CVS charges $16.99. Walgreens charges $16.99. Walmart charges $7.44. Online tools start at $4.99. But the real cost of a passport photo isn't the sticker price — it's whether the photo gets accepted on the first try.
Here's how all three retailers — and an online alternative — compare on price, what you actually get, compliance guarantees, and non-US passport support.
How Much Do CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart Charge for Passport Photos?
Prices are published retail rates as of February 2026.
| CVS | Walgreens | Walmart | Passport Size Photo | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $16.99 | $16.99 | $7.44 | $4.99 |
| What you get | 2 printed photos | 2 printed photos | 2 printed photos | Digital file + print-ready download |
| Digital copy included | No | No | No | Yes |
| Retakes | 1 free retake | 1 free retake | Ask manager | Unlimited |
| Compliance guarantee | "Meets government requirements" | "Meets government requirements" | None stated | Full compliance guarantee |
The price spread is significant. CVS and Walgreens charge identical prices — $16.99 — and offer functionally identical services: an employee takes your photo against a backdrop, prints two copies, and hands them to you. Walmart undercuts both at $7.44. passportsize-photo.online is $4.99 for a digital file you can print yourself or submit digitally.
But price only matters if the photo works. A $16.99 CVS photo that gets rejected costs you $16.99 plus a second trip. A $4.99 digital photo that passes on the first try costs $4.99 total.
Get a compliant passport photo online
What Do You Get with a CVS, Walgreens, or Walmart Passport Photo?
All three retailers offer the same basic service: an employee takes your photo against a white backdrop using the store's camera, prints two 2×2 inch copies, and hands them to you. The process typically takes 15–30 minutes including any wait time.
What none of them offer: digital copies, automated compliance verification, or support for non-US passport formats. The employee checks your photo visually — there's no software measuring head height percentages or background RGB values against government specifications.
What online tools add: automated checks against exact government specifications (dimensions, head size, background color, expression, glasses detection), instant results, and a digital file you can submit online or print anywhere.
Can CVS, Walgreens, or Walmart Handle Non-US Passport Photos?
No. All three retailers are set up for US passport photos only (2×2 inches, 51×51mm). If you need photos for a non-US passport or visa, you'll need to go elsewhere.
The dimensions vary significantly by country:
- United Kingdom: 35×45mm (not 2×2 inches) with a grey background (not white)
- Canada: 50×70mm — nearly twice as tall as a US photo
- India: 35×35mm square, but different proportions than the US square format
- Schengen/EU: 35×45mm with specific head-height requirements that differ from the US
A US-format photo submitted for a UK passport will be rejected on dimensions alone — before any face analysis begins. Our photo checker validates against all 31 countries in our database with country-specific requirements.
Do CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart Passport Photos Get Rejected?
Retailers advertise that their photos "meet government requirements," but this guarantee is limited. The employee taking your photo is making a visual judgment — they're not measuring your head height to verify it falls within the 50–69% range required for US passports, or checking that the background is within RGB tolerance.
Common issues with retail passport photos include:
- Uneven lighting from fluorescent store lights creating shadows
- Background inconsistencies from worn or dirty backdrops
- Incorrect head sizing when the employee frames the shot by eye
- No digital verification — the photo is printed and handed to you without any automated checks
For more on why passport photos fail, see the most common rejection reasons and how to fix them.
CVS vs Walgreens vs Walmart Passport Photos: Which Should You Choose?
If you need physical prints today and there's a retailer nearby, Walmart at $7.44 is half the price of CVS or Walgreens for the same product: two 2×2 inch prints.
If you're applying online or want to verify compliance before printing, a digital-first approach makes sense. Upload your photo, validate it against your country's exact specification, and either submit digitally or print locally. The US State Department accepts digital photos for online renewal applications.
If you're applying for a non-US passport, retailer photo counters almost certainly won't know the correct dimensions. The UK requires 35×45mm (not 2×2 inches). Canada requires 50×70mm. India requires 35×35mm square. Our photo checker validates against all 31 countries in our database.
Full Comparison: CVS vs Walgreens vs Walmart vs Online Passport Photos
| CVS | Walgreens | Walmart | Passport Size Photo | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $16.99 | $16.99 | $7.44 | $4.99 |
| Format | 2 prints | 2 prints | 2 prints | Digital + print-ready |
| Digital copy | No | No | No | Yes |
| Retakes | 1 free | 1 free | Ask manager | Unlimited |
| Compliance check | Visual (employee) | Visual (employee) | Visual (employee) | Automated (AI) |
| Guarantee | Limited | Limited | Limited | Full compliance |
| Non-US formats | No | No | No | 31 countries, 68 document types |
Retailer prices are published rates as of February 2026. The cost comparison across all countries provides additional context on passport photo pricing worldwide.
