US visa photo maker (DS-160)
The DS-160 and DS-260 forms accept only a square JPEG between 600 and 1200 pixels that is no larger than 240 kilobytes. Frame your photo here and download a file inside all three limits.
- Free, no watermark
- Photo stays on your device
- No retouching
- Rules checked 11 November 2026
US visa digital photo requirements
| Shape | Square: the height must equal the width |
|---|---|
| Minimum size | 600 × 600 pixels |
| Maximum size | 1200 × 1200 pixels |
| File format | JPEG |
| File size | 240 kilobytes or less |
| Colour | 24-bit colour, sRGB |
| Compression | Compression ratio of 20:1 or less |
| Scanned prints | Print at least 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm), scanned at 300 pixels per inch or more |
Checked against an official page that restates the rule on 11 November 2026. Source: U.S. Embassy in Belgium: Photo requirements (digital image specifications) · Department of State: Diversity Visa instructions, Federal Register. Rules change without notice, so read the official page before you submit.
How to compose the photo
- The embassy page we checked lists the file rules above. For composition, the State Department's Diversity Visa instructions state that entry photos must meet the same standards as U.S. visa photos, and they set the points below.
- Head between 50% and 69% of the image height, measured from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head.
- Plain white or off-white background.
- Full-face view, directly facing the camera, with a neutral expression and both eyes open.
- No eyeglasses.
- Taken within the last six months.
- Everyday clothing. No uniforms, and no hat or head covering unless worn daily for a religious purpose.
Why uploads fail at 240 KB
A modern phone photo is several megabytes, roughly twenty times the limit, so the DS-160 uploader refuses it. Shrinking the picture too far is the opposite mistake: below 600 pixels it is refused again. The file from this page is cropped square, sized between 600 and 1200 pixels, and compressed just enough to land under 240 KB, which also keeps the compression ratio modest.
You may still need a printed photo
Your consulate's instructions say whether you must also bring a printed photo to the interview. If you need one, the 2 × 2 inch print sheet uses the same square format.
Scanning an existing print
If you scan a printed photo instead of using a camera file, the print must be at least 2 × 2 inches and scanned at 300 pixels per inch or more. A scan at that resolution is 600 × 600 pixels, the minimum the form accepts.
Common DS-160 photo problems
- File larger than 240 KB. This is the most frequent upload error and has nothing to do with how the photo looks.
- Image not square, for example a phone photo in 3:4 or 9:16.
- Image smaller than 600 pixels after cropping a small original.
- Glasses left on.
- A grey, coloured or shadowed background instead of plain white or off-white.
✓ 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, which suits most documents; check the official page if you are unsure about the colour.
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 US visa photo (DS-160)
What size is the US visa photo in pixels?
A US visa photo must be between 600 × 600 and 1200 × 1200 pixels, and square. The file must be a JPEG of 240 KB or less.
How do I reduce my visa photo to under 240 KB?
Use the tool on this page: it crops the photo square and lowers the JPEG quality only as far as needed to get under 240 KB. If you only need to shrink an existing file, the resize to KB tool does that on its own.
Is the US visa photo the same as the US passport photo?
The printed size is the same, 2 × 2 inches. The visa application also needs a digital file with its own limits: 600 to 1200 pixels square and no more than 240 KB.
Can I wear glasses in a US visa photo?
No. The State Department's 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