Get Your Passport Photos in Lebanon, Tennessee

Yes, you can easily take your own passport photo from your home in Lebanon or anywhere else in Tennessee. The State Department allows you to take your own photo as long as it meets all official federal guidelines. Just ensure you have good lighting, a plain white background, and someone else to snap the picture for you.

Your photo must be exactly 2x2 inches (51x51 mm) in size and printed on high-quality, matte or glossy photo paper. The image must be in color, taken within the last six months, and clearly show your full face with a neutral expression. The head must measure between 1 and 1 3/8 inches from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head.

No, the State Department strictly prohibits wearing glasses in your passport photo, even if you wear them daily in Lebanon. Hats and head coverings are also not allowed unless you submit a signed statement verifying they are worn daily for religious or medical reasons. Your full face must remain entirely visible without any shadows cast by clothing or accessories.

The basic federal requirements are the same for infants and toddlers, but the State Department is slightly more lenient regarding their posture and expression. If you are photographing a baby in Lebanon, you can lay them on their back on a plain white blanket or drape a car seat with a white sheet. Just make sure no other people, hands, or pacifiers are visible in the final shot.

Yes, you must submit a new, updated photo every time you apply for a passport renewal. The State Department requires your picture to have been taken within the last six months to reflect your current appearance. Even if you haven't changed much since your last Tennessee passport was issued, reusing an old photo will cause your application to be rejected.

Routine passport processing currently takes about 4 to 6 weeks, while expedited service is available for an additional federal fee. Mailing times from Tennessee to the passport facilities can add up to four extra weeks for round-trip delivery. It is highly recommended to apply well in advance of your planned international trip.

The closest regional facility for urgent travel is the Atlanta Passport Agency, located about 245 miles southeast of Lebanon. These regional agencies do not handle routine applications and are strictly for life-or-death emergencies or urgent international travel within 14 days. For standard processing, you can simply use a local acceptance facility right here in Wilson County.