Official requirements
These are the rules as the issuing office publishes them. The tool above applies them for you.
| Printed size | 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm) |
|---|---|
| Digital size | 600 × 600 to 1200 × 1200 pixels |
| File size | up to 240 KB |
| Background | Plain white or off-white |
| Head, chin to top | 50–69% of the photo height (25–35 mm) |
| Eyes | 56–69% of the height, from the bottom |
| Other rules |
|
| Source | US Department of State, digital image requirements. Checked 25 September 2026. |
| Digital size | 600 × 600 pixels |
|---|---|
| File size | up to 240 KB |
| Background | Plain white or off-white |
| Head, chin to top | 50–69% of the photo height |
| Other rules |
|
| Source | US Department of State, DV-2026 instructions. Checked 25 September 2026. |
How to use US Visa Photo
- Pick "US visa" for the DS-160 or DS-260, or "DV lottery" for the green card lottery entry.
- Add a recent colour photo taken in front of a plain white or off-white wall, with your glasses off.
- Line up the top of your head and your chin with the dashed lines, and keep your eyes inside the green band.
- Download the 600 × 600 JPEG and upload it to the form. The file stays under 240 KB.
Why use US Visa Photo
The State Department's numbers
Square, 600 × 600 pixels, JPEG, 240 KB or less; head 50–69% and eyes 56–69% of the height from the bottom.
Eye band and head lines
The photo composition template is drawn over your photo, so you can see when your head and eyes are in range.
Right for the DV lottery
The green card lottery entry needs exactly 600 × 600 pixels, not just any square, and that is the size the tool makes.
An unedited photo
The State Department rejects photos changed by software or filters, so the tool only crops and resizes.
About this tool
The online DS-160 (and the DS-260 for immigrant visas) takes a digital photo that is square, between 600 × 600 and 1,200 × 1,200 pixels, in JPEG format and no larger than 240 KB. Your head, from the chin to the top of the hair, must fill 50–69% of the height, and your eyes must sit 56–69% of the way up from the bottom. The photo must be in colour, taken in the last 6 months, with a neutral expression, both eyes open and no glasses.
The Diversity Visa (green card lottery) entry is stricter about size: exactly 600 × 600 pixels. Reusing the photo from an earlier year's entry makes the entry ineligible, so take a new one each year. When the DS-160 photo check rejects a picture, the usual causes are shadows on the background, a head that is too small or tilted, or glasses.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a US visa photo?
For the DS-160, a square JPEG from 600 × 600 to 1,200 × 1,200 pixels and 240 KB or less. Printed visa photos are 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm). This tool makes 600 × 600 pixels, which suits both the DS-160 and the DV lottery.
Can I wear glasses in a US visa photo?
No. Glasses are not allowed in new visa photos, except in rare medical cases.
Why was my DV lottery photo rejected?
The most common reasons are the wrong size (it must be exactly 600 × 600 pixels), a file over 240 KB, glasses, shadows, or a photo reused from an earlier entry.
Can I use the same photo for my US passport?
The framing rules are the same, but a passport by mail needs a printed 2 × 2 inch photo. Use the US passport photo page to make a print sheet.
How do I take a US visa photo at home?
Stand about a metre in front of a plain white or off-white wall, facing a window for even light, and have someone take the photo at eye level with your whole head and top of the shoulders in view. Then crop it here to 600 × 600 pixels.
Is this US visa photo tool free online?
Yes. It is a free online US visa photo cropping tool and editor, with no app and no upload: it crops and resizes your photo to the official size and specifications. It is not an official checker, so compare the result with the rules and requirements on the official website before you submit it.