Navigating the world of passport photos can be tricky, especially when you’re looking for convenience and affordability. If you’re a Costco member wondering, “Does Costco Take Passport Photos?”, you’re in the right place. The answer isn’t straightforward in 2024, so let’s clarify the current situation and explore your best options for getting compliant passport photos.
Costco used to be a go-to destination for many seeking quick and budget-friendly passport photos. However, things have changed. Costco no longer offers in-store passport photo services. The closure of all Costco photo centers means you can’t walk into your local warehouse and have your picture taken for your passport.
Costco’s Current Passport Photo Printing Solution: Shutterfly
While you can’t get your passport photo taken at Costco, you can still leverage their partnership with Shutterfly to print passport photos affordably. This workaround involves taking your photo elsewhere and then using Shutterfly’s online platform to print it.
Here’s how you can print your passport photos through Shutterfly, potentially for pickup at Costco. However, please note in-store pick-up at Costco is not possible, delivery to your address is the only option.
- Capture Your Passport Photo: You’ll need a compliant 2×2 inch passport photo. You can take this yourself at home or use a service like PhotoAiD® to ensure it meets all official requirements. PhotoAiD® is particularly useful as it provides a digital template and verifies compliance.
- Create a 4×6 Template: To maximize savings and utilize standard photo printing sizes, arrange your 2×2 passport photos onto a 4×6 inch template. PhotoAiD® can generate this template for you, saving you the hassle of manual formatting.
- Upload to Shutterfly: Visit Shutterfly.com and upload your 4×6 template (JPEG file). You’ll need to create a Shutterfly account if you don’t already have one.
- Print as a 4×6 Photo: Order prints of your 4×6 template as regular 4×6 photos. Remember, in-store Costco pickup isn’t available; you’ll need to choose delivery to your home or another address.
Costco Passport Photo Printing Price via Shutterfly
Printing a 4×6 photo at Shutterfly is budget-friendly, costing around 20 cents per print. However, keep in mind the shipping costs from Shutterfly.
Here’s a breakdown of Shutterfly’s shipping options:
- Economy Shipping: ~$2.49 (7–9 business days)
- Standard Shipping: ~$4.99
- Expedited Shipping: ~$11.99
- Rush Shipping: ~$19.99
These costs are in addition to any service you use to take your passport photo, such as PhotoAiD®, which charges $13.95 for a template. Even with the cheapest shipping, the total cost for two passport photos printed this way can approach $17.00, and delivery might take over a week.
Costco Passport Photo Alternatives: Comparing Options
Let’s see how printing passport photos via Shutterfly and Costco compares to other popular options like Walmart and dedicated digital services like PhotoAiD®:
| Feature | Costco (via Shutterfly) | Walmart | PhotoAiD® |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photo Taken In-Store | No | Yes | No (Digital – Take at Home) |
| Appointment Required | No | No | No |
| Speed & Convenience | Slower (Delivery) | Faster (In-store) | Fastest (Digital Delivery) |
| Digital Photo Option | No | No | Yes |
| Home Delivery | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Acceptance Guarantee | No | No | Yes + Money-Back Guarantee |
| Starting Price | ~$17.00 (with shipping) | ~$7.44 | ~$13.95 (Digital) |
As you can see, while Costco (through Shutterfly printing) offers a printing solution, it’s not the most direct or fastest way to get passport photos. Walmart still provides in-store passport photo services, offering more immediate results. Services like PhotoAiD® excel in convenience, digital delivery, and acceptance guarantees.
Digital Passport Photos and Costco
If you need a digital passport photo for online applications, Costco (via Shutterfly) does not offer this service. You will only receive printed photos. For digital passport photos, you’ll need to use a dedicated online service like PhotoAiD® or visit a photography studio that provides digital copies.
Conclusion: Getting Your Passport Photos Beyond Costco
While the answer to “Does Costco take passport photos?” is now no for in-store services, you can still utilize Costco’s partner Shutterfly to print photos you obtain elsewhere. However, for speed, convenience, digital options, and guaranteed compliance, exploring alternatives like Walmart or PhotoAiD® might be more beneficial for your passport photo needs in 2024.
Sources:
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports.html
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/photos.html
