All that you need to know about the US Staples Passport Photo [2025]

In mid-2022, Staples launched its passport photo service. The company now offers same-day passport photograph services in more than a thousand stores nationwide. At the locations, passport photos are taken and are ready and available within minutes. Read on to learn all there is to know about the Staples passport photo service.

last update: 2/18/2024

Table of Contents

1 Does Staples Take Passport Pictures ?

2 How to Use Staples for Passport Photos?

3 What is Passport Photo Cost?

4 Does Staples Print Passport Photos?

5 Where to Find a store near me?

6 Can your photo be rejected?

7 Staples VS Smartphone iD – Passport Photos

Does Staples Take Passport Pictures in 2025?

Yes. The passport photographs are captured in-store, and the customers receive their government-compliant copies within minutes. This company not only takes passport pictures, but also provides services for permanent resident cards, ID cards, driver’s licenses, and selected visa applications or international passports.

How to Use Staples for Passport Photos?

You can either opt for printed or digital photos, but either way, you’ll have to travel in-store. Once you are there, you can request to have your passport photo taken, there is no appointment required. Your printed or digital passport photos will be ready on the spot within 10 minutes.

What is Passport Photo Cost?

The passport photos cost $24.99 for 2 physical passport photos and a digital photo via USB drive. The pictures are guaranteed to be government-compliant, or else they are retaken for free.

Does Staples Print Passport Photos?

Yes, the stores do not offer digital photos, but printed passport photos too. This means that you can save costs by opting to take a passport photo from home and simply printing it at the store

Various online apps, including Smartphone iD are very affordable and assist users of both iOS and Android in taking government-compliant digital passport photographs. Please note that Staples doesn’t offer passport photos online..

Where can to find a store near me?

Use the handy store locator to find a Staples passport photo service near you. If you can’t find a store near you, it might be easier to choose another service provider online. Choose a service that includes photo compliance validation by experts to avoid any application delays.

Can your photo be rejected?

Yes. A passport photo can be rejected, delaying your whole application, if it does not comply with the government’s requirements (e.g., incorrect lighting, a shadow behind, bad photo quality, etc).

Staples workers are trained to know the government standards, and you have a good chance of getting a conforming photo. If you wish to stay in, there are other companies that provide the service online, including photo validation by trained experts. The result will be the same, only you don’t need to travel anywhere.

Staples VS Smartphone iD – Passport Photos

Features	Smartphone iD	Staples
Can you do it from anywhere?	yes	no
Immediately available?	yes	no
Who takes your photo?	You, friends	Employee
Digital & printed copy?	yes	no
Real-time AI check	yes	no
International passport photos	Yes (+200 countries)	yes
Refunds	Yes	Retake them free of charge
24/7 support	Yes	No
Cost	Best price on the market for professional formatting & expert check	Expensive in comparison $24.99

To Summarize

You can have digital passport photos taken at Staples, and you can also have your pictures printed. You can even have your picture taken at the store and receive your copies of passport photos on the same day. While there are many advantages to this passport photo service, it is, unfortunately, more on the pricey side.

You can also save money and time by using our online passport photo tool Smartphone iD from the Apple or Google Play Store, or conveniently use our web app by clicking the "Take a Photo" button. Will deliver quality passport photos at a much lower price. Your photo will be verified by a professional and delivered in digital and professionally printed formats.

FAQs

What hours can I have my passport photo taken?

Photos can be taken at any time during Staples' working hours, which differ from store to store. Please phone your local store to confirm the working hours.

How much time does the whole process take?

It only takes about a minute to capture the photo, and a few more minutes before it is printed and ready. You can probably get in and out of your store in less than 15 minutes. However, bear in mind that if you are photographing a baby, you will need extra time.

What to wear?

It isn’t recommended to wear light-colored clothing that might blend into the background. Headwear is not permitted unless for religious reasons. If worn for religious reasons, headwear must be dark to stand out from the background.

No sunglasses or hats are allowed on the head. Jewelry mustn’t obscure the face, and uniforms aren’t allowed. Glasses often cause photos to be rejected because of the glare.

Does Staples take baby passport photos?

Yes, they take passport or visa photos for children and infants. Remember to allow an extra 15 to 20 minutes for capturing the photograph, as it can be challenging to photograph a baby.

What should my baby wear?

Similarly, to adults, infants shouldn’t wear light-colored clothing because they will blend into the background. Instead, choose a contrasting color and dress your baby in either a two-piece or a onesie.

Can a baby’s eyes be closed in the passport photo?

Unfortunately, not. The baby’s eyes must be open and visible in the photograph.

Can a baby’s mouth be open in the passport photo?

As long as no teeth or tongue are showing, then the answer is yes.

Can a baby be on my lap in the passport photo?

No. The photo must show only the baby’s head, neck, and shoulders. Parents or other baby body parts cannot appear in the photo.

The parents’ hands should not be visible in the photo. Neither can the infant’s hand appear in the photograph.

Important Note

Smartphone ID offers a passport photo service online through a mobile app available on Google Play and the App Store. We deliver compliant biometric photos for the official documents of various countries and regions around the world, including the United States. Please note that we are not affiliated with Staples in any way. In this article, we aim to provide current and accurate information about Staples’ passport photo service in the US in 2024.

Sources

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/photos.html

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/photos.html