Costco Passport Photo at a cheap price in 2024

Costco Passport Photo

Costco passport photo service closed? there are so many places to take a US Passport photo, you may feel a little overwhelmed.

Well, don’t fret, because not only are we going to tell you whether Costco provides Passport prints, we’ll provide you with alternatives too! And their costs.

Last update:1/16/2024

Does Costco Take Passport Photos in 2024?

Unfortunately, you’ve just missed the boat as Costco no longer provides Passport photo service. They have shut down their Photo Centers. This happened in 2021 when they announced they would no longer provide Passport photo services.

However, Costco Photo Center still exists online for other photo-related services that you might want to use. This ranges from photo books to posters and collage prints.
While you may think you’re missing out as Costco has closed its Photo Centers, we have a neat solution to your problems.

‘Smartphone iD’, a clever app that you can download on your phone. With it, you can take US Passport photos in an instant, from the comfort of home. When using our app, we’ll guide you through the process step by step.

What could be better? Scroll down to find out more about our app!

Why did Costco Close its Photo Center?

As technology has advanced, many customers are finding it easier than ever to get US Passport photos through their phones and online. Due to this, Costco felt it necessary to close down the services they provide through their physical stores.

Passport photos were seeing a particular decline in the number of orders, as well as many other services that were carried out in person at their stores. So, as Costco had moved most of their Photo Center services online, it was only natural that to save money, they would close down the in-store Photo Centers.

The decline in in-store Photo Center sales could be due to the fact that in 2019, the Covid pandemic lead to a higher demand for zero contact services. Costco might have realized this and made the move to switch their in-store Photo Center to an online Photo Center.

How to Print Passport Photos at Costco with Ease and Affordability?

print passport photo at costco

Are you looking to print high-quality passport photos without breaking the bank? While Costco may have closed its in-store photo centers and stopped offering online passport photo printing services, fear not! We’ve got a fantastic solution that allows you to still get those perfect passport photos at Costco without any hassle.

With an active Costco membership, you can still print passport photos on costcophotocenter.com. Even better, we’ll show you how to use a third-party app to create 4×6″ templates with superimposed biometric passport photos for printing at Costco for an incredibly low price of just $0.11 per print, with free delivery within the US. Let’s dive in!

Printing Passport Photos Online at Costcophotocenter.com

Despite the closure of physical photo centers, Costco still has a solution for its valued members. With an active Costco membership, you can take advantage of their online photo services at costcophotocenter.com. Here, you can upload your passport photo and get it printed in no time, ensuring that you meet all the necessary requirements for official documents.

The Third-Party App: Smartphone iD App

Now, here’s where things get even more exciting! Smartphone iD  a fantastic third-party app that makes printing passport photos at Costco a breeze. Our app offers a seamless and cost-effective solution, allowing you to create 4×6″ templates with superimposed biometric passport photos.

The Hassle-Free Process

The process is straightforward and efficient. First, you’ll need to head over to the Smartphone iD app & follow these easy steps:

  • Use Smartphone iD  to create a 4×6″ biometric passport photos template.
  • Upload the template on costcophotocenter.com with your active Costco membership.
  • Enjoy the convenience of Costco’s online photo services, and get your high-quality prints delivered for only $0.11 per photo.

The Cost-Saving Advantage

One of the most significant advantages of using this method is the incredible cost savings. Printing your passport photos using the Smartphone iD template at Costco will cost you a mere $0.11 per print.

Where to Find Alternatives to Costco Passport Photo Service?

As Costco has closed its US Passport photo service, you are probably wondering about what to do next. Well, there are a variety of places where you can print your Passport photo.

From convenience stores to pharmacies, here’s a list of places you can get a US Passport photo.

  • Walmart Photo Center: $7.44 USD, upload your compliant photo and pick up two copies in-store.
  • UPS: $11.99 USD, book an appointment online and get your photo taken in-store, include two photos.
  • Bartell’s: $14.99 USD, find a store online and book an appointment for your photo to be taken in-store.
  • Staples: $14.99 USD, only in participating stores, your picture will be taken in-store and you’ll receive two copies.
  • Walgreens Photo: $16.99 USD, get your photo taken in-store with a one-hour appointment, includes two photos.
  • CVS Photo: $16.99 USD, in select locations you can get your photo taken in-store, includes two photos

If you’re not going to make it to your nearest store before closing time, or you’re just too busy, there’s a solution for you.

Our app ‘Smartphone iD’ is an excellent way to create pre-approved Passport photos for your US Passport application from the comfort of home.

What are the Rules for Compliant US Passport Photos?

rule of compliance passport photo

If you think you might want to take your US Passport photos yourself, there are a few pieces of information that could be handy when doing so. Make sure you understand all the requirements as they are quite strict.

Additionally, you can incur further fees from the US Passport authority if your photo is rejected. This is can happen if you fail to submit a compliant photo within a certain time frame.

So here are the requirements that the US government mandate:

Photo Size

  • Your photo must be 2″x2″ in size
  • In the photo, your head must be centered and between 1″ and 1.4″ in size

Photo Quality

When taking your photo by yourself, ensure the photo is sharp with no visible pixels or printing errors.

Your Appearance

  • Your face should be entirely visible in the photo
  • Make sure there are no deep shadows or glaring lights that will obscure your face in the photo
  • Head coverings and hats are not allowed to be worn except for medical or religious reasons

Your Posture

  • You must keep a neutral expression for the photo
  • Make sure you are directly facing the camera and are centered in the frame
  • Your eyes need to be clearly visible in the photo

Seems like a lot doesn’t it? We think so too. However, there is a way around all this hassle.

You can use our Passport photo app ‘Smartphone iD’ to easily take Passport photos from home. The app will take care of all these requirements and our experts too. You’ll be guided through the photo process, for the perfect Passport photo.

How to Take Your Passport Photo From Home Using Your Phone?

With the help of our app and some of our tips, you can take successful US Passport photos easily. If you follow these guidelines, you’re bound to have your Passport application ready in no time at all.

So here is how to take the perfect US Passport photo with ‘Smartphone iD’:

  1. Download ‘Smartphone iD’ on your phone, it’s available on iOS and Android
  2. Take a photo using the app, ‘Smartphone iD’ will guide you through the process
  3. Select which country you want to produce a Passport photo for
  4. Select which document type you want the photo for (Passport, driving license, visa etc.)
  5. Receive photos digitally via email, once our experts have approved them
  6. You can use these digital copies to print them yourself
  7. Alternatively, you can use our printing service, to make it even easier

Your Passport application can take longer if your Passport photo is not compliant with the US Passport authorities’ requirements. Our experts and the app’s AI will make sure your photo conforms to all national standards (format, face angles, brightness, resolution etc.)

Why Choose Smartphone iD?

We’re glad you’re here because you’re about to make your US Passport application so much easier. There are so many benefits to using ‘Smartphone iD’, and you don’t even need to leave the house to begin.

Here’s how it works:

  • Download: Whether you’re at home or on the go, you can snap Passport and document photos with ‘Smartphone iD’ for any country.
  • Everything’s sorted: Our clever app will guide you through the process of taking your Passport photos, the hassle is taken away!
  • Experts are on it: We’ve got expertise in accrediting Passport photos and our experts are trained by The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO, international biometric regulator). All your photos will be checked and pre-approved by us.
  • What you get: ‘Smartphone iD’ does all the heavy lifting. Your photos will be fed into the app’s algorithm and corrected. Including straightening, photo scaling and professional background removal. All complying with national standards.
  • Optional Printing: We can also offer you a printing service, where your prints will be posted to you for a fee. All our prints are printed on professional-grade photographic paper with high-spec printers.
  • Money-back Guarantee: If there are any problems during the application and your photos come back rejected, we can offer you a full refund.

Summary

Whilst some options for taking Passport photos may not be available anymore, like Costco’s Photo Center, there are plenty of other ways to get a high-quality Passport photo.

From convenience stores to pharmacies, there are numerous ways to get a Passport photo. However, if you want to save money and use a quick and secure method, try ‘Smartphone iD’. Remember, we guarantee your money back if your photos are rejected (unlikely), there’s nothing to lose!

A  cheap & clever method to print passport photos at Costco despite the closure of their in-store photo centers. By utilizing the Smartphone iD app to create 4×6″ templates with superimposed biometric passport photos, users can enjoy cost-effective and high-quality prints at just $0.11 per photo.

FAQ

How do I take a US Passport picture on my iPhone?

Simply download our app ‘ Smartphone iD’ for iOS. With it, you can easily take pre-approved Passport photos with our guidance.

Can I take a Passport picture with my phone?

Yes! Now that major retailers are phasing out their in-store Photo Centers, there has never been a better time to use your phone to take Passport photos.

Once you’ve downloaded ‘Smartphone iD’, all you need to do is:

  1. Download ‘Smartphone iD’ on your phone, it’s available on iOS and Android.
  2. Take a photo using the app, ‘Smartphone iD’ will guide you through the process
  3. Select which country you want to produce a Passport photo for
  4. Select which document type you want the photo for (Passport, driving license, visa etc.)
  5. Receive photos digitally via email, once our experts have approved them
  6. You can use these digital copies to print them yourself
  7. Alternatively, you can use our printing service, to make it even easier

Can you take your own Passport photos USA?

You can bear in mind there are strict requirements that need to be met in order to get an approved US Passport application.
If you choose to use our app ‘Smartphone iD’, you can forget about those requirements as the app does the heavy lifting for you!

What are the photo requirements for a US Passport?

The US government requires that your photo is:

  • 2″x2″ in size, with your head between 1″ and 1.4″, centered
  • Sharp with no pixels or printing errors
  • Your face and eyes should be fully visible
  • No shadow or glare
  • No head coverings or hats unless for religious or medical reasons

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