MyTravelGov Photo Upload — How to Submit Your Passport Renewal Photo Online

US Passport Guide · Last verified: February 2026

MyTravelGov (mytraveldoc.travel.state.gov) is the State Department's online passport renewal portal. This guide covers the exact photo upload requirements, file specs, and what to do if the upload fails.

What MyTravelGov is

MyTravelGov is the online passport renewal system launched by the US State Department. It allows eligible US passport holders to renew their passport entirely online — no printing, no mailing your current passport, no post office visit.

To use MyTravelGov, you must:

Be 25 years or older
Have a most recent passport that was issued when you were 16 or older
Have a most recent passport issued within the past 15 years
Have a most recent passport that is not damaged (beyond normal wear)
Not have had a name change since your last passport, or have legal documentation of the name change

If you don't qualify for online renewal, you must use the mail-in DS-82 process or apply in person with DS-11.

Photo requirements for MyTravelGov

The online portal has specific technical requirements for your digital photo upload:

Requirement	Value
Format	JPEG (.jpg) only
Minimum size	600×600 pixels
Maximum size	1200×1200 pixels
File size range	54 KB to 10 MB
Color	sRGB, 24-bit colour (not black and white)
Background	Plain white or off-white
Head height	50–69% of total image height
Eye height	1⅛–1⅜ inches (28–35 mm) from bottom
AI editing	Strictly prohibited since January 2026
Smartphone portrait mode	Must be disabled before shooting

Step-by-step: uploading your photo on MyTravelGov

Go to mytraveldoc.travel.state.gov (note: this URL may change — always access through travel.state.gov rather than bookmarks)

Create an account or sign in. You'll need to verify your identity using your current passport information.

Begin your application. The photo upload step appears after you've entered your personal information.

Click "Upload Photo." The portal accepts JPEG files only.

Select your file. Your photo must be:

A JPEG saved directly from a camera or PixID
Within the 54 KB–10 MB file size range
600×600 to 1200×1200 pixels square

The portal's automated checker runs. It checks:

File format and size
Pixel dimensions
Head position and size
Background uniformity
Eye position

If accepted: the portal shows a preview of your cropped photo. Review it and confirm.

If rejected: the portal shows an error message explaining why. Common errors are listed below.

Common upload errors and fixes

"File format not supported"

Your file is not a JPEG. Common causes: your file is actually a PNG, HEIC, WEBP, or other format even if renamed as .jpg. Solution: open in any photo viewer and export/save as JPEG, or use PixID which outputs a verified JPEG.

"File size exceeds maximum"

Your photo is over 10 MB. A raw smartphone photo is typically 5–15 MB. Solution: compress the file. PixID outputs a file within the portal's size range automatically.

"File size is too small"

Your photo is under 54 KB. This happens when a photo has been over-compressed. Solution: use a less aggressively compressed JPEG.

"Image dimensions are incorrect"

Your photo is not square, or is outside the 600×600 to 1200×1200 range. Solution: crop to a square, or use PixID which outputs the correct dimensions.

"Head size is not within requirements"

Your face occupies less than 50% or more than 69% of the image height. Solution: recrop so your face fills more of the frame, or use PixID's automatic head-size adjustment.

"Background does not meet requirements"

The background is not white or off-white, or has visible shadows. Solution: retake the photo against a plain white wall with even lighting, or use PixID's background replacement.

"Photo appears to have been digitally altered"

The portal has detected AI processing, beauty mode, or filter application. Solution: retake in standard camera mode with portrait mode disabled, and process only with a compliant tool like PixID.

The January 2026 AI ban applies to MyTravelGov

Since January 2026, the State Department enforces zero tolerance on AI-altered photos at the portal level. The automated checker specifically looks for:

Portrait mode depth blur applied to background
AI facial feature smoothing
HDR or computational photography adjustments that alter facial appearance

Even if your photo passes the automated checker, a human reviewer examines all photos before the application is processed. A photo that the checker accepted may still be rejected at the human review stage if AI processing is detected.

Disable portrait mode and all enhancement features before taking your photo.

Using PixID for MyTravelGov

PixID outputs a file specifically sized and optimised for the MyTravelGov portal:

JPEG format
600×600 or 1200×1200 pixels
Within the 54 KB–10 MB file size range
No AI face alteration
Compliant with January 2026 rules

After downloading your photo from PixID, upload the individual photo file (not the printable sheet) to the portal.

After submission — what happens next

After uploading your photo and completing the application:

State Department reviews your application. This includes a human review of your photo — typically within 5–10 business days.

You may be asked to resubmit. If there's a problem with your photo, you'll receive an email with instructions. You don't need to restart the application — you can upload a new photo within the same application.

Application approved. Processing takes 6–8 weeks from approval. You'll receive tracking information.

New passport arrives. Your new passport is mailed to you. Your old passport is also returned, perforated to indicate it's cancelled.

Frequently asked questions

What file format does MyTravelGov accept for passport photos?

JPEG (.jpg) only. PNG, HEIC, WebP, and other formats are not accepted.

What size should my photo be for MyTravelGov?

600×600 to 1200×1200 pixels (square). File size must be between 54 KB and 10 MB.

Why does MyTravelGov keep rejecting my photo?

Most common reasons: file is not JPEG, file is over 10 MB (raw smartphone photo), file is not square, face is not 50–69% of the image height, or AI processing was detected.

Can I use a phone photo for MyTravelGov?

Yes, but you must disable portrait mode, beauty mode, and any AI enhancement before shooting. Raw phone photos are typically too large (5–15 MB) and need to be resized and compressed.

What is mytraveldoc.travel.state.gov?

The US State Department's online passport renewal portal. It allows eligible US passport holders to renew online without mailing their current passport.

How long does online passport renewal take through MyTravelGov?

After photo and application approval: 6–8 weeks. The review process (before approval) typically takes 5–10 business days.