On their website, Walgreens at least claims their photo service 'includes a FREE optional digital copy sent to your email ... in most of our 7,750 locations'

So maybe you were just unlucky to be in one of their branches that doesn't do email. Or the staff isn't yet aware of this option.

I tried to find information about CVS too, but unfortunately the relevant website is not available outside the US.

Answer from Berend on Stack Exchange
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/walgreensstores › never received digital copy of passport photo
r/WalgreensStores on Reddit: Never received digital copy of passport photo
February 2, 2025 -

Got my passport photo taken on Saturday and never received a digital copy to my email. Can I still request that or do I need to have the photo taken again?? TIA

Top answer
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so at my store, this is what we do: - have them check the spam folder just in case - we make them bring in the original photos - receipt is helpful, but we can deal without it - hope your SD card still has their picture. if it does, do a new order with it and have them use a different email. if it doesn't, take a new picture, still use a different email address. - do a refund on the first order (take the original photos) - sell the second order and give them those physical pictures (the paying, I believe, is what triggers sending the digital photo) - tell them if that doesn't work, come back in 24 hours - bring back the photos (just so we know they have them) - at that point, we just do a new order and add USB. we do not give new photos, they keep the ones the brought, but we give the USB then cancel the order in the system. it can be a huge pain in the ass. if theyre especially irate, I will add rewards to their account between $5 and $10 depending. if there is a better way of doing this, someone let me know
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Although ang_hell_ic already gave you really strong advice on how to remedy this situation, there is something to add to it. Was your photo edited by them in any way? For example, did they erase the background (as we need to do for Indian passport photos at my location, for example.) If ANY alteration is made to the photo at the computer used for printing the photos, the only way to receive the digital copy is for us to click on the order a that computer, go into the screen that shows us each individual part of the order, manually check each box, and then manually release it from that screen. If they make any alterations, save them, and then go back to the main order screen to just click the whole order and then release it from there, you will not receive the digital copy. If any of this is the case, and you receive pushback from them, policy and instructions specifically explaining this exact issue are right there in the photo reference section for us to review policies and product guidance.
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Walgreens
custhelp2.walgreens.com › articles › en_US › Information › Passport-FAQs
Photo Passport FAQs
Yes, the link to access your digital ... at the store? No, in order to receive a digital copy of a passport photo, you must make the selection at the time the passport is ordered at the local store....
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Walgreens Photo
photo.walgreens.com › home › prints
Passport and Visa Photos | Walgreens Photo
Yes, in addition to the two 2x2 photo passport prints, you will be given the option to receive a digital copy via email of your passport photo at no extra charge.
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Avvo
avvo.com › legal advice › lawsuits and disputes › legal questions
Can I sue Walgreens for giving me a passport that the passport agency declined? - Legal Answers
The state dept website is clear that there can be no digital alterations and photo should be taken with a white background. The Passport Agent at my City Hall takes the pictures so there are no issues. Because of unforseeability issues, Walgreens is not responsible for any of your losses.
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Walgreens
walgreens.com › topic › information › passport-policy.jsp
Passport Photos Policy | Walgreens
To help customers comply with United States Department of State specifications for passport photographs, digital passport photographs taken at Walgreens and processed in-store are scanned using pattern/pixel recognition software (the "Software"). The Software performs its analysis in local memory on the in-store computer kiosk. It aligns the photograph and determines whether it meets the federal government’s requirements for passport photographs (neutral expression, eyes open, etc.). The results of the face analysis do not leave the kiosk, are not shared with any other party besides Walgreens Boots Alliance and its subsidiaries and affiliates, including but not limited to Walgreen Co.
Find elsewhere
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/walgreensstores › passport photo: digital copy is not as clean as the printed version
r/WalgreensStores on Reddit: Passport Photo: Digital copy is not as clean as the printed version
December 29, 2024 -

We want to renew our passports online, so we went to Walgreens to get the pictures taken and get a digital copy.

The process was great, we took the photos, received the two printed pictures (although we didn't need these).

But then when we downloaded the digital photos we were surprised, the digital photos were nowhere near the quality of the "cleaned up" printed photos. Asked the store people, and they explained that's how the system works and they can't manually pick the "cleaned up" photos to email.

I'm really surprised this is how it works, why doesn't Walgreens just send the "cleaned up" versions of the photos in email? Seems like it'll remove a lot of misunderstanding and confusion.

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ePassportPhoto
epassportphoto.com › walgreens-passport-photo
Does Walgreens Do Passport Photos? (Cost, App, Times)
The website can then prepare a 4x6” template (containing 2 compliant photos) that customers can print at Walgreens (or with any other commercial printing service) that is guaranteed to be accepted by US passport agents. No, it does not. Use epassportphoto.com to snap your passport photos from anywhere and have the physical prints delivered to your home or office. Or, use epassportphoto.com to instantly get 100% compliant digital US passport pictures for online passport renewals—with no delivery necessary!
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/walgreensstores › cannot access my passport photo
r/WalgreensStores on Reddit: cannot access my passport photo
February 8, 2025 -

Has anyone ever encountered this? I went to take my passport photo and asked them to email me a digital copy. They said their email didn't work, which was fine since they handed me a paper with a QR code, so I could still access them online. I followed the QR code but it just redirects me to the Walgreens app. The printed photos they gave me arent big enough and I cant access my digital photos. What do I do??

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Pixelied
pixelied.com › home › passport photos › walgreens
Get Walgreens Passport Photo Online [Fast & Compliant]
If you wish to print photos at Walgreens, the clerks at Walgreens can get your passport picture printed. You can also get your image taken by the staff, ask for digital photos, and get those printed from a retail store nearby. ... Walgreens passport pictures do not take more than an hour to get printed.
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Walgreens Photo
photo.walgreens.com › store › missinginfo
Error | Walgreens Photo
Please confirm your email address on your Walgreens account page.Your email address may not be an active account.
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Travel + Leisure
travelandleisure.com › travel-tips › walgreens-passport-photo
How to Get Your Passport Photos Taken at Walgreens
June 6, 2022 - While you cannot order a passport online through Walgreens, there is an option to virtually upload your photo yourself instead of having it taken in-store. Vital Docs has a Passport Photo Creator app that allows you to take your own photo that you can then send to Walgreens and pick up within one hour.
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Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 3922207
I cannot download pictures to Walgreens f… - Apple Community
August 5, 2012 - The problems with Walgreens is that my own Frontier internet connection is very slow and will allow only minimal downloads. When I used a Verizon Hot Spot to download pictures they downloaded without any problem. So I am working iwth Frontier to resolve my slow internet speed. The problem with pictures be syncronized to a gallery was resolved by using the Help column and the pictures were easily deleted by following their instructions. ... Since you did not change anything and Wallgreens did change something and since their change you are having problems I'm betting 20 to 1 that they caused the problem and it is up to them to resolve it
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JustAnswer
justanswer.com › software › sgrew-attach-walgreens-photo-passport-application.html
How do I transfer digitized photo from Walgreen's system to my application? I am online at www.passport.service.gov.uk
To attach your Walgreens photo to the UK passport application on a Windows PC, please follow these steps: On the "Get a photo with a code" screen on the gov.uk application, select the option that mentions something like “code with your photo.” · Input the unique code provided by Walgreens after you downloaded your JPEG. The system will automatically retrieve and attach your image using that code. ... Carefully scroll through the “Digital photos” section on the gov.uk site – it should be just before the part that allows you to upload a photo taken on your device.
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PhotoAiD
photoaid.com › walgreens-passport-photo
Does Walgreens Do Passport Photos [Cost, Digital Copy & More]
May 22, 2025 - No, you don’t need to book any prior passport photo appointments at Walgreens. You can walk into a preferred Walgreens pharmacy during operating hours (typically 9 am–9 pm) and ask the staff for assistance. Getting your new passport picture taken and printed should take around 15 minutes—provided there are no lines. Yes, you can ask for a Walgreens digital passport photo in addition to printed copies.
Rating: 4.7 ​ - ​ 287 votes
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Newsweek
newsweek.com › on the internet
Woman Pays $18 for Passport Photos—No One Prepared for How They Turn Out - Newsweek
November 5, 2025 - She also received a refund for the original photos. Many people have had passport photo mishaps, but none quite like this one. Kate couldn’t resist sharing it on social media (@kate.bitters) and it went viral with over 3.6 million views, 108,000 likes and more than 3,200 comments on Threads at the time of writing. The caption alongside the photo reads: "I paid $18 for passport photos at Walgreens, and this is the digital picture they sent me."
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Passport Photo Software
passport-photo-software.com › passport photo maker › tutorial
How to Get an Electronic Copy of a Passport Photo | Detailed Guide from Passport Photo Maker
Does CVS have digital copy of passport photo? Yes, CVS or Walmart have digital copies or your photos, however, they are not allowed to hand them over to you - it's against their policy.