How to Print Passport Photos at CVS and Save Money

We went to a local CVS and tested the whole thing ourselves: created a 4×6 photo sheet online, uploaded it to CVS Photo, and picked up the prints. This guide shows the exact steps so you can make a compliant passport, visa, or ID photo and print it at CVS for about $1. instead of paying for the in-store passport photo service.

Most CVS Pharmacy locations with a Photo Center can do this. the majority of their 9,000+ US stores. Any store with a photo kiosk works, even one that doesn’t offer the passport photo service.

Why This Can Save Money

Option	Cost	What CVS does	What you do
CVS passport photo service	$17.99	Takes and prints the photo	Go to CVS
One Dollar Passport Photo + CVS 4×6 print	~$1.39	Prints a regular 4×6 photo	Create the sheet online, then pick up the print

The savings come from printing a ready-made 4x6 photo sheet as a regular photo print instead of paying for a full in-store passport photo service.

Step 1: Create Your Passport or ID Photo Sheet

First, create your photo sheet with One Dollar Passport Photo.

Step 2: Upload The Print Sheet to CVS as a 4x6 Photo Print

You will get a 4x6 print sheet like this from One Dollar Passport Photo.

The key idea: CVS is not taking your passport or ID photo here. Your sheet is already prepared, so you’re just ordering a regular 4x6 photo print. which is what makes it cheap.

Here’s the CVS Photo website flow:

1. Go to cvs.com/photo and choose Prints → 4x6 Photo Prints (the standard print product, not the “Passport Photos” service).

2. Upload your 4x6 sheet. Pick the file you downloaded from One Dollar Passport Photo. You can upload from your phone or computer.

3. Set the order options:

   • Print size: 4x6
   • Quantity: 1
   • Crop / zoom: turn OFF. “do not crop” or “full image”. This is the most important setting (see the Final Tip).
   • Finish: glossy or matte both work for passport photos.

4. Choose pickup at your nearby CVS, or delivery if you prefer.

5. Check the preview before checkout. the entire sheet should be visible with no cropping. If CVS auto-zoomed it, fix the crop setting before paying.

At $0.39 for the 4x6 print, this is the whole cost on the CVS side.

Step 3: Pick Up the Print

After placing the order, wait for CVS to notify you that the print is ready.

When we picked up our order, the photo came in a CVS photo envelope. Inside was the 4x6 photo sheet with multiple copies printed on it.

Step 4: Cut Out the Photos

Once you have the 4x6 print, cut out the individual photos.

Scissors work fine. A paper cutter can make the edges cleaner. Since the sheet includes multiple copies, you also have backups if one cut is not perfect.

Works for visa, ID, and other photos

The same method works for many document types. you just create the right photo size before printing. We support 423 ID photo types across 190 countries: passports, visas, green cards, national IDs, and more. Find the photo you need, download the 4×6 sheet, and print it at CVS the same way.

Final Tip

The most important step is to avoid cropping. The 4x6 sheet is already sized for printing. If CVS crops or zooms it, the final photo size may be incorrect.

In short:

1. Create a 4x6 passport, visa, or ID photo sheet
2. Print it at CVS as a regular 4x6 photo
3. Pick it up
4. Cut out the photos

This is a simple way to turn a digital photo sheet into printed document photos at CVS.