Can you use an AI photo for a passport or ID?
Last updated: 2026-09-29
Short answer: no. Passport offices reject photos that were edited, filtered or generated with AI. Take the original at a photo studio, pharmacy or photo booth. AI headshots are fine where there is no official photo rule: LinkedIn, company pages, resumes (depending on the employer), speaker bios and social profiles. Below is the official wording from each authority.
At a glance
| Use | Official size | AI or edited photo |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. passport | 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm), taken in the last 6 months | Not accepted |
| South Korean passport | 3.5 × 4.5 cm, head 3.2–3.6 cm, white background, last 6 months | Not accepted |
| South Korean national ID / driver's license | 3.5 × 4.5 cm, last 6 months | Not accepted |
| LinkedIn, company page, speaker bio | No rule | Fine |
| Resume, employee or student badge | Set by the employer or school | Usually fine; follow their rules |
U.S. passport photos (State Department)
Submit one color photo taken in the last 6 months, printed at 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm).
"Do not change your photo using computer software, phone apps or filters, or artificial intelligence."
South Korean passport photos (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
3.5 × 4.5 cm, head length from crown to chin 3.2–3.6 cm, plain white background, taken within 6 months, mouth closed with a neutral expression, no colored lenses or tinted glasses. The ministry explicitly excludes photos "arbitrarily retouched with photo editing programs or filters, including AI-based editing, processing, compositing or generation," and photos whose background was removed or replaced.
South Korean national ID and driver's license
Both use 3.5 × 4.5 cm photos taken within 6 months. From March 1, 2026 the driver's license office strictly applies the passport photo standard and accepts only photos "not modified by copying, Photoshop or similar." The national ID rejects retouched or composited photos that make identification difficult.
Sources: Korea Road Traffic Authority notice · Ministry of the Interior and Safety
Where AI headshots make sense
LinkedIn, company websites, business cards, conference speaker pages, resumes and social profiles have no government photo rule. What matters there is that the photo is recent and still looks like you, and an AI headshot is a quick way to get one without booking a studio. If a job posting or badge office says "no edited photos," follow that.
Brooklyn is an AI photo app for resume and interview photos, LinkedIn headshots, and actor and social profiles. You can try it free first. Do not use it for passports or government IDs.
FAQ
Can I use an AI-generated photo for my U.S. passport?
No. The State Department says not to change your photo using computer software, phone apps, filters or artificial intelligence, and to submit the original unedited photo.
What size is a U.S. passport photo?
2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm), in color, taken in the last 6 months.
What size is a South Korean passport photo?
3.5 × 4.5 cm with a head length of 3.2 to 3.6 cm from crown to chin, on a plain white background, taken within 6 months. AI-edited photos are not accepted.
Can I use an AI headshot on LinkedIn or my resume?
Yes, in most cases. LinkedIn and company pages have no official photo rule, and resumes follow the employer's own rules. Use a photo that still looks like you.