US visa photo (DS-160 and DV lottery)
A digital-only spec: square JPEG, 600–1200 pixels, no more than 240 KB.
The visa form does not take a print — it takes a file, and the file has to pass an automatic check before the form will even accept it. The tool opens with that preset: it outputs a 1200 × 1200 pixel JPEG, places the head at 60 % of the image height with the eyes at 62 % from the bottom, and encodes the file to stay under 240 KB.
| Head height (chin to crown) | 50–69 % of image height |
|---|---|
| Eye height | 56–69 % from the bottom edge |
| Background | white / off-white |
| Digital upload | 600–1200 × 600–1200 px, square · JPEG · ≤ 240 KB |
| Glasses | Not allowed |
| Taken within | The last 6 months |
| Official source | U.S. Department of State — Photo Composition Template (head 50–69 %, eyes 56–69 %); file rules from the Digital Image Requirements page ↗Checked against the official page on 2026-09-20 |
- 100% freeNo account, no paid download, no watermark.
- Nothing is uploadedYour photo is processed on your device and never reaches a server.
- Official rules, citedEvery size and head-height figure links to the government page it comes from.
- Cheap to printDownload a 4×6 sheet and print it at any photo kiosk instead of paying counter prices for two prints.
The digital image requirements
The State Department's rules for the online nonimmigrant visa application (DS-160) and the Diversity Visa entry are pixel rules, not inch rules. The image must be square, at least 600 × 600 and at most 1200 × 1200 pixels, in JPEG format, in colour (24 bits per pixel, sRGB), no larger than 240 kilobytes, and compressed no harder than 20:1. The head — from the top of the hair to the bottom of the chin — must take up between 50 % and 69 % of the image height, and the eyes must sit between 56 % and 69 % of the height measured from the bottom edge. The background is plain white or off-white, the expression neutral, glasses removed, taken within the last six months.
If you scan an existing 2 × 2 print, it must be scanned at 300 pixels per inch, which gives the same 600 × 600 result. A phone photo is a better source: it has far more resolution than the 1200-pixel maximum, so nothing is being stretched.
Why uploads get rejected
Almost every rejection at the upload step is one of three things. The file is too large: a phone JPEG is several megabytes, and the form wants under 240 KB — this tool encodes to that limit and shows the resulting size in the checklist. The image is not square: the tool always outputs a square. Or the head is the wrong size in the frame: a full-body shot or a tight selfie both fail the 50–69 % rule. The tool scales the picture so the head is 60 % of the height and marks where it thinks the eyes are; the eye line is an estimate at 47 % of the head height, which matches the 56–69 % window when the head is placed correctly.
One thing the checker cannot see: the State Department photo tool on the application page has its own automatic crop step. Upload the file this tool produces and accept the crop it proposes — it will already be correct.
DV lottery specifics
The Diversity Visa entry uses the same digital requirements, and each family member on the entry needs their own photo meeting them. Photos are rejected if they were used in a previous year's entry — reuse is a disqualification, so take a new picture for each lottery year. The entry form checks the pixel size and file size the moment you upload; a file from this tool passes that check as delivered.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the download 1200 × 1200 and not 600 × 600?
Both are allowed. 1200 pixels keeps more detail and the form accepts it; the tool only drops to 600 if that is the only way to get under 240 KB, which is rare.
The checklist says the eye height is 63 %. Is that right?
Yes: the eyes must be between 56 % and 69 % from the bottom edge, and 63 % is the middle of that range. If your face proportions are unusual, drag the crown and chin lines to match and the eye line moves with them.
Can I use this photo for the printed passport application too?
The same crop printed at 2 × 2 inches is a valid passport photo. Switch the preset to US passport and download again to get the 300 dpi print file and the 4×6 sheet.
Does the form accept PNG?
No. DS-160 and the DV entry require JPEG. The tool always outputs JPEG for this preset.