DV lottery photo maker
A DV lottery photo must be exactly 600 × 600 pixels, a JPEG of 240 kB or less, with the head filling 50 to 69% of the image height on a plain white or off-white background. A photo that breaks the rules can disqualify the entry, so frame it here first.
- Free, no watermark
- Photo stays on your device
- No retouching
- Rules checked 11 November 2026
DV lottery photo requirements
| Image size | 600 × 600 pixels |
|---|---|
| File format | JPEG (.jpg) |
| File size | 240 kB or less |
| Head size | 50% to 69% of the image height, from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head |
| Background | Plain white or off-white |
| Glasses | Do not wear eyeglasses |
| How recent | Taken within the last six months |
| Scanned prints | A 2 × 2 inch print scanned at 300 pixels per inch |
Checked against the official source on 11 November 2026. Source: U.S. Department of State: Diversity Visa instructions (Federal Register, 1 October 2024). Rules change without notice, so read the official page before you submit.
What the photo must show
- A full-face view, directly facing the camera, with a neutral expression and both eyes open.
- Everyday clothing. Uniforms are not allowed, except religious clothing worn daily.
- No hat or head covering that hides the hair or hairline, unless worn daily for a religious purpose. The full face must be visible with no shadows.
- No headphones or wireless hands-free devices. Hearing devices are allowed.
- No photos copied or scanned from a driver's licence or other official document, and no snapshots, magazine photos or full-length photos.
- A separate photo for your spouse and for each child included in the entry.
- For a baby: no other person in the picture and eyes open. The instructions suggest laying the baby on a white sheet or covering a car seat with one.
Two rules that catch people out
A new photo every year. The instructions warn that submitting the same photograph you used for a previous year's entry may make you ineligible. Take a new photo for each entry, even if the old one still looks like you.
No manipulation. A photograph that has been manipulated in any way may also make you ineligible. This tool crops and resizes only. It does not change the background, brighten the face or smooth the skin, and you should not do so in another app either.
What 50 to 69% means in pixels
In a 600-pixel image, the head must measure between 300 and 414 pixels from chin to the top of the head. The Federal Register text gives the same rule as “between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches” on a 2 × 2 inch print, and prints 22 mm beside 1 inch, although an inch is 25.4 mm. For a digital entry the percentage is what counts, and that is what the tool measures.
Mistakes that can cost an entry
- Reusing last year's photo.
- Uploading a file that is not 600 × 600 pixels, or is over 240 kB.
- Editing the photo: background replacement, filters, or retouching.
- Wearing glasses.
- Forgetting photos for a spouse or child listed on the entry.
✓ Good: plain background, even light, neutral face
✕ Shadow on the wall and face
✕ Busy background
✕ Glare on glasses
✕ Selfie taken too close
✕ Too dark, orange light
More on this in why ID photos get rejected. The examples use an off-white wall. The background row in the table above gives the exact colour this document asks for.
How to use this tool
- Ask someone to take the photo from about 1.5 m, at eye level, in even daylight in front of a plain wall.
- Add the photo above. The tool finds your face and frames it to the size on this page.
- Check the green lines: one on the top of your head, one on your chin. Drag or zoom to adjust.
- Read the automatic checks, then download. Nothing in the photo is retouched, only cropped and resized.
Questions about the DV lottery photo
What size is the DV lottery photo?
The DV lottery photo must be exactly 600 × 600 pixels, in JPEG format, with a file size of 240 kB or less.
Can I use the same photo as last year for the DV lottery?
No. The official instructions say that submitting the same photograph you submitted with a prior year's entry may make you ineligible.
Can I take the DV lottery photo with my phone?
Yes. The instructions allow a new digital photograph or a scan of a recent print. Ask someone else to take it against a plain white or off-white wall, then crop it to 600 × 600 pixels.
Can I wear glasses in the DV lottery photo?
No. The instructions say not to wear eyeglasses.
Guides for this photo
- Why passport and ID photos get rejectedThe reasons authorities list themselves, and how to avoid each
- How to take a passport photo at homeDistance, light, background and pose, step by step
- Are edited or AI passport photos allowed?What ten authorities say about retouching, filters and AI
- Can I take my own passport photo?Where a home photo is accepted, and where it is not