The US visa photo spec 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 |
The same digital rules apply to the Diversity Visa lottery. Source: travel.state.gov digital image requirements.
How to make a DS-160 photo with the tool above
- Take a photo against a plain white or off-white wall, facing a window or lamp so there's no shadow behind you. Stand back so your head and shoulders fit with space around them.
- Tap Choose image above and pick the photo. iPhone HEIC photos work too.
- The Form presets tab opens with US Visa / DV Lottery photo selected. Tap Apply preset: the photo is cropped square to 600×600 pixels, saved as JPEG and compressed to 240 KB or less.
- Check the result: is your head centred, between half and two-thirds of the height, with no shadow behind it? If not, retake or crop the original closer, then apply the preset again.
- Tap Download result and upload that file to the DS-160.
Getting the head size right
The head-height rule is where most technically correct photos fail. Measure from the top of the hair to the bottom of the chin; it must be 50–69% of the image height. 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 |
The tool crops your photo to the centre square. If your head comes out too small, the original was taken from too far away: crop it closer to your head and shoulders first (any phone's crop tool works), then apply the preset.
Mistakes that get DS-160 photos rejected
- Not square. Phone photos are rectangular; the upload expects 1:1. The preset crops it for you.
- Over 240 KB. A phone photo is usually 2–5 MB, ten to twenty times the limit. Resizing alone doesn't always get under 240 KB; the preset also compresses.
- Too small, in either sense. Under 600×600 pixels fails the dimension check, and some US systems reject files under 54 KB as too low in quality. Don't over-compress a 600×600 photo.
- Shadows or tinted background. A shadow behind your head turns "white" into grey. Face the light source and stand a little away from the wall.
- Glasses. Not allowed in US visa photos since 2016, except for documented medical reasons.
- Wrong format. PNG and HEIC aren't accepted, and renaming a file to .jpg doesn't change its format. The tool saves a real JPEG.
- An edited photo. Filters, beauty modes and background-removal apps change your appearance; the photo must show you as you look now.
DS-160, DV lottery and printed photos
The DS-160 and the DV lottery use the same digital spec, so one correctly made file works for both, but the DV lottery also requires the photo to have been taken within the last six months. A printed photo for an interview or a paper application is a different thing: 2×2 inches (51×51 mm). To print one, use the resize in cm or inches tool at 2×2 in and 300 DPI.
Is my photo uploaded?
No. Cropping, resizing and compression happen in your browser, on your phone or computer. You can check it in a minute with your browser's network tab, as our privacy page shows. Other countries' rules: see photo requirements by document.
Official sources
We read these pages directly. Rules change, so check the current version before you submit.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a US visa photo in pixels?
Square, at least 600×600 and at most 1200×1200 pixels. 600×600 is the safe choice and keeps the file well under 240 KB.
What is the maximum file size for a DS-160 photo?
240 KB. Some US systems also reject files under 54 KB, so aim for a file between those two. The preset compresses to 240 KB or less at the best quality that fits.
Does 240 KB mean 240,000 or 245,760 bytes?
PixKB aims for the stricter one, at most 240,000 bytes, so the file passes whichever way the system counts.
Can I take my US visa photo with a phone?
Yes, if it's sharp, evenly lit, against a plain white or off-white background, and you face the camera with a neutral expression. Then crop and compress it with the preset.
Are glasses allowed?
No. Glasses haven't been allowed in US visa photos since 2016, except in rare cases with a medical reason.
Can the photo be in PNG or HEIC?
No, it must be a JPEG. The tool accepts PNG and iPhone HEIC photos and saves a real JPEG.
How big should my head be in the photo?
50–69% of the image height, from the top of the hair to the chin. In a 600×600 photo that's 300–414 pixels.
Can I use the same photo for the DS-160 and the DV lottery?
The technical spec is the same. The DV lottery also requires a photo taken within the last six months, so use a recent one.
My photo is 3 MB. Will it work?
Not as it is: that's more than ten times the 240 KB limit. Apply the US visa preset, which crops it square and compresses it under 240 KB.
Is a 2×2 inch photo the same as 600×600 pixels?
They describe the same square. 2×2 inches is the printed size; 600×600 pixels is the minimum digital size, which is 2×2 inches at 300 DPI.
Does the tool check my pose and background?
No. It applies the technical rules (shape, pixels, format, file size). Lighting, background, expression and head size depend on the photo you take.
Is my photo uploaded to PixKB?
No. It is processed in your browser on your device and saved straight back to it.