Does Costco Take Passport Photos? – Updated 2024

Does Costco Take Passport Photos? –  Costco has stopped taking or printing passport photos in-store and online as of 2024.

Due to low demand, this service was discontinued permanently in all Costco stores across the US on February 14, 2021.

Alternatively, Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, and Target take passport photos.

Why did Costco cancel passport printing and other services? Continue reading to learn everything you need!

Does Costco Take Passport Photos? 

Costco will close all photo departments. Costco is the largest warehouse chain in the USA and one of the biggest retailers worldwide.

It has discontinued in-person photo printing, but it continues offering online services. Although customers can still print photos at Costco, they no longer offer four of their services.

The services that transferred home video from VHS tapes onto DVDs or USB devices, ink refills, and taking passport photos have all been discontinued.

These changes were made effective February 14, 2021. All photo centres (roughly 800 shops) are now closed.

In an email, Costco explained to its members that digital advances in photo technology led to this decision.

“Since then, the need to print photos has steeply decreased, even though more pictures are being taken,” Costco said.

After careful review, we concluded that the continuing decline in prints does not require on-site photo printing.

You can also use other photo centres such as Walgreens or Walmart to get your passport or other documents photos.

Another option is the Passport Photo Online app. This fast and convenient option lets you get passport photos without ever leaving home – our app will do all the hard work for you!

All you have to do is upload a photo, and we’ll take care of everything else. The photo app uses an Artificial Intelligence system to scan each photo and ensure it meets all requirements.

Our human expert then reviews the passport and visa photos to ensure they meet the document’s requirements.

Passport Photo Online allows you to save time and money and avoid standing in long lines to get your passport photos.

Why Did Costco Discontinue Its Passport Printing Service?

Costco’s passport photo printing service was discontinued in all US stores by Costco on February 14, 2021.

Costco reported a sharp drop in demand due to the growing popularity of social media and camera phones.

Costco’s stores stopped printing passport photos and didn’t take them anymore.

All in-store photo centre services were closed for the same reason. You can still access certain photo services and products via the Costco Photo Center site, including:

All in-store photo centre services were closed for the same reason. You can still access certain photo services and products via the Costco Photo Center site, including:

• Prints and wall art
• Calendars
• Stationery
• Banners
• Enlargements
• Personalized greeting cards, invitations, and gifts

Costco had begun closing down some of its photo centres in stores as early as 2019; Then, in January, they announced that they would close all the remaining accounts in one month.

Costco passport photo cost

For only 17C/, print a U.S. passport photo at a Costco location. Learn our method to save as much as 30% on passport printing.

Using a 4×6 inch template to replace the standard Costco passport template is easy. You can print the 4×6 inch template for 17C/.

This lifehack can be used for any document photo. Ask for a standard 4×6 template instead of a passport photo template. Each of the six passport photos will be 2×2 inches in the 4×6 template.

Guidelines: Taking Costco Passport Photos

Passport Photo Online allows you to create a professional U.S. passport picture and a template that includes 2 passport photographs. You’ll be able to print two passport photos at once. You should be aware of some requirements when it comes to passport photos.

List of the most basic U.S. passport requirements:

• Avoid smiling or frowning – keep your face neutral.
• Avoid wearing extravagant clothing or uniforms.
• It is permissible to wear religious clothing
• The photo cannot be used with headphones or glasses.
• Your facial features should not be hidden by jewellery.
• The photo should show your face clearly.
• You can use a white and off-white background and.

Can You Take Your Own Passport Photos?

You can take your passport photos as long as you follow all the official requirements. This includes using white backgrounds and good lighting.

When selecting a photo format, ensure it is clear and sharp. With modern printers, you can complete this step at home in no time!

Even if your printer is not available, you can still take photos at home with an iPhone or Android and have them printed online through Costco Photo Center or another similar printing service.

Official website: www.costco.com/photo.html

Conclusion

Although we were unhappy to see Costco Photo Centers go from Costco Warehouse, I suppose everything will change.

It’s easy to find a place to get your photos, even with the availability of online passport photo services and affordable prices from other retailers such as Walmart or UPS.

You can also print passport photos at home if you feel brave and willing to do some DIY. No matter your method, you can comply with all the official requirements.

FAQs