Lately, we have been seeing this question frequently asked. People are asking us if they need to be certified in some way or apply for a license to be able to offer passport photo services. The answer is: no, there is no license or certification needed to produce passport photos. It's a fairly simple process that can be done so long as you have the correct printing device and you follow these requirements:
- Full color, near-continuous tone photos (no inkjet or color laser prints)
- 2" x 2" inches in size
- Taken within the past 6 months, showing current appearance
- Full face, front view with a plain white or very light, off-white background
- Between 1" and 1 3/8" from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head
- Taken in normal street attire, uniforms should not be worn in photographs except religious attire that is worn daily
- No hats or headgear that obscures the hair or hairline
- Dark glasses or nonprescription glasses with tinted lenses are NOT acceptable unless needed for medical reasons, a medical certificate may be required
As for the printing device: a color laser or inject printer will not work for the process that the State Department requires. They need photos where the colors are 'near-continuous tone' - with no dots or lines making up the colors like those above printer types will produce. A dye sublimation printer is what's needed and we have that in our Digital Passport Photo Starter System.
