US Visa Photo Requirements 2026: Size, Pixels, 240 KB
US visa photo requirements for the DS-160 and DV Lottery: 2 x 2 inch prints, 600-1200 px square JPEG under 240 KB, head size, and fixes for upload errors.
By Awais, Founder and editor-in-chiefPublished
A US visa photo must be 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm) when printed, or a square JPEG between 600 × 600 and 1200 × 1200 pixels, no larger than 240 KB, when uploaded to the DS-160 or the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery. Your head must measure 1 to 1⅜ inches (25–35 mm) from chin to the top of the head, which is 50–69% of the image height. The background must be plain white or off-white, the photo must be in colour and taken in the last six months, and glasses are not allowed.
These rules come from the US Department of State. The US visa photo maker crops your picture to the exact size and saves a 600 × 600 JPEG under 240 KB, in your browser, so the photo never leaves your device.
The requirements at a glance
| Requirement | Rule |
|---|---|
| Print size | 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm) |
| Digital size | Square, 600 × 600 to 1200 × 1200 pixels |
| File | JPEG, 240 KB or less |
| Colour | Colour, 24 bits per pixel, sRGB |
| Head height | 1 to 1⅜ inches (25–35 mm), chin to top of head; 50–69% of the image height |
| Background | Plain white or off-white, no shadows or patterns |
| Age of photo | Taken within the last 6 months |
| Glasses | Not allowed (except rare medical cases with a signed doctor’s statement) |
| Expression | Neutral, both eyes open, facing the camera directly |
| Head coverings | Only for religious or medical reasons, with the full face visible |
| Editing | No filters, retouching or digital changes to your appearance |
Digital photo for the DS-160 or DV Lottery
The online forms check your file automatically, and most rejections are technical. Make sure:
- It’s square. 600 × 600 is the safest size. Anything from 600 to 1200 pixels on each side is accepted, as long as width equals height.
- It’s a JPEG (.jpg or .jpeg). PNG, HEIC and WebP files are rejected. iPhone photos are HEIC by default; the HEIC to JPG converter fixes that.
- It’s 240 KB or smaller. A 600 × 600 JPEG at normal quality is usually 60–150 KB. A 1200 × 1200 photo straight from a phone can be well over the limit.
- It’s in colour. Black-and-white photos are refused.
If your photo is the right size but too large in kilobytes, run it through compress image to KB with a target of about 200 KB. Don’t compress so hard that the face looks blocky; the photo is still checked by a person.
Getting the head size right
This is the rule most home photos fail. On a 600 × 600 image:
| Measurement | Allowed range in pixels (600 px image) |
|---|---|
| Head height, chin to top of hair | 300–414 px (50–69%) |
| Eye height from the bottom of the photo | about 338–413 px (56–69%) |
On a 2 × 2 inch print, the eyes should sit between 1⅛ and 1⅜ inches (28–35 mm) from the bottom edge.
In practice: your head should fill a bit more than half the frame, with a little space above the hair and your shoulders visible at the bottom. Selfies taken at arm’s length usually make the head too big and distort the face. Ask someone to take the photo from about 4 feet (1.2 m) away, then crop. The visa photo maker shows guide lines for the top of the head and the chin.
Taking the photo at home
- Stand in front of a plain white or off-white wall, about half a metre away from it so your shadow doesn’t fall on it.
- Face a window or use soft, even light. Avoid overhead light that puts shadows under your eyes.
- Remove glasses, hats and headphones. Push hair away from your eyes.
- Look straight at the camera with a neutral expression and both eyes open. A natural, closed-mouth face is safest.
- Have someone else take it, with the phone at eye level, about 4 feet away. Don’t use portrait mode or beauty filters.
- Wear normal clothes. Uniforms aren’t allowed, except religious clothing worn daily. Avoid white tops against a white wall; a darker top gives a clear outline.
- Crop to size with the US visa photo maker, or crop manually with the crop tool to a 1:1 square.
Why US visa photos get rejected
- Glasses. Glasses have not been allowed in US visa photos since November 2016. Even clear lenses are a reason for rejection.
- Head too small or too large. The most common composition fault. Check the 50–69% range.
- Shadows on the face or background, or a background that isn’t white or off-white.
- Old photos. The photo must show you as you look now and be no older than six months. Reusing last year’s DV Lottery photo is a common reason for disqualification.
- Edited photos. Filters, smoothing, background replacement that leaves halos, or changes to your appearance.
- Wrong format or size. Not square, not a JPEG, or over 240 KB.
- Poor quality. Blurry, pixelated or overexposed images, or a photo of a printed photo.
If you replace the background with a background remover, check the edges carefully at full size. Fuzzy halos around hair are a common reason human reviewers reject a photo that passed the automatic check.
Printed photos for interviews and paper forms
Some applicants still need prints, for example for certain immigrant visa applications or when a consulate asks for one. A print must be 2 × 2 inches on photo-quality paper. The visa photo maker can also produce a 4 × 6 inch sheet with several photos; print it at 100% / actual size, not “fit to page”, then measure one photo with a ruler before cutting.
US visa vs US passport photos
Both use the same 2 × 2 inch size and the same head-size rule, and both ban glasses. The main practical difference is the upload: visa forms want a 600–1200 px square JPEG under 240 KB, while US passport applications are usually printed or handled through the passport agency’s own online system. For other countries’ sizes, see our passport photo size guide.
FAQ
What size is a US visa photo in pixels?
A square between 600 × 600 and 1200 × 1200 pixels. 600 × 600 is the most common choice because it’s easy to keep under 240 KB.
Can I smile in my US visa photo?
The State Department asks for a neutral facial expression with both eyes open. A relaxed, closed-mouth face is the safe choice; a broad smile can get the photo rejected.
Can I wear a hijab or turban in my visa photo?
Yes, if you wear it daily for religious reasons, as long as your full face from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead is visible and there are no shadows on it.
My DS-160 says “photo failed”. What should I do?
Read the error message. If it’s the size, compress the JPEG under 240 KB. If it’s the dimensions, crop to a square of at least 600 px. If it’s the composition, retake the photo with better lighting and the head filling 50–69% of the frame.
Sources
The consular officer makes the final decision on any photo. Rules were last checked on 28 October 2026.