through your local store's page.

Does the UPS passport photo come with a digital copy?

Sort of; it depends on the store. Because each location is a franchise, some offer a digital file and some only hand you prints. If you plan to renew your passport online, you'll need a digital photo, so ask before they shoot.

What should I bring for a passport photo at UPS?

For the photo itself, just yourself in a solid-color top. For the passport application, The UPS Store recommends an up-to-date ID and your birth certificate. The photo also has to be recent; anything used for a new passport should be taken within the last six months.

What if my UPS passport photo gets rejected?

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

Does UPS take passport photos for babies and children?

Policies vary by store, like everything else at a franchise. Call your location before bundling up the baby. 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 UPS passport photo?

No, glasses and sunglasses aren't allowed in US passport photos, and The UPS Store's own guidance says to skip hats too, unless you wear one for religious reasons. If you can't remove your glasses for medical reasons, you'll need a signed doctor's statement with your application.

When should I renew my passport?

About nine months before it expires, according to The UPS Store's guidance. Most countries want your passport valid for at least six months past your travel dates, and many airlines won't board you if it isn't.

Can I get my passport photo without going to a store at all?

Yes, a photo taken at home is fine for a US passport as long as it meets the State Department's rules. Upload a selfie to OnePassPhoto and we set the size, fix the background if needed, and check every rule before you pay, with the digital file included.