Passport photo printable 4×6 sheet — print at any pharmacy for $0.39
Why the 4×6 inch sheet is the right format
Every consumer photo printer — drugstore kiosks, home inkjet printers, mail-order print services — supports 4×6 inch glossy photo paper as the standard small print size. Costco Photo, Walgreens Photo, CVS Photo, Snapfish, Shutterfly, and Amazon Print all charge $0.39 per 4×6 in 2026.
Two 2×2 inch US passport photos fit perfectly on a single 4×6 with proper margins. The complypic sheet layout uses ICAO 9303-compliant centering and ensures the photos can be cut along the white border without cropping into the face.
For UK/Schengen 35×45 mm spec, the same 4×6 paper holds two photos side by side with margin. For Canada's larger 50×70 mm spec, the sheet holds one photo plus a backup duplicate.
How to print at the pharmacy
Email yourself the 4×6 JPEG complypic sends after purchase. Save it to your phone or USB drive.
Walk into any CVS, Walgreens, Duane Reade, Walmart Photo or Costco Photo center. Use the self-service kiosk — every chain has them.
Select '4×6 inch print' from the kiosk options. Choose 'Glossy' (matte is fine but glossy reproduces colors slightly better for biometric photos). Upload from USB, phone Bluetooth, or email link.
Confirm the print order. Cost is $0.39 in 2026 at all major chains. Pickup is typically 5–10 minutes from the in-store photo lab.
Cut along the white border between the two photos with scissors or a paper trimmer. Each cut yields a single passport photo at the destination spec.
How to print at home
Any consumer inkjet printer (Canon Pixma, HP Envy, Epson Expression) handles 4×6 glossy photo paper. Load the paper in the photo tray; most printers auto-detect the size.
Print at the printer's highest quality setting — typically 'Best' or 'Photo' mode. The 4×6 JPEG complypic sends is at 300 DPI which matches the printer's native resolution.
The home-print result is generally indistinguishable from a pharmacy print for compliance purposes. The State Department, USCIS, and most consulates accept either as long as the dimensions and color are correct.
If the home printer produces slight color shift or banding, switch to glossy photo paper (matte tends to dull skin tones). Set the printer to 'sRGB' color profile if it offers the choice.
The economics — why this beats US$17 retail
Retail US$17 in-store passport photo: US$16.99 at CVS/Walgreens/USPS for two printed photos.
complypic + pharmacy print: US$4.99 for the generation + US$0.39 for the 4×6 print = ~US$5.40 total — about a third of the retail price.
complypic + home print: US$4.99 + ~US$0.10 of paper and ink per 4×6 sheet = ~US$5.09 total.
For applicants who need photos for multiple documents over a year (passport, visa, IELTS, child passports), the per-photo savings compound to dozens of dollars.
Quality considerations
Glossy paper vs matte: glossy is the safer choice for biometric photos. Matte sometimes mutes skin tones to a degree that the human reviewer at a consulate may comment on, though it rarely causes rejection.
Pharmacy chain quality: CVS, Walgreens and Walmart Photo use comparable Fujifilm or Noritsu lab printers. Costco Photo is widely considered the best for color accuracy. All four are compliance-equivalent.
Home printer quality: for a one-off, home printing is fine. For frequent printing (parent ordering passport photos for multiple family members regularly), the pharmacy lab printers produce more consistent results.
Cutting precision: most rejections related to physical photo come not from print quality but from inaccurate cutting (one edge is 1.9" instead of 2.0"). Use a paper trimmer with a measured guide, not scissors-by-eye.
FAQ
Is the 4×6 sheet included with every complypic purchase?
+
Can I print at home or do I need a pharmacy?
+
How much does the pharmacy print cost?
+
Does the State Department accept a home-printed passport photo?
+
What's the difference between the digital JPG and the printed photo?
+
US Passport
Exactly 2x2 inches, plain white background, head 1 to 1⅜ inches. Validated against State Department specs before you pay. Works for new passport, renewal, and minors.
Generate my photo now →