Official requirements
| Photo size | 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm) |
|---|---|
| Digital size | 600 × 600 px |
| Head height | 50%–69% of photo height (chin to top of hair) |
| Eye height | 56%–69% from the bottom |
| Background | Plain white |
| Glasses | Not allowed |
| Submission | Printed photo |
Rules to follow
- Only N-400 applicants living outside the United States must send photos.
- Send two identical color photos, 2 × 2 inches, full face and frontal view.
- Head height from top of hair to bottom of chin is 1 to 1⅜ inches.
- Eye height is 1⅛ to 1⅜ inches from the bottom of the photo.
- Use a white to off-white background.
- Print on thin glossy paper; no mounting and no retouching.
- Keep your head bare unless your religion requires a head covering.
- Take off your glasses so the photo meets U.S. passport-photo standards.
- Lightly print your name and A-Number on the back of each photo.
Why U.S. Citizenship (Form N-400) photos get rejected
- Photos sent with a paper filing from abroad that are not identical.
- Off-white background so dark it reads as grey.
- Retouched skin or smoothing filters.
- Head too small because the photo was cropped from a group shot.
Our checks catch these before you download — and you see the result before you pay.
Questions
Do I need photos for Form N-400 if I live in the U.S.?
Generally no. USCIS takes your photo at the biometrics appointment. The N-400 instructions require two photos only from certain applicants living outside the United States, such as service members and their spouses.
Who counts as an N-400 applicant residing abroad?
Examples in the instructions include current U.S. armed forces members, their spouses, certain veterans who served during hostilities, and spouses of U.S. citizens working abroad for a qualified employer.
What should I write on the back of my N-400 photos?
Your name and A-Number, printed lightly with a pencil or felt pen. Pressing hard with a ballpoint can dent or mark the face side of the print.
Source: USCIS – Form N-400 Instructions (Photograph Requirements). PhotoForUSA is an independent service, not affiliated with any government. Rules change — always check the official source before you apply.