I am about to renew my U.S. passport online and will need a digital photo. In the past I have always traveled with additional passport photos -- to make it simpler to get a replacement passport if needed, or if there are other instances (e.g., visas) where a 2x2 photo is needed. With a digital photo, is there any need to still have hard copy photos, or can I simply store the digital photo (in Dropbox or some other secure spot) to access if needed while traveling?
Posted by
Maryland
1108 posts
Well, I could not renew my passport online recently because their BOT decided I was wearing glasses when I was not in the digital photo I had taken specially for that purpose. Maybe take a real picture, but If I was going to take anything it would be getting a Passport Card too and take that... It isn't perfect but it is a recognized alternative ID.
Posted by
Chicagoland
1968 posts
I don't know about getting an emergency passport while abroad, but I have used a trimmed down passport photo in Paris when purchasing a physical Navigo Decouverte card for local transportation.
Posted by
Salem, Oregon, USA
3766 posts
Some countries require a physical photo to get a visa for entry, but that is something you would know ahead of your trip so you could get them printed in time. Having the electronic version for back up while you travel does no harm, but as jeanm noted there are some circumstances a printed photo is needed. But again, you'd probably know that before you travel.
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
8409 posts
Take them if it makes you comfortable, but the odds of needing them is slim. What I’d have is a digital copy of the photo page of the new passport showing the issue and expiration dates as well as the passport number. You can keep the digital copy on the cloud, your phone, tablet, or all of them.
Edited: the state department website says you’d need a passport photo taken within the last six months.
Maybe my sister got lucky when all but one in her family had their passports stolen on a train in Italy years ago. The consulate took the photos for them.
Posted by
West Michigan
596 posts
Keep all the copies you want "In the Cloud", but MORE IMPORTANTLY keep them on your phones. In an emergency I don't want to have to find internet to access something. I have a directory called /(name)Medical with scans of any medical cards, insurance, list of medications, etc... So does my wife. We each have both of our directories on both of our phones, and on our tablet. Why not? And I know how to quickly find them on our phones.
We also have password protected MS-Word files with scans of our credit cards, driver's licences, and passports, on each of our phones.
For photos, I carry two printed passport photos in my passport wallet, and have good digital photos in our phones as well. If you wear glasses, take one with and one without the glasses. When you take the photos, make sure your eyes are wide open and your eye color is easy to see Take the photo square on, not on an angle. Stand in front of a plain white wall. Use good lighting. Portrait photographers use multiple lights at different angles. Don't have any shadows on your face. When photographing your passport, be very sure it is completely flat, and there is NO glare from the lights.
Posted by
the great P-NW
542 posts
When I got a replacement passport at the consulate in the Azores, they were definitely not going to take my picture for me. They sent me to the mall for a physical picture to put on their paperwork. Different locations may well vary, but if you are planning for something like that, I'd bring the actual pics.
Posted by
Chicago
4117 posts
According to the State Department, you will need a 2x2 photo:
https://travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/help-abroad/lost-stolen-passport.html
If you don’t have a photo with you, most likely the embassy can direct you to the nearest place to get one.
Be mindful too that not all countries will accept the temporary passport as a friend of mine recently found out while on her cruise. France is one such country: