Start with the application checklist
There is no universal number of passport photos. The requirement depends on the country, document and submission route. Check the current checklist for the application you are actually making before ordering a standard retail pack.
US paper passport applications ordinarily require one photo, while UK paper passport guidance asks for two identical photos. Those examples explain why a shop’s usual pack size should not be treated as the application rule.
Separate online submission from an appointment
An online application may ask for an uploaded image, while another process also needs physical photographs at an appointment. A successful upload does not automatically remove a later print requirement. Read the appointment or interview instructions as well as the initial form.
US visa guidance, for example, describes different photo steps for different visa routes. Its immigrant-visa interview instructions call for two identical photographs. Use the directions from the relevant embassy or consulate to confirm what to bring.
Order matching copies when identical photos are required
Select one suitable original and use the same approved preparation for every copy in a set. Do not mix two photographs with slightly different poses just because both look acceptable separately. Inspect each print for marks, clipping or a changed scale.
If a guarantor, photographer or other person must complete information on the back, check which copy needs it and who must write it. Leave the image side untouched and follow the authority’s handling instructions.
Keep extra copies in perspective
A spare can be convenient if a print is damaged, but extra photographs do not extend the permitted age of the original. Record the capture date and check the rules before reusing leftovers for a later application.
For several family members, count each person’s set separately and label the storage envelope. For mixed documents, check the dimensions as well as the quantity. Two photos of the wrong format do not satisfy a request for two correctly prepared prints.
Sources and further reading
US Department of State · Passport photo requirements ↗HM Passport Office · Printed passport photos ↗US Department of State · Visa photo requirements ↗Requirements can change. Check the official instructions for your application before submitting.
Merodim is an independent photo-preparation service, not a government agency. Find your document →
