American Samoa passport photo requirements
The 2 × 2 in photo rules set by U.S. Department of State for the American Samoa passport, with the official wording and sources.
Quick answer
What size is the American Samoa passport photo?
A U.S. passport photo for American Samoa residents is one color print, 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm), taken within the last 6 months. Your head, chin to top, measures 1 to 1 3/8 inches (25 to 35 mm) against a plain white or off-white background. Glasses, hats and digital edits are not accepted. American Samoans are U.S. nationals, and nationals use the same photo and the same form as citizens.
American Samoans hold a U.S. passport issued by the U.S. Department of State, but their legal status is unusual. The Department of the Interior says that, unlike people in the other U.S. territories, American Samoans are U.S. nationals rather than citizens. The State Department's Foreign Affairs Manual adds that under current law only people born in American Samoa and Swains Island are non-citizen nationals.
Status affects how the passport reads, not how the photo is taken. A passport book issued to a non-citizen national carries the endorsement "THE BEARER IS A UNITED STATES NATIONAL AND NOT A UNITED STATES CITIZEN", and a passport card shows "U.S. National" in place of "USA". The application form, DS-11, is written for citizens and non-citizen nationals alike and asks for one 2 x 2 inch color photograph. The State Department's photo page draws no distinction between the two groups.
We found no territorial government page that names a passport acceptance facility in American Samoa. The State Department says acceptance facilities include post offices, clerks of court, public libraries and other local government offices, so use its facility finder, or its National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778, to confirm where applications are taken before you print your photo.
American Samoa passport photo size and specifications
The requirements as published by U.S. Department of State:[1]
| Print size | 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm) |
|---|---|
| Digital size | Paper form: no digital file. Online renewal: no pixel size set; crop inside the application |
| Head height | 1 to 1 3/8 inches (25 to 35 mm), from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head |
| Background | White or off-white, plain, free of shadows, texture, objects and lines |
| Colour | Color photo |
| Photo age | Taken in the last 6 months |
| File size | Online renewal only: 54 KB to 10 MB |
| File format | Online renewal only: JPG, JPEG, PNG, HEIC or HEIF |
| Print quality | Matte or glossy photo-quality paper; high resolution, no photocopies or scans, no red eye |
| Pixels when printed | 600 × 600 px at 300 dpi · 1200 × 1200 px at 600 dpi (calculated) |
In the official words
Exact wording from the official sources, quoted because the details matter:
Do not change your photo using computer software, phone apps or filters, or artificial intelligence.
Key requirements
- One photo, under six months old
The DS-11 tells you to attach one color photograph, 2 x 2 inches, taken less than six months before you apply. It has to be a good likeness of you on the day you hand in the application.
- Head size and centering
Keep head and shoulders centered. The head, measured from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head, must be 1 to 1 3/8 inches (25 to 35 mm). Hair may extend beyond the edge of the print as long as the whole head is visible at that size.
- Plain light wall
Stand a few feet in front of a white or off-white wall with no shadows, texture, objects or lines. If your wall is colored, hang a white sheet over it. A wheelchair head support may appear in the picture, and you should add a note saying why the background is not fully white.
- The original image only
Software, phone apps, filters and artificial intelligence may not change the photo. A picture whose background was cut away with a retouching tool is refused, and the State Department says it checks every photo for AI.
- Face forward, mouth closed
Look straight at the lens with your head level. Both eyes must be open and the colored part of each eye clear of hair. A smile is acceptable when your mouth stays closed.
- Same photo for nationals and citizens
The photo page sets one standard for every applicant. Being a non-citizen national changes the endorsement printed in the passport, not the size, background, pose or six-month limit of the photograph.
Do's and don'ts
Do
- Measure the finished print to confirm it is 2 x 2 inches.
- Hang a plain white sheet behind you if the wall has color.
- Stand several feet from the camera and use its best quality setting.
- Keep hair away from your eyes and face the camera squarely.
- Print on matte or glossy photo paper.
- Take a fresh picture if the old one is past six months.
Don't
- Do not use filters, retouching apps or AI, even lightly.
- Do not hand in a photocopy or a scan of a photo.
- Do not wear glasses, a hat, headphones or wireless earpieces.
- Do not wear a uniform or camouflage.
- Do not submit a print with red eye, holes, creases or smudges.
- Do not squeeze or stretch the picture to fit the frame.
Sample photos
How a American Samoa passport photo should look, and the mistakes that most often get photos rejected. Each example is drawn to this document's 2 × 2 in, head height and background colour.
Illustrations, not real photos. The official rules above always take priority; some documents do not allow glasses at all.
Glasses
Glasses come off for the photo. Prescription frames, sunglasses and tinted lenses are all covered, and a pair resting on top of your head is refused too. If you cannot take them off for a medical reason, the State Department asks you to enclose a signed note from your doctor with the application.
Headwear and religious dress
A hat or head covering is allowed only for religious or medical reasons. A religious covering needs a signed statement that it is religious attire worn daily in public. A medical covering needs a signed statement from your doctor. Whatever you keep on must leave your whole face visible and cast no shadows, and the material has to be a single color without patterns or small holes.
Face coverings and medical masks come off. So do headphones and wireless hands-free devices worn in or on the ears. Jewelry and facial piercings may stay if they do not hide your face. Clothing should be what you wear day to day, not a uniform, clothing that looks like one, or camouflage.
Babies and children
A child needs a photo of their own, with nobody else in it. For a baby, the State Department suggests a plain white or off-white sheet underneath, or the same sheet draped over a car seat. The face must be fully visible, free of shadows and hands or pacifiers, with a neutral expression and the child facing the camera. A baby's eyes need not be fully open; older children must have them open.
The DS-11 says applicants under age 16 must appear in person with their parent or parents or legal guardian.
Printed and digital photos
At an acceptance facility you hand in a printed photo. A digital picture is fine as the source: crop it to a square and print it on a 4 x 6 inch sheet at a photo counter, then measure and trim each square to 2 x 2 inches.
Online renewal takes a digital file instead of a print. The State Department says you must be located in a U.S. state or territory when you submit, which includes American Samoa, but the page is written for eligible U.S. citizens. If you hold a national passport, ask the National Passport Information Center before relying on online renewal. The upload must be a JPG, JPEG, PNG, HEIC or HEIF file of 54 KB to 10 MB, framed down to the edge of your shoulders, and not a scan or a photograph of a print.
Where to submit the photo
The DS-11 must be handed in in person by first-time applicants and by anyone under age 16. The State Department lists three places to get the photo: an acceptance facility that takes photos at the time of application, any business that offers photo services, or a friend or family member. Fees for taking the photo vary.
Neither the Interior Department page on American Samoa nor the Department of Legal Affairs pages we read name a passport office on the island, so confirm the nearest acceptance facility through the State Department before you go. A passport is also one of the documents the Interior Department lists for entering American Samoa: a valid U.S. passport or a certified birth certificate showing U.S. nationality, plus a ticket for onward passage or proof of employment there.
How to get your American Samoa passport photo
- Check the official requirements. Read the official specification for the American Samoa passport: 2 × 2 in print, white or off-white background. Check the rules on pose, expression, glasses and headwear below.
- Take the photo. Follow the key requirements: one photo, under six months old; head size and centering; plain light wall; the original image only.
- Prepare a print or digital file. At an acceptance facility you hand in a printed photo. A digital picture is fine as the source: crop it to a square and print it on a 4 x 6 inch sheet at a photo counter, then measure and trim each square to 2 x 2 inches.
- Submit the photo with your application. The DS-11 must be handed in in person by first-time applicants and by anyone under age 16.
American Samoa passport photo FAQ
American Samoans use the standard U.S. size: a color print of 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm), with the head measuring 1 to 1 3/8 inches (25 to 35 mm) from chin to top. There is no separate territorial format. The photo must have been taken in the last 6 months.
No. The DS-11 is the application for both U.S. citizens and non-citizen U.S. nationals, and the State Department's photo page lists one set of requirements. Only the endorsement in the finished passport differs.
The Foreign Affairs Manual says a passport book for a non-citizen national carries the endorsement "THE BEARER IS A UNITED STATES NATIONAL AND NOT A UNITED STATES CITIZEN". A passport card prints "U.S. National" on the front where a citizen's card prints "USA".
We found no territorial government page naming a passport acceptance facility. The State Department says acceptance facilities include post offices, clerks of court, public libraries and local government offices, and it provides a facility finder. Call its National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778 to confirm the current options on the island.
The State Department's online renewal page requires you to be in a U.S. state or territory when you submit, and describes the service for eligible U.S. citizens. Other conditions include a 10-year passport that expires within 1 year or expired less than 5 years ago, and age 25 or older. As a national, confirm eligibility with the National Passport Information Center first.
The Interior Department says a U.S. citizen or national entering American Samoa needs a valid U.S. passport or a certified birth certificate showing U.S. nationality, plus a ticket for onward passage or proof of employment. The territory controls its own immigration and border matters, so check the American Samoa Department of Legal Affairs before you travel.
No. Eyeglasses, sunglasses and tinted glasses must be taken off, and they must not rest on your head. If you cannot remove them for medical reasons, send a signed note from your doctor with your application.
No. The State Department requires the original, unchanged photo and says that software, phone apps, filters and artificial intelligence are not allowed. If the background is wrong, change the setting with a white sheet and take the picture again.
Related photo specifications
Passports nearby
- Cook Islands passport photo 35 × 45 mm
- French Polynesia passport photo 35 × 45 mm
- Niue passport photo 35 × 45 mm
- Pitcairn Islands photo 35 × 45 mm
- Samoa passport photo 35 × 45 mm
- Tokelau passport photo 35 × 45 mm
- Tuvalu passport photo 38 × 51 mm
- Wallis and Futuna passport photo 35 × 45 mm
Also 2 × 2 in
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- Bahamas passport photo 2 × 2 in
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- Bahamas visa photo 2 × 2 in
- Belize passport photo 2 × 2 in
- Belize visa photo 2 × 2 in
- Belize residence permit photo 2 × 2 in
- Democratic Republic of the Congo passport photo 2 × 2 in
- Egypt visa photo 2 × 2 in
- Ethiopia eVisa photo 2 × 2 in
- All American Samoa photo specifications
- Passports: photo rules by country
- Every document that uses a 2 × 2 in photo
- Photo specifications in Oceania
Official sources
- U.S. Department of State. Passport Photos travel.state.gov. Checked 3 November 2026.
- U.S. Department of State. Application for a U.S. Passport (Form DS-11, edition 04-2025) eforms.state.gov. Checked 3 November 2026.
- U.S. Department of State. Where to Apply for a U.S. Passport travel.state.gov. Checked 3 November 2026.
- U.S. Department of State. Renew Your Passport Online travel.state.gov. Checked 3 November 2026.
- U.S. Department of State. Uploading a Digital Photo travel.state.gov. Checked 3 November 2026.
- U.S. Department of State, Foreign Affairs Manual. 8 FAM 308.2 Acquisition by Birth in American Samoa and Swains Island fam.state.gov. Checked 3 November 2026.
- U.S. Department of State, Foreign Affairs Manual. 8 FAM 505.2 Passport Endorsements (Endorsement 09) fam.state.gov. Checked 3 November 2026.
- U.S. Department of State, Foreign Affairs Manual. 8 FAM 402.1 Passport Photographs fam.state.gov. Checked 3 November 2026.
- U.S. Department of the Interior. American Samoa (Office of Insular Affairs) doi.gov. Checked 3 November 2026.
- American Samoa Department of Legal Affairs. U.S. Citizens and U.S. Nationals: entry waiver (OK Board) legalaffairs.as.gov. Checked 3 November 2026.
Requirements can change, so always confirm with U.S. Department of State before you apply. WorldPhotoSpecs is independent and not affiliated with any government.
Cite this page
"American Samoa passport photo". WorldPhotoSpecs. Last updated 4 November 2026. https://worldphotospecs.org/american-samoa/passport-photo