DV lottery photo rules at a glance
| Rule | US visa (DS-160) and DV lottery |
|---|---|
| Shape | Square (1:1) |
| Pixels | At least 600×600, at most 1200×1200 |
| File size | 240 KB or less (some US systems also reject files under 54 KB) |
| Format | JPEG (.jpg), sRGB colour |
| Background | Plain white or off-white, evenly lit |
| Head height | 50–69% of the image height, chin to top of hair |
| Face | Neutral expression, both eyes open, facing the camera, no glasses |
| Colour | Colour photo, not black and white |
On top of these, the DV photo must be recent: taken within the last six months. These are the same digital rules as the US visa (DS-160) photo. Source: travel.state.gov.
How to make your DV photo with the tool above
- Take a new photo (within six months of entering) against a plain white or off-white wall, facing the light, head and shoulders in frame.
- Tap Choose image and pick the photo.
- US Visa / DV Lottery photo is already selected on the Form presets tab. Tap Apply preset: square crop, 600×600 pixels, JPEG, 240 KB or less.
- Check that your head is centred and fills half to two-thirds of the height, then tap Download result.
- Make a separate photo for each person on the entry who needs one, each meeting the same rules.
Head size in pixels
| Image size | Head height allowed (50–69%) |
|---|---|
| 600×600 | 300–414 px |
| 800×800 | 400–552 px |
| 1000×1000 | 500–690 px |
| 1200×1200 | 600–828 px |
Why DV photos fail
- Not square, or over 240 KB: a phone photo is neither. The preset fixes both.
- An old photo: it must be from the last six months. Reusing a photo from an earlier entry or application is a common mistake.
- Head too small or too large: stand back for the photo, then crop so your head fills 50–69% of the height.
- Background not plain white: shadows, patterns or a coloured wall fail. Face the light and stand away from the wall.
- Glasses, filters or edits: no glasses, no beauty filters, no background replacement.
- Wrong format: PNG and HEIC aren't accepted. The tool saves a real JPEG.
Private by design
Your photo is cropped and compressed in your browser and never uploaded to PixKB. That matters for an application photo of you and your family. See how to check it yourself.
Frequently asked questions
What size photo does the DV lottery require?
A square colour JPEG, at least 600×600 and at most 1200×1200 pixels, 240 KB or less, on a plain white or off-white background, taken within the last six months.
Why was my DV photo rejected?
Usually because it isn't square, is over 240 KB, the head is too small or large (it must be 50–69% of the height), or the background isn't plain white.
Is the DV lottery photo the same as a US visa photo?
The digital spec is the same. The DV lottery adds that the photo must be taken within the last six months.
Can I use last year's DV photo?
No. The photo must be recent (within six months), so take a new one for each entry period.
Can I take the DV photo with my phone?
Yes, if it's sharp and evenly lit against a plain white or off-white background, facing the camera. Then apply the preset to make it square, 600×600 and under 240 KB.
Are glasses allowed in the DV photo?
No, glasses aren't allowed, except for rare documented medical reasons.
How big should my head be?
50–69% of the image height. In a 600×600 photo that's 300–414 pixels from chin to top of hair.
Does 240 KB mean 240,000 bytes?
PixKB keeps the file at or under 240,000 bytes, which passes whichever way the form counts a kilobyte.
Do my spouse and children need photos too?
Each person included on the entry needs their own photo meeting the same rules. Check the current year's DV instructions for who must be included.
Is my photo uploaded to PixKB?
No. Everything happens in your browser on your device.