How Many Pictures Do You Need for a Passport? First Applications, Renewals and Online Submissions
Compare passport photo counts by country and application route, including printed photos, digital uploads and certification requirements.
Official requirements checked October 24, 2026.
Quick Answer
It depends on the country and on how you apply. As a rule of thumb from the official pages reviewed:
- United States: 1 photo, whether you apply in person, renew by mail or renew online.
- United Kingdom: 2 identical printed photos for a paper application (one of them countersigned in some cases), or 1 digital photo for an online application.
- Canada: 2 identical printed photos for in-person or mail applications, or 1 digital photo for an online renewal.
- Australia: 2 identical photos for a paper application.
- Italy: consulates reviewed ask for 2 photos; confirm with your consulate.
- Germany: 1 current biometric image for the domestic application route reviewed, supplied through an authorized digital process. Overseas missions may have different submission instructions.
If you are unsure, check the instruction page for your exact application route, because a first application, a mail renewal and an online renewal can each ask for a different number.
Passport Photos Needed by Country and Application Type
| Country | First application (in person) | Renewal by mail or paper form | Online renewal | Children |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 1 photo; do not staple it, the agent does that | 1 photo, attached to the form | 1 digital photo upload | 1 photo per applicant in guidance reviewed; check the child page |
| United Kingdom | 2 identical printed photos for a paper application; countersignature where required | 2 identical printed photos for a paper application | 1 digital photo for an online application | 2 printed photos for a paper application; countersignature where required |
| Canada | 2 identical, unaltered photos; guarantor signs the back of 1 | 2 identical photos; no guarantor for an adult renewal | 1 digital photo | 2 identical photos; guarantor certifies and signs the back of 1 |
| Australia | 2 identical photos; full name and guarantor endorsement on the back of 1 where required | 2 identical photos | Not covered in the pages reviewed | At least 2 photos; the guarantor endorses 1 |
| Italy | 2 photos at the consulates reviewed | Check your consulate | Not covered in the pages reviewed | 2 photos; one consulate asks for a notary-authenticated photo for children under 12 |
| Germany, domestic route | 1 biometric image through an authorized digital process | Normally handled by the passport authority; confirm your route | Check the authority | 1 biometric image; use an appropriate authorized service for young children |
"Not covered in the pages reviewed" means I did not find a clear statement, not that no photo is needed.
United States: One Photo, Not Two
The US Department of State page for adult first-time applications says you must provide one passport photo with your application. It also says not to attach or staple the photo to the form when you apply in person, because the acceptance agent or passport employee will review and staple it.
The two-photo idea persists for several reasons:
- Some photo shops and drugstores sell sets of two prints, which can look like a requirement.
- Older rules and older websites mention two photos. One guide notes that two photos were required previously and only one is now.
- Some third-party and institutional documents still list "2 passport photos".
For mail renewals, the Form DS-82 instructions say to attach one color photograph. Follow the current DS-82 instructions for attachment and staple placement rather than using a shop's directions. For online renewal, a single digital photo is uploaded in the application instead of a print.
In practice you may want a spare print in case the first is damaged or rejected, but the Department of State asks for one.
United Kingdom: Two Printed Photos or One Digital Photo
For a paper application, GOV.UK says you need 2 new and identical printed photos. For an online application, you upload a digital photo instead.
One of the printed photos may need to be countersigned. You normally need a countersignature on the paper form and on the back of one photo if you are applying for:
- your first adult passport
- your first child passport
- a replacement for a lost, stolen or damaged passport
The countersignatory writes a certification on the back of only one printed photo, and the other photo is left unmarked. The wording is "I certify that this is a true likeness of" followed by the applicant's title and full name, plus their signature and date. A straightforward adult renewal does not normally need a countersignature. A renewal can still require one if the applicant cannot be recognized from the existing passport photo; some child renewals also require identity confirmation. Follow the application instructions.
Canada: Two Photos for Paper, One Digital for Online Renewal
Canada states that you must submit 2 identical and unaltered photos with each passport application made in person or by mail. If you renew an adult passport online, you need a digital passport photo instead.
The back of one photo carries extra writing:
- The photographer must write or stamp the date the photo was taken and the studio name and address.
- A guarantor must write that the photo is a true likeness of the applicant and sign it. An adult renewal does not need a guarantor.
For a child passport, the official Canadian guidance requires the guarantor to certify and sign the back of one photo. The photographer also adds the studio details and date. A parent or guardian does not replace the guarantor simply by being the parent or guardian; use the official guarantor eligibility rules.
Australia: Two Identical Photos
Australian embassy pages for passport applications ask for two identical colour photos taken in the last 6 months, with your full name printed on the back of one. They also say not to attach the photos to the form, because it can damage them. One mission page notes that for adult renewals the photos do not need to be endorsed by someone else.
For adult first applications requiring a guarantor, the guarantor endorses the back of one photo with a true-photo statement and signature. Children's applications also have guarantor requirements. Adult renewals follow a different process and generally do not need the endorsement.
Italy: Check the Consulate
The Italian consulate pages reviewed for adult and minor passports in Philadelphia ask for two passport photos. A municipal reminder sheet for the Questura process in Italy also lists 2 photographs.
For minors, the Philadelphia consulate says applications for children under 12 are made by mail and that one of the two photos must be authenticated by a notary using a photo authentication form. That is one consulate's process, not a general Italian rule, so check the page for the office that will handle your application.
Germany: One Biometric Image for the Domestic Route
For applications handled by authorities inside Germany, the digital-photo rules introduced in May 2025 require an authorized capture and secure transmission process. A certified photo service can transmit the image and provide a retrieval code, or the authority can capture it using its equipment. An ordinary home-prepared file or paper print is not a substitute.
Do not extend that statement to every German consulate worldwide. German administrative guidance allows exceptions for applications abroad in specified technical circumstances. Check the embassy or consulate handling your application before arranging photographs. Authorized photo terminals may also be available: the issue is participation in the secure process, rather than a blanket ban on all booths.
Replacements and Other Situations
The photo count can change for other situations. For example, the UK countersigning rules apply to replacements for lost, stolen or damaged passports, and the Canadian guarantor rules differ between first applications and adult renewals. Use the page for your exact situation (first passport, renewal, replacement or child) rather than assuming the number from another route.
Where Passport Photo Counts Get Confusing
Most guides give one number per country. These are the gaps and conflicts worth knowing about:
| Confusion | What is going on |
|---|---|
| "Passport photos come in sets of 2 or 4" | Shops and apps often sell sets. That tells you what is sold, not what the government requires. |
| US "2 photos" | Official US pages say one photo. Older material and some documents still say two. |
| "2 photos means 2 identical photos" | In the UK, Canada and Australia, one of the two photos is also used for identity certification or labeling, so the two are not interchangeable once written on. |
| "Online renewal needs no photo" | Online renewal still needs a photo, but it is a digital file. |
| "The same count applies to adults and children" | Child applications can add guarantor, parent or notary steps on one of the photos. |
| "Consulates follow the home country's rules exactly" | Consulates can add their own details. The Italian examples above show differences between offices. |
Tips for Preparing the Right Number of Photos
- Choose your route first. First application, mail renewal, online renewal, replacement or child application can each change the count.
- Read the instruction page for that route. Write down the exact number of photos and any extra writing on the back.
- Ask for a spare print. The number required is the minimum. Printing one extra is an easy safeguard if a photo is marked, creased or cropped incorrectly.
- Follow the labeling instructions. The photographer, guarantor or countersignatory must add the information assigned to them. Add your own name only where instructed; do not mark the second photo unless required.
- Do not staple or glue unless told to. The US asks agents to staple for in-person applications, the Australian pages say not to attach photos to the form, and mail renewals may have their own attachment rule.
- Match size and recency to the country. Photo counts are only part of the checklist. Size, background and the age of the photo differ by country.
Prepare and Check Your Passport Photos With PhotoOmni
PhotoOmni helps you prepare a passport photo at home and check it against a checklist before you print or upload. Start with the instruction page for your country and route, note the number of photos and any extra requirements, then use PhotoOmni to prepare and review your photo.
Where a digital upload is allowed, check both the file specification and who is allowed to take it. Canadian passport photos, including online-renewal photos, require an in-person commercial photographer or studio. German domestic applications require authorized digital capture and transmission. A general editing tool cannot replace those processes.
Bottom Line
How many pictures you need for a passport is a country-and-route question: one photo for US applications, two printed photos for paper applications in the UK, Canada and Australia, one digital photo for many online renewals, and one biometric image supplied through an authorized process for domestic German applications. Child applications and first applications often add a signature step on one of the photos. Confirm the number on the official page for your exact application before you print.
Official Sources
- U.S. Department of State: passport photos
- GOV.UK: printed passport photos
- GOV.UK: digital passport photos
- GOV.UK: countersigning applications and photos
- Canada: passport photo requirements, including child photos
- Canada: child passport application and guarantor
- Australian Passport Office: adult application and two photos
- Australian High Commission: application and renewal photo checklist
- Italy: official passport documentation
- Italian Consulate in Philadelphia: passports for minors
- Munich: authorized digital passport photos
- German passport administrative guidance, section 6.2.1.1.1
Checked October 24, 2026. Confirm the current instructions for your exact route.
FAQ
How many pictures do you need for a passport? It depends on the country and route. The US asks for one photo, while the UK, Canada and Australia ask for two identical printed photos for paper applications.
How many passport photos do I need for a US passport? One. The Department of State says to provide one passport photo with your application. Shops often sell sets of two, but only one is required.
How many photos do I need to renew a US passport by mail? One color photograph attached to the renewal form. Follow the current DS-82 instructions for attachment.
How many photos do I need for an online passport renewal? One digital photo, which you upload in the application. The US, the UK and Canada all use a digital photo for online renewal.
How many photos do I need for a UK passport? Two identical printed photos for a paper application, or one digital photo online. One printed photo is countersigned for first adult passports, first child passports and replacements.
How many photos do I need for a Canadian passport? Two identical, unaltered photos for in-person or mail applications. One photo carries the photographer's details and the guarantor's signature on the back, except for adult renewals, which do not need a guarantor.
How many photos do I need for an Australian passport? Two identical colour photos, with your full name printed on the back of one. Do not attach them to the form.
How many photos does a child need? It depends on the country. UK, Canada and Australia ask for two printed photos for paper applications, with a signature or endorsement on the back of one. Check the child page for your country.
Do I need a countersigned photo? In the UK, for a first adult passport, first child passport or replacement of a lost, stolen or damaged passport. In Canada, a guarantor signs one photo for new applications. Adult renewals do not need it.
Can I print my own passport photos? It depends on the country and route. Domestic German authorities, for example, require an authorized digital capture and transmission process; a home-prepared file is not enough. Canada requires passport photos to be taken in person by a commercial photographer or studio, including a digital photo for online renewal. Other countries accept prints that meet their rules, so check the page for your route.
Check Your Passport Photos Before You Apply
The wrong number of photos, or a missing signature on the back of one, can delay your application. Find the instruction page for your country and route, prepare the exact number of photos it asks for, and check each one before you submit.
Prepare your passport photo with PhotoOmni
About the Author
PhotoOmni Editorial Team publishes guides to passport and visa photo requirements, digital image preparation and printing. PhotoOmni also offers paid photo services; this guide is published by PhotoOmni. Always follow the issuing authority’s current instructions.