How many times have you filled out a passport or visa application only to realize that you either don’t have photos or that the ones you have are outdated (over six-months old)? It’s a total pain for most people to have to find a place that takes them and charges a reasonable amount for the service.
I used to go to Costco since I don’t live too far from one and they charge a reasonable amount, but using Costco requires a yearly membership. If you aren’t a member, or simply don’t live close to a Costco, you should consider using the MyPassportPhotos app. The video above will show you how it works. Here’s the Cliff Notes version:
- Take a digital photo at home
- Upload it to the MyPassportPhotos app (or take a photo on your iPhone, iPad, or Android smartphone)
- Have it edited by their professionals to ensure compliance
- Have it delivered to your home or printed at a nearby pharmacy
The benefit of using the MyPassportPhotos app is that it ensures compliance with the standards of whatever country you need a passport for. The passport and visa photo requirements for the US are different than Canada’s, which are different than Australia’s, etc. The MyPassportPhotos team knows all the regulations and formats each passport photo appropriately so that it includes the correct size, background, dimensions, lighting, and every other technical specification.
The price is right, too, since they charge $3.99 for one, $5.99 for two, $8.99 for four, and $11.99 for 12 photos. Your photos are then mailed to you or printed at a CVS, Walgreen, or Walmart for next-day pickup. Mailed passport photos arrive in 5-7 business days in the US and 7-14 days international.
What’s your go-to place to get passport photos?
Not as stringent as a passport photo, but close are photos needed for international driver’s license for some countries, bus passes (Sr. TAP cards in L.A.), etc.
AAA has very reasonable passport photo rates if you are a member and if you book travel through them the passport photos are complimentary.
Good suggestion.
When traveling internationally (which I do at least once a year), I generally use a self-serve photo booth which seem to be far more common in other parts of the world — train stations, shopping malls. I take 1 or 2 sets of 4 and keep them with me. Generally the equivalent of a few dollars and my appearance doesn’t change so much that they aren’t good for a few months. Never had one turned down for a visa — China (several times), Vietnam. And other places — Cambodia, Australia, India just let you take a picture and upload it directly to the online visa application.
Costco also takes great passport photos, and they are very low priced.
if you must leave the house COSTCO has 4 photos for 4.99!
I have to enter the US in Ft. Lauderdale after a cruise on Jan. sailing 15-22….My passport expires July 17. I will be a few days short for the 6 months…..should I get a new passport or will the present one be okay?
You don’t have to worry about rentering the U.S. it’s the countries you are traveling to that care. Just check their passport requirements on the https://travel.state.gov/ Here’s the Bahamas
https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country/the-bahamas.html