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

You can get your US passport photos taken at Walgreens. The process is quick and doesn't require an appointment. You receive two 2×2 inch prints in just a few minutes for $16.99. They'll also email you a free digital copy, which is the file you'll need to renew your passport online.

But how does Walgreens compare to other options? What happens if your photo gets rejected? And is there a way to get your passport photos done without leaving the comfort of your own home?

Price and details verified from the official Walgreens Passport Photos page. Last verified June 29, 2026.

$16.99
two printed 2x2 photos
+ a free digital file emailed
Walgreens passport photo price, verified June 29, 2026.

How Much Is a Passport Photo at Walgreens?

A Walgreens passport photo costs $16.99 for two printed 2×2-inch (US government-compliant) photos. This price includes a free digital copy, emailed to you, which allows you to easily renew your passport online.

In fact, most chains charge extra for the digital file or don't offer it at all. But with Walgreens, you simply walk in, get your photo taken, and have both the printed and digital version within a few minutes.

Price
$16.99 for two prints
Digital file
Free, emailed with your order
Size
2x2 in, U.S. government compliant
Appointment
None. Walk-in only
Turnaround
Ready in a few minutes
Where
In store, at most locations

Does Every Walgreens Do Passport Photos?

Most do, but not all.

At Walgreens, passport photos are handled at the photo counter, and not every Walgreens offers this service. Thus, you may want to make a quick call to your local Walgreens to inquire about their photo services before you go.

Where it is offered, the photo counter often keeps shorter hours than the rest of the store. For instance, a location that opens late may stop taking passport photos an hour or more before it closes, and some 24-hour stores run the photo counter only part of the day.

Are Walgreens Passport Photos Good Quality?

They can be, but it depends a lot on the store, the lighting, and what you wear. Many people walk out happy; the associate is friendly, the price is clear, and the prints are ready in a few minutes.

The catch is that the photo counter isn't a portrait studio. It's a camera against a wall, often under hard fluorescent light. If you wear a white or pale top, you may disappear into the background, giving way to that dreaded floating head look. The same lighting can throw shadows across your face or make the shot look flat.

On top of the above, Walgreens simply prints the photo; it's ultimately up to the passport office to determine whether it's acceptable (or not). If it's rejected, it usually means a second trip to Walgreens (make sure to keep your receipt and bring it with you!) to redo your photo.

Left: compliant. Right: the floating-head look a white top gives you under store lighting.

What Should You Wear for a Passport Photo?

Wear a plain, solid color that isn't white or cream. Make sure to take off your glasses, since they're not allowed on a US passport photo. Skip hats and head coverings unless you wear one daily for religious reasons. And keep your expression natural with your mouth closed and both eyes open.

Keep in mind that the easiest way to ruin a passport photo is to wear white. Against a white background, a white shirt makes your head look like it's floating. But wearing a solid color solves this problem.

While all of this is fairly straightforward, you often don't find out something is wrong until the passport office rejects your photo. The alternative is to use a service that first checks your photo against every rule; this way, you know it passes before you pay.

What size is a US passport photo?

Wherever you get it taken, Walgreens or at home, 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 Walgreens counter the associate frames this for you. From home you do not 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 have to leave the house to get your passport photo done. 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. 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.

Walgreens vs. OnePassPhoto: Side-By-Side Comparison

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

 Walgreens in-storeOnePassPhoto from home
Price$16.99 for two printsFree preview, price shown at checkout
Digital fileFree, emailedInstant download, included
WhereA trip to the storeYour phone, anywhere
Compliance checkAt the counterEvery official rule, before you pay
If it's rejectedRedo trip, usually with your receiptMoney back, guaranteed

What About the Other Pharmacies and In-Person Options?

CVS costs about the same as Walgreens. Meanwhile, Walmart usually runs a few dollars cheaper. 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?

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

Walgreens Passport Photo FAQ

Does Walgreens do passport photos?

Yes, most Walgreens stores have a photo counter where an associate takes your photo; no appointment needed. You walk out with two prints and a free digital copy sent to your email.

How much is a passport photo at Walgreens?

A passport photo at Walgreens costs $16.99 for two compliant prints, with a free digital copy emailed. Locations may differ slightly in price, so make sure to always check yours.

Does the Walgreens passport photo include a digital copy?

Yes, a free emailed file now comes with every $16.99 order. This is what you use to renew your passport online instead of mailing a paper form.

Do I need an appointment for a Walgreens passport photo?

No, simply walk up to the photo counter and ask to get your passport photo taken. Your prints are usually ready within a few minutes.

How long does a Walgreens passport photo take?

Usually a few minutes after it's taken. Busy counters may quote up to an hour, but most people are in and out fairly quickly.

What if my Walgreens passport photo gets rejected?

If the passport office rejects your Walgreens passport photo, you'll likely need to make a trip back to get the photo redone. From home, OnePassPhoto checks your passport picture against all official rules before you pay; we also refund you if it's ever rejected.

Is there a Walgreens passport photo coupon?

Photo coupons come and go, and they rarely cover passport photo services. In other words, don't count on a coupon. Be prepared to pay $16.99.

Can I take my own passport photo at home instead?

Yes, as long as it meets the official US Department of State rules. Upload a selfie to OnePassPhoto. We set the size, fix the background if needed, and check every rule first, ensuring your passport photo is ready to go!

Can Walgreens print a passport photo I took myself?

Sort of. Walgreens won't print a loose 2×2 photo on its own, but you can lay two 2×2 photos onto a 4×6 template and print that as a standard photo for around 39 cents. OnePassPhoto gives you a print-ready file set up this way already, plus the digital copy, so you can print at any Walgreens for about a dollar and skip the $16.99 counter service.

Does Walgreens take passport photos for babies and children?

Yes, Walgreens does infant and child passport photos at the photo counter. Babies are the hard part, though: getting a still, eyes-open shot against a plain background with no shadows is tough in one counter visit. At home you can take as many tries as you need, and OnePassPhoto checks the result against every rule before you pay, which may be easier with a little one!

Can I use a Walgreens passport photo to renew online?

Yes, ask for the free digital copy, since this is the file you upload to renew a passport online through the State Department's website. A printed photo alone won't work for an online renewal, so make sure you get the digital version, not just the two prints.