UPS offers a wide variety of services from shipping needs to financial services, and does its best to compete with USPS, who offers services like passport photos.
So, does UPS take passport photos- and if so, how much does it cost, and what do you need to know about it? If you’d like to find out, keep reading!
Does UPS Take Passport Photos In [currentyear]?
UPS takes passport photos through the UPS Store in [currentyear]. Not all store locations offer this service, so call ahead to make sure it’s a participating location. Passport photos cost $12 for a pair of photos, and don’t require any other documentation, unless you are submitting your application through UPS. Photos are taken by appointment, so there aren’t wait times.
If you’re interested in visiting your local UPS Store location to get a new passport photo taken, be sure to read the rest of the article for plenty of helpful tips and tricks!
How Much Is a Passport Photo From UPS?
It’s important to note that most of the brick and mortar locations referred to as being UPS locations are actually the UPS Store.
The main difference between UPS and the UPS Store is that while they are affiliated, the UPS Store is a franchise business that works closely with UPS.
This means that each UPS Store location is individually owned and operated, and there is not much standardization in terms of the services offered and the prices of those services.
The same is true for passport photo services- while some UPS Store locations offer these services, not all of them do, and the price point can vary between locations.
All of that being said, however, most UPS Stores charge around $12 for a pair of passport photos to be taken.
The first step to getting your passport photo taken at a UPS Store is to find out which stores offer this service near you.
You can do this by visiting this page of the UPS Store website, and looking up your zip code or address to find the stores closest to you.
Once you’ve located the store you’d be willing to travel to, you can either visit the individual website, call, or email ahead of time to see if it offers passport photo services.
After finding a store that offers passport photo services that is in your area, all you need to do is make an appointment to get your photo taken!
To read more about what the UPS Store has to say about its passport photo services, you can check out this page of the company website.
What Is the Wait Time to Get a Passport Photo From UPS?
If you’re curious about the wait time before you get your photo taken at the UPS Store, there’s nothing to worry about!
Most, if not all, passport photos are taken by appointment.
This means that after you call your local store and set up an appointment, all you have to do is show up on time, and someone will be waiting to assist you.
Most UPS Stores generally aren’t very busy, so even if you choose not to make an appointment and just want to walk into the location, you probably won’t wait more than 5 minutes before someone is able to assist you.
Another way this question could be interpreted is- how long does it take for you to get the passport photos back from UPS?
In that case, you do have to wait a bit longer than 5 minutes.
When the UPS Store takes your passport photo, you have two options:
You can elect to either receive the photo electronically so you can submit your passport application on your own, or you can submit your application through UPS when the photo is taken.
If you choose to receive your photo electronically, you will typically receive the photo within 24 hours.
If you decide to submit the photo with your application while you’re at the UPS Store, however, it can take up to 6 weeks to get the photos back as they come back along with your new passport.
The UPS Store began offering these services in 2016, amid statistics reporting that over 49 million US passports would be expiring between 2016 and 2020.
What Do You Need to Get a Passport Photo Taken at UPS?
If you plan on having your passport photos from the UPS Store sent to you electronically, then you don’t need to worry about bringing any kind of documentation with you.
However, for those who want to have their photo submitted with their passport application at the UPS Store, be sure to bring a valid photo ID, your passport and evidence of citizenship.
Note that if you are a first time applicant, this doesn’t apply.
Outside of documentation, there are some other do’s and don’ts to worry about when taking your passport photo:
- DO opt for business attire or a collared shirt for your passport photos- this is not necessarily a rule, but is a good idea in case you travel for business, or need to show/have your passport for professional reasons.
- DO wear a shirt or dress with a high enough neckline that it will show in the final picture, once the photo is cropped to fit on your passport.
- DO make sure your hair isn’t covering your eyes or eyebrows- all of your features must be visible.
- DO brush your hair back behind your shoulders if you have long hair so your clothing is visible
- DON’T wear thick headbands, large hair bows, or scarves in your hair- these could be considered “headgear,” and could get your photo rejected if it isn’t religious headgear (if it is, you’ll have to submit a letter explaining its religious significance).
- DON’T wear a uniform of any sort- the Passport Agency will reject photos that show you in uniform.
- DON’T wear glasses- your photo could be rejected and your application put on hold if you submit a photo with glasses, especially if they have a glare on the lenses.
- DON’T wear solid white- your photo will be taken against a solid white background, and wearing a solid white shirt or dress will wash you out, and make you appear naked.
If you’re interested in reading more about how to take the best possible passport photo, you can check out this helpful article.
To know more, you can also read our posts on whether or not UPS takes FedEx, if UPS notarize, and if UPS delivers to your door.
Conclusion
UPS offers passport photo services at some of its UPS Store locations. However, you’ll need to call or email ahead of time to make sure your local store offers these services.
Most UPS Stores that offer passport photo services charge $12 for a set of two photos.
Since passport photos are taken by appointment, you don’t need to worry about waiting in the store for very long. You can have your passport photo sent to you electronically if you wish to submit your passport application yourself.
