US visa and DV lottery photo requirements
US visa applications (DS-160) and the Diversity Visa lottery need a square digital photo. The size and head rules are the same as a US passport, with extra file rules for the upload.
Checked against travel.state.gov: Photo composition template on 30 October 2026.
The rules at a glance
- Digital size
- Square, 600 × 600 to 1200 × 1200 pixels
- Printed size
- 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm)
- Head height
- 1 to 1⅜ inches (25–35 mm), about 50–69% of the image height
- Eye height
- 1⅛ to 1⅜ inches (28–35 mm) from the bottom
- Background
- Plain white or off-white
- Glasses
- Not allowed since 1 November 2016
- Expression
- Neutral, both eyes open, facing the camera
- Editing
- Not allowed: no digital changes to your appearance
What gets photos rejected
Square image only
Width and height must be equal. A 600 × 800 photo will be rejected by the upload.
No glasses
Glasses have not been allowed in US visa photos since November 2016.
Centred, full head visible
Show your whole head from the top of your hair to the bottom of your chin, centred in the frame.
Don't edit the photo
The State Department does not allow digital changes to your appearance, including removing red-eye with an editing tool.
No scans of old photos
Copied or digitally scanned photos are not accepted.
How to take it at home
Pick the right wall
Stand about half a metre in front of a plain white or off-white wall with nothing on it. Step away from the wall so your shadow does not fall on it.
Face the light
Stand facing a window or soft lamp so both sides of your face are evenly lit. Avoid overhead light, which casts shadows under the eyes.
Get someone to take it
Ask someone to hold the phone at your eye level, about 1–1.5 m away. A selfie at arm's length makes the nose look bigger.
Check your face
Remove glasses (they are not allowed), keep hair away from your eyes and look straight at the camera with a neutral face and both eyes open.
Size and check it
Use our photo maker to crop it to a 600 × 600 pixel square and check every rule. We never edit your face or background.
Questions
What size is a DV lottery photo in pixels?
A square image between 600 × 600 and 1200 × 1200 pixels. Our tool exports exactly 600 × 600.
Can I use my passport photo for a US visa?
Yes, if it is recent and meets the same rules. You still need it as a square digital file for the online form.
Can I take my visa photo at home?
Yes. The State Department says you can use a digital camera, as long as the photo meets every requirement.
Official source: travel.state.gov: Photo composition template (U.S. Department of State). Rules can change, so check the official page before you apply.