Can I use a passport photo for an IDP?

Usually yes. US passport photos are 2x2 inches with the same white-background and neutral-expression rules as IDP photos. The catch: drugstore passport photo services occasionally crop to 1.97 inches or 2.05 inches instead of an exact 2 inches, and that can get flagged. If you go this route, ask explicitly for two photos for an International Driving Permit, 2 inches by 2 inches each, and measure them before paying.

Where can I get compliant IDP photos cheapest?

At a AAA branch when you apply in person. AAA charges $2 for the pair, prints them on photo paper, and they are always compliant. The next cheapest is free: take a selfie on your phone with a plain white wall, crop to 2x2 inches, and upload directly to AATA's online form.

Can I take IDP photos with my iPhone?

Yes. Any iPhone or Android from the last 5 years has more than enough resolution. Use the rear camera, have someone else take it, position yourself 4 to 5 feet from a white wall, and use natural daylight from a window facing you. Crop to a 2x2 inch square and upload to AATA online.

Are glasses really not allowed in IDP photos?

Yes. Since a 2018 State Department rule change, even regular prescription glasses are prohibited in IDP photos. Sunglasses and tinted lenses were never allowed. Remove your glasses for the photo.

Can I smile in an IDP photo?

A slight smile is OK only if your mouth stays closed. No teeth showing, no wide grin. The official guidance is neutral expression, which in practice means a relaxed face. A small closed-mouth smile passes; a toothy grin gets rejected.

What if my IDP photos get rejected?

You take new photos meeting the failed spec and resubmit. There is no additional application fee, just the cost of reshipping ($5 to $15) for mail applications. Most rejections are caught within 1 to 2 days; expect a 5 to 10 day total delay. If you are on a deadline, drive to the nearest AAA branch and have them take photos and process the IDP same-day.

Do I need professional photos for an IDP?

No. A phone selfie against a white wall in good natural daylight works fine for AATA online applications. For AAA in-person, just let them take the $2 in-house pair. Professional studio photos at $25 to $50 are overkill and do not increase acceptance rates.

Can I use the same photos for AAA and AATA?

Yes. The photo specs are identical for both: 2x2 inches, color, white background, neutral expression, taken within 6 months, no glasses. If you have a compliant set, they work for either issuer. You only need one IDP though — pick one issuer and apply once.

📸

International Driving Permit Photo Requirements (Exact 2026 Specs)

Two photos, 2"×2", color, white background, taken within 6 months. Neutral expression, no glasses, no headwear unless religious. Cheapest compliant source: AAA branches at $2 for two.

📋The Exact Specs

Quantity: 2 photos (identical)
Size: 2 inches × 2 inches (51mm × 51mm)
Color: Full color, not black and white
Background: Plain white or off-white
Lighting: Even, no shadows on face or background
Expression: Neutral, mouth closed, both eyes open
Posture: Face forward, looking directly at camera
Headwear: None, unless religious (face fully visible)
Glasses: None — even regular glasses prohibited (recent change)
Photo age: Taken within last 6 months
Quality: Clear, in focus, not pixelated; printed on photo paper

How IDP Photos Differ from US Passport Photos

IDP photos are almost identical to US passport photos — same 2"×2" size, same white background, same neutral expression. But they're not interchangeable with every ID-style photo, and that's why CVS/Walgreens passport photos occasionally fail at the AAA counter.

Photo Type	Size	Works for IDP?
US passport photos	2"×2"	Usually yes
US visa photos	1.7"×1.7" or larger	No — wrong size
DMV / state ID photos	Digital only	No — not printed
School / work ID photos	Variable	No — wrong dimensions

⚠️ The CVS/Walgreens Trap

Drugstore "passport photo" sets are sold to USA passport specs, but the in-store printer occasionally crops to 1.97" or 2.05" instead of an exact 2". If you're going this route, tell the clerk explicitly: "Two photos for an International Driving Permit, two inches by two inches each." Then measure them with a ruler before you pay.

Where to Get Compliant Photos (Ranked by Cost)

Five real options, ranked by total cost and rejection risk:

🏆

1. AAA Branch — $2 for two photos (CHEAPEST)

Walk into a participating AAA branch when applying for your IDP. The clerk takes the photo, prints two, attaches one to your IDP, and gives you one for the road. Total: $2. Guaranteed compliant. This is by far the best option if you're applying through AAA in person — and you should be, if there's a branch within driving distance.

2. AATA — upload your own from phone (FREE)

For AATA online applications, you upload the photo digitally. Take a selfie on your phone with a plain white wall behind you, in good natural light. Crop to 2"×2" (square) in any photo editing app. Upload. Total: $0. Works about 90% of the time on the first try.

3. CVS / Walgreens / FedEx Office — $14–$17

Decent if you don't have a phone selfie option. Ask explicitly for "two photos for an International Driving Permit, 2 inches by 2 inches each." They occasionally print 1.97" or 2.05" — measure before you leave the store.

4. UPS Store / pharmacy — $10–$15

Variable quality. Slightly cheaper than CVS, with more risk of off-spec sizing. Same advice: verify with a ruler before paying.

5. Photo studio / glamour photographer — $25–$50

Overkill for a 2"×2" ID photo. Don't bother.

Step-by-Step: Taking Compliant Photos at Home

For AATA online applications (or any DIY case where you upload digitally):

Setup

Find a plain white wall (or hang a white bedsheet)
Position yourself 4–5 feet from the wall to avoid a shadow behind your head
Use natural light from a window facing you — avoid backlight from a window behind you
Have someone else take it — arm-extended selfies show face distortion that often gets flagged
Use a recent iPhone or Android (any phone from the last 5 years has enough resolution)

The Shot

Face directly forward — eyes locked on the lens
Neutral expression — a slight smile is OK only if your mouth stays closed
Both eyes fully open
Remove glasses — even regular prescription glasses are now prohibited
Skip flashy earrings or large jewelry
Top of head to chin should fill roughly 70% of the frame

Edit

Crop to a square (2:2 ratio)
Confirm pixel resolution is at least 600×600 (modern phones are well above this)
Save as JPG at quality 80% or higher
Upload directly to AATA's online form

Common Rejection Reasons (Real Ones)

These are the rejection causes AAA and AATA cite most often — in order of frequency:

Wrong size. CVS photos at 1.97" instead of 2". AAA's in-house photos avoid this entirely.
Glasses worn. State Department rule change (2018) — even clear prescription glasses are prohibited.
Smile too wide / teeth showing. Mouth must be closed.
Shadow behind head. Move further from the wall (4–5 feet).
Hair covering ear or face. Tuck hair behind your ears.
Old photo. Must be taken within the last 6 months.
Black and white. Full color is required.
Selfie distortion. Front-camera lenses cause facial widening — use the rear camera and have someone else shoot it.
Bad lighting. Indoor incandescent bulbs make skin look yellow. Natural daylight is best.
Sunglasses (obviously) — even tinted prescription lenses count.

Religious Headwear Exceptions

Hijab, turban, kippah, and other religious head coverings are permitted in IDP photos. The only rule: your face must be fully visible from eyebrows to chin, and the edges of the face (cheek lines, jawline) cannot be obscured.

In short: cover the head, not the face. Both AAA and AATA accept religious headwear photos without additional paperwork — no statement of faith or letter required.

Babies and Minors

IDPs are not commonly issued to minors — international driving typically starts at 18. But if your minor child needs an IDP for an unusual case (a young professional racer, an international internship with driving), the photo specs are the same as for adults.

Same 2"×2" sizing, white background, color photo
Eyes open, neutral expression — yes, even for babies
Photographing infants: lay them flat on a plain white sheet, photograph from directly above. Use natural daylight from a window above.
Older children: same rules as adults — neutral expression, mouth closed, no glasses

Tips Photographers Use for First-Try Acceptance

Small adjustments that swing your acceptance rate from 70% to 95%:

Eyes: Look directly at the lens, not slightly off to the side. Photographing in front of a mirror helps you verify your gaze.
Hair: Pull it back. Loose hair around the face is the single most common cause of soft rejection ("face not fully visible").
Clothing: Avoid pure white shirts (they blend with the background) and busy patterned tops (they distract the rejection algorithm).
Background: A pillowcase or bedsheet pinned against a wall works as well as a $200 studio backdrop.
Print quality: If printing yourself, use photo paper, not regular printer paper. AAA prints on the right stock automatically.
Lens choice: If you have a phone with multiple rear lenses, use the standard (1×) lens — not ultra-wide, which distorts faces at close range.

What If Your Photos Are Rejected?

You'll find out one of two ways:

AAA mail applications: Your envelope comes back with a printed rejection slip noting the specific issue.
AATA online applications: The portal flags the photo on upload (most common) or after a manual review (1–2 days later).

What to do:

Take new photos meeting the failed spec (the slip or portal will tell you which one)
Resubmit — there is no additional application fee, only the cost of reshipping ($5–$15) for mail applications
Most rejections are caught within 1–2 days; expect a 5–10 day total delay compared to a clean first submission

If you're on a deadline and photos get rejected from a mail application, your fastest recovery is to drive to the nearest AAA branch, walk in, and let them take the photos and process the application same-day. That resets the timeline to zero.