Does Costco Take Passport Photos in 2024? Here Are Your Best Options
With over 92 million passports issued in the US annually, passport photos are an essential service. As Costco members can get discounts on flights and cruises through Costco Travel, it would be convenient to get passport photos taken there too. But in February 2021, Costco discontinued all in-store photo services including passport photos.
This leaves many wondering – where can you get passport photos taken in 2024? This definitive guide examines why Costco stopped providing photos services, followed by a detailed comparison of your best alternatives for convenient and affordable passport photos.
The End of An Era: Costco Shuts Down All Photo Centers
Costco‘s decision to close its photo centers marked the end of an era. At their peak, Costco operated over 700 photo labs worldwide. But as demand declined with digital cameras and smartphones, operating these centers became increasingly unprofitable.
When the final locations were shuttered in February 2021, over 9,000 Costco employees lost their jobs. The closures impacted longtime Costco members who relied on the photo centers for prints and specialty items.
Along with passport photos, Costco ended services like:
- Standard photo printing
- Photo enlargements
- Photo books
- Canvas prints
- Calendars
- Photo cards
- Photo restoration
- Video transfer
- Ink refills
While you can still order prints online via Costco‘s Photo Center website, the loss of in-store photo services was the end of an era spanning over 2 decades.
Why You Can‘t Get Passport Photos at Costco Anymore
Costco cited the rise of digital photography and declining interest in prints as primary factors for closing their photo centers.
But passport photos saw an even steeper drop-off for several reasons:
Smartphone Cameras: With a decent camera always in-pocket, most people no longer regularly print standard photos or need in-store photo services.
Less International Travel: During the pandemic, the number of US passport applications dropped dramatically – from 18 million in 2019 to just 9 million in 2021. This contributed to drastically reduced demand.
Increased Competition: Pharmacies, shipping stores, and big box retailers now offer self-service kiosks for quick, DIY passport photos.
While convenient, Costco couldn‘t compete with the convenience and lower prices of self-service kiosks.
Where To Get Passport Photos Taken In 2024
Though Costco no longer provides passport photos, there are still many convenient places to get them taken.
Popular options include:
Pharmacies: CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid
Big Box Retailers: Walmart, Target
Shipping/Business Service Stores: The UPS Store, FedEx
Post Offices
Many locations now have self-service photo kiosks available for quick, DIY passport photos. Below is a comparison of standard passport photo prices at major retailers:
| Store | Standard Price |
|---|---|
| CVS | $14.99 |
| Walgreens | $14.99 |
| Walmart | $12.00 |
| Target | $11.99 |
| The UPS Store | $11.99 |
| FedEx | $14.99 |
As you can see, big box retailers like Walmart and Target tend to offer the lowest passport photo prices. But pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens match their prices through frequent sales and coupons.
Pro Tip: Check photo kiosk prices online for each location near you to find the best deal.
Self-Service Kiosks – The Easier Way to Get Photos
Increasingly, self-service photo kiosks are the easiest way to get passport photos taken. These DIY stations walk you through the process for perfect passport images in minutes.
Benefits of self-service kiosks:
- Quick and easy – No waiting or dealing with photo lab staff
- Guaranteed acceptance – Passport photo requirements are programmed in
- Low prices – Cut out the middleman photo lab for savings
- Retakes available – You can retake immediately if unhappy with results
For speed and convenience, look for a location with a self-service passport photo kiosk. Walmart, Target, and drug stores like CVS have kiosks at many locations.
Get Your Passport Photos Anywhere – DIY
Thanks to smartphone cameras and photo printing apps, you can now take and print passport photos entirely DIY from home.
Apps like Shutterfly, CVS Passport Photo, and Walgreens Passport allow you to take and print compliant passport shots from your phone for under $5.
With some apps you can have the photos shipped or pick them up in store. This is the most flexible and budget-friendly option.
Conclusion: Find Affordable, Convenient Passport Photos
While Costco no longer offers passport photo services, you still have many convenient and affordable options – from self-service kiosks to DIY smartphone apps.
Your best bet is self-service kiosks at big box and drug stores for quick, inexpensive photos. Or use a photo app to take passport pictures anytime, anywhere for ultimate flexibility.
Wherever you choose to get your passport photos taken, be sure to review the photo requirements carefully. Following passport agency rules ensures your application gets processed without delays.
