Any iPhone can take a passport photo: the rules are about the photo, not the phone. Use the normal Photo mode, not Portrait mode, turn off filters and Photographic Styles, and have someone take it from about 4 feet away, or prop the iPhone up and use the timer. Don't edit it afterwards: the State Department says not to change photos using computer software, phone apps or filters.
You pay $9.99 only after your photo passes, and we never edit it.
Open PicPassed in Safari: there's no app to install. The camera checks your size, pose, eyes, light and background live, and takes the photo by itself only once everything passes, so you don't need the timer. You get a JPG file and a 4×6 print sheet, and you pay $9.99 only after the photo passes.
Yes. Prop the iPhone at eye level about 4 feet away and use the camera timer (3, 5 or 10 seconds). With PicPassed you don't need the timer: it takes the photo by itself when everything looks right.
No. Portrait mode blurs the background with software, and the State Department says not to change photos using software, phone apps or filters. Use Photo mode in front of a plain white wall instead.
Yes for online renewal: it accepts a JPG, JPEG, PNG, HEIC or HEIF file of 54 KB to 10 MB. The DS-160 visa form needs a JPEG, so switch to Most Compatible in Settings > Camera > Formats, or use the JPG file PicPassed gives you.
Any of them works, an iPhone 13 included. The official rules don't name any phone. What matters is a sharp, well-lit color photo, taken in the last 6 months and not edited. The steps above are the same on every model.
Taking the photo yourself costs nothing, but you still have to get it right and print or upload it. PicPassed checks it against the official rules and charges $9.99 only once it passes.
Sources: Passport photos (U.S. Department of State, updated March 24, 2026); Upload a digital photo for online renewal (U.S. Department of State, updated May 4, 2026); Digital image requirements (U.S. Department of State, read November 6, 2026); Use iPhone camera tools to set up your shot (Apple Support, read October 30, 2026); Use Portrait mode on your iPhone (Apple Support, read October 30, 2026); Using HEIF or HEVC media on Apple devices (Apple Support, read October 30, 2026). Official rules can change; check them before you apply.
More help: How to take a passport photo at home · Passport photo with glasses · Passport photo rejected · Passport photo examples, measured · Passport photo background · Print your passport photo · Passport photo size · How much a passport photo costs · Can I renew my passport online? · DS-160 photo upload error
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