To travel overseas, you need to have a valid U.S. passport, with a valid picture ID.
You can get these pictures done at a bunch of different places, so it’s always a good idea to search around for the cheapest place for passport photos.
Finding the best place to buy passport photos is essential, as it needs to fit certain specifications and be of a certain quality.
Below are the 15 cheapest places where you can get a passport photo.
1. Walgreens
Walgreens is one of the top pharmacies and convenience stores in the United States, especially for people on a budget.
In addition to a pharmacy and everyday items, you can get photos printed and edited through their photo center. This is where you would get your passport photo done.
Estimated Photo Cost: Walgreens charges $16.99 for passport photos. You will get two professional, properly-sized and compliant photos for that cost. (photo.walgreens.com)
Photo Delivery Time: Walgreens says that you will have your passport photos in one hour or less.
Tactic for Success
Wherever you go to get a passport photo, make sure that it meets all the requirements that are set by the U.S. government. The photo needs to be two inches in width and two inches in height, with a resolution of 301 dpi. Photos of this size will also be suitable for submission online.
2. CVS
CVS is one of the major competitors to Walgreens. They offer many of the same items as Walgreens does, including an entire separate department dedicated to photos.
This is where you can get your U.S. passport photos completed.
Estimated Photo Cost: CVS charges $16.99 for passport photos, and they will give you two of them. If you need additional copies, you can purchase two more for $2.99. (CVS.com)
Photo Delivery Time: Your passport photos will be available in about one hour at CVS.
3. Walmart
Walmart is one of the largest retailers in the world. If you’re on a budget because you’re trying to move out on a budget, doing your shopping here can put you on the right path.
In addition to food, household items and clothes, Walmart also has an extensive photo center where you can get a lot done.
One of the most popular things they offer here are passport photos.
Estimated Photo Cost: Walmart is on the cheaper end, as they charge only $7.44 for passport photos, and they give you two. You can either have the photo taken at some Walmart photo centers, or upload a compliant photo online. (Walmart.com)
Photo Delivery Time: Walmart can have the photos available for pickup in one hour. They also offer home delivery if you upload your photo to their online system.
4. Costco
Costco is a membership-based superstore. They sell a lot of their items in bulk, providing cheaper prices for most things as a result.
In recent years, they’ve expanded their offerings and have an online photo center you could use for your passport photos.
Estimated Photo Cost: Costco can print photos for as little as 11 cents each. Know that you will be responsible for making sure they’re compliant, as they don’t have any passport-specific services, nor any in-person photo center anymore. (CostcoPhotoCenter.com)
Photo Delivery Time: Costco says they can deliver your photos in 11 business days, though it might be quicker than that.
If you are considering Costco for your passport photos, keep in mind the following things:
- Ensure compliance – You’ll be completely responsible for the compliance end of it, as Costco doesn’t offer passport-specific services.
- Membership necessary – You may need to actually join Costco as a full member in order to take advantage of their cheap costs for photo prints.
- Delivery time – Know that it could take up to a full two weeks to have your passport photos printed and delivered via Costco.
- Self service – Again, you’ll need to feel comfortable with their online system, since you’ll be doing everything on your own.
5. Target
Target is one of the main competitors to Walmart. They are focused on some higher-end home décor items, though they offer many of the basic services that a superstore does.
One of the things they offer is the Target Photo Hub, where you can get passport photos.
Estimated Photo Cost: Target charges $12.99 for passport photos. They will give you four identical copies with each order. (TargetPhoto.com)
Photo Delivery Time: The photos may take up to two weeks to get. You will be responsible for uploading them online, meeting all the requirements, and then they will be shipped to your home.
6. FedEx
If you’re looking for an in-person store where you can go and get your passport photos taken, you can do it at a FedEx store.
They have plenty of services available there in addition to their shipping for small businesses. It’s a solid option.
Estimated Photo Cost: FedEx charges $14.99 for passport photos if you want to get the photo taken there. You could also use a template and upload one of your own to get printed for only 35 cents. (FedEx.com)
Photo Delivery Time: You could have these passport photos in as little as a week.
7. USPS
A convenient place to get passport photos is a USPS office. The reason for this is you can not only get your photo there but also have the entire application submitted at the same location.
Estimated Photo Cost: The USPS charges $15 for passport photos. (USPS.com)
Photo Delivery Time: You won’t have to wait for delivery time, as you can submit your application at the same time you have your photos taken right from the USPS.
8. Rite Aid
If you’re looking for another convenience store, then Rite Aid could be a good choice, depending on where you live.
They have a photo center that you can upload right from the convenience of your own home.
Estimated Photo Cost: Rite Aid charges 25 cents per passport photo. Again, though, this is something you’ll take and upload on your own, not have taken at one of their stores. (Photo.RiteAid.com)
Photo Delivery Time: You could get these photos delivered to you in about a week or picked up within a day at a store.
9. The UPS Store
The UPS Store has become much more than just shipping. Passport photos is one thing they offer, just like their competitor, FedEx.
Estimated Photo Cost: The UPS Store charges $11.99 for passport photos. Just make sure you make an appointment in advance online. (TheUPSStore.com)
Photo Delivery Time: You can have your passport photos within about a week from The UPS Store.
10. Passport Photo Online
Passport Photo Online is a completely web-based service where you can upload your own photos to print. They specialize in passport photos.
Estimated Photo Cost: You can get these passport photos for as little as 33 cents. (Passport-Photo.online)
Photo Delivery Time: You can either order a digital download, which will be emailed to you, and then you can take it to a photo center to print. Or, you can get it delivered to you within two to four days.
11. JCPenney
JCPenney is a department store that has a portrait center right in it. You can have your passport photos taken there.
Estimated Photo Cost: They charge $6.99 for passport photo prints, but they also might charge you a session fee of $14.99. (JCPPortraits.com)
Photo Delivery Time: You could have your photos ready in about a week.
12. Sam’s Club
Sam’s Club is another membership warehouse that offers printing services. You’ll have to be a member to print here, and they only offer online prints.
Trend on the Rise
Since getting the cheapest passport photos at a third-party site or store has become so popular, people are sharing some of the most important things to keep in mind. One of the biggest trends is to wear dark colors, so that you don’t blend into the background and it doesn’t get rejected. Also wear basic colors and not wild prints.
Estimated Photo Cost: A 2×3 wallet photo, which you’d have to size properly and cut, costs 19 cents for passport photos. (Photo.SamsClub.com)
Photo Delivery Time: You could get these in about a week.
13. Snapfish
Snapfish is an online photo printing site, where you can get wallet prints that will be close to passport size. Just know that you’ll have to crop and cut them properly.
Estimated Photo Cost: Wallet prints start at 99 cents for passport photos. You’ll also likely pay a shipping cost. (Snapfish.com)
Photo Delivery Time: These could be delivered to your home in about five days.
14. Shutterfly
Shutterfly is one of the most popular online photo printing sites. They don’t offer passport-specific services, though, so you’ll have to make sure it’s all in compliance.
Estimated Photo Cost: Wallet prints would be the closest size, and you could get four of them for $1.79 to use as passport photos. You will likely also pay shipping charges. (Shutterfly.com)
Photo Delivery Time: Depending on the delivery you choose, it could take up to a week to receive your photos.
15. Mpix
Mpix is a newer online photo printing site that you could use for your own uploads. You’ll just have to make sure it’s all up to the standards.
Estimated Photo Cost: Wallet prints start at $1.69 for passport photos at Mpix. You’ll also likely pay a shipping fee. (Mpix.com)
Photo Delivery Time: Photos will be delivered to you in about one week.
Wrapping Up
There are many options for getting passport photos that will work according to the U.S. Department of State guidelines.
Check among the cheapest places for passport photos above to see the one that would work best for you.
Tim is a classically-trained journalist who loves to share knowledge and information with others. In the past, he has worked in TV, online and print media, and currently works with companies to help design, create and strategize their messaging.
