Costco Passport Photo Services

Costco Passport Photo Services—Options, Cost, Tips

1. Service Details

   If you’re wondering whether you can still get your passport photos taken at Costco, you’ve come to the right place. Costco has fully transitioned its photo services, and the traditional in-store experience has changed significantly.
    
   This guide provides the most up-to-date information on Costco’s current services in 2026, and the best ways for members to secure high-quality passport photos while maintaining that signature Costco value.
    
   Does Costco do passport photos in 2026?
    
   Costco no longer does in-store passport photo services. Since closing its physical photo centers in 2021, Costco has transitioned all photo fulfillment to Shutterfly. Members can no longer have passport photos taken at warehouse locations or use in-store kiosks. Instead, you must upload your own government-compliant digital photo to Shutterfly for home delivery.
    
   How much does a Costco passport photo cost?
    
   Printing a 4×6 sheet with passport photos at Costco Photo costs $0.28 (and shipping fee).
    
   What are the exclusive benefits for Costco members on Shutterfly?
    
   By linking your Costco membership to your Shutterfly account, you unlock:
    

   • 51% OFF all regular-priced orders.
   • FREE Economy Shipping on orders over $49.
   • Best price guarantee: Shutterfly automatically applies the highest available discount to your cart.

    
   How do I link my Costco membership to Shutterfly?
    
   It’s a one-time setup:
    

   1. Go to the Costco Photo Homepage.
   2. Enter your Costco Membership Number and click “Add My Membership.”
   3. Sign in to your Shutterfly account (or create a new one). Note: One membership can be linked to up to 3 Shutterfly accounts.

    
   Does Costco still offer online passport photo printing?
    
   As previously noted, printing is available exclusively through Costco’s partner, Shutterfly. You will need a pre-prepared 4×6 template containing your passport photos to complete your order. To create a compliant template, follow these steps:
    

   1. Use a specialized passport photo service like Photobooth.online to prepare your image. It automatically removes the background, adjusts head scale, and generates a compliant 4×6 template with six passport photos.
   2. Go to the Costco Photo and upload your saved Photobooth.online template as a standard 4×6 print.
   3. Complete your order by selecting your preferred delivery method.

    
   Note: Costco discounts do NOT apply to 1-hour in-store pickup at Walgreens/CVS.
    
   Shutterfly shipping rates for Costco members
    

   • Economy ($1.79 – $2.49): 6–10 business days. Best for non-urgent orders; tracking is limited or unavailable.
   • Standard ($4.49 – $5.99): 5–7 business days. Includes full door-to-door tracking.
   • Free Shipping: Available on all orders over $49 for linked Costco accounts.

    
   What if I need my passport photos immediately?
    
   If you can’t wait for shipping, you can use the Shutterfly app’s “1-hour pickup” at Walgreens/CVS, but you will pay the full retail price of those stores. The 51% Costco discount is only valid for orders shipped directly to your home.
    
   Is there a way to get prints for free?
    
   Yes, if you use the Shutterfly Mobile App, you can get unlimited free 4×6 prints (up to 250 per order).
    
   Pro Tip: While the prints are free via the app, you will still need to pay for shipping. Compare the “Free App Prints + Shipping” cost vs. the “51% Member Discount + Shipping” to see which is cheaper for your specific order.
    
   Does Costco do digital passport photos?
    
   Costco does not offer digital passport photo services. Since closing its in-store photo centers in 2021, Costco has no staff to take or provide digital passport photos. Instead, members must use third-party apps to create their own passport-compliant images. There is no option to receive a verified digital passport photo directly from Costco or its website.
    
   Does Costco offer in-store printing for pre-prepared passport photos?
    
   Costco does not offer in-store photo printing at any of its warehouse locations.
    
   Simplifying the process of getting passport photos
    
   Since Costco’s in-store passport photo services are no longer an option, the process of DIY templates and manual uploads can feel complicated and time-consuming. If you prefer a “one-stop” solution to handle everything from photo creation to compliance and printing, using a specialized service like Photobooth.online is a great way to simplify the experience.
    
   Unlike a simple passport photo editor, this platform is specifically designed to meet government standards, saving you a potential rejection.
    
   How it works:
    

   1. You simply take a photo on your phone and upload it. No special equipment or lighting is required.
   2. The service uses smart technology to instantly analyze your photo for official requirements, such as head size, eye position, and facial expression.
   3. The AI replaces your background with the required plain white or off-white color, so you don’t need to find the “perfect wall” at home.
   4. For added peace of mind, the service includes a final check by a human expert to ensure your passport photo is 100% compliant before it’s finalized.

    
   What you get:
    
   You’ll receive a high-resolution digital photo for online applications, a professional 4×6 print-ready template for $2.95, and six prints for physical submission for $9.95 (shipping included). You can then download the file instantly or have high-quality prints delivered directly to your door.
    
   How to take a photo for upload?
    
   To get started, simply take a photo using your smartphone. Follow these tips for a guaranteed result:
    

   • Before taking the shot, turn off all beauty modes, social media filters, and AI enhancements on your phone. The passport photo must represent your natural skin tone and features without any digital retouching.
   • Capture your head, neck, and shoulders. Make sure to leave plenty of open space (headroom) above your head and on both sides of your shoulders.
   • Look directly at the camera with your eyes open and clearly visible.
   • Maintain a neutral facial expression with your mouth closed (avoid smiling).
   • Even if you wear glasses every day, you must remove them for the passport photo.

    
   The service handles the rest. Once you upload your raw photo, it’ll automatically remove the background, fix the lighting, and crop the image to the exact 2×2 inch government standard.
    
   Sources
    

   • https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/photos.html
   • https://www.costco.com/photo.html
   • https://support.shutterfly.com/s/article/costco-partnership

    

   We update this page whenever the State Department changes its guidelines or Costco/Shutterfly update their services. A passport photo expert reviews every update for accuracy.

   Written by: PhotoBooth Online Editorial Team

   Updated: 02/17/26