US Visa & DV Lottery Photo Requirements 2026: 600×600px Size & How to Make One

US visa, Green Card, and DV (Diversity Visa) Lottery applications all use the same strict US Department of State photo standard. The DV Lottery alone receives millions of entries every year, and a non-compliant photo is the single most common reason an entry is disqualified. Here are the complete requirements for 2026 and how to make a compliant photo at home for free.

Official US Visa & DV Lottery Photo Specifications

• Size: 2×2 inches (51×51 mm) — a perfect square
• Digital resolution: exactly 600×600 to 1200×1200 pixels (square, 1:1)
• Background: Plain white or off-white, evenly lit
• Head size: 1 to 1⅜ inches (25–35 mm) from chin to crown — the head must fill 50–69% of the photo height
• Expression: Neutral with both eyes open (a natural smile is acceptable for visas)
• Colour: Colour photo, 24-bit colour depth
• Recency: Taken within the last 6 months
• No glasses: Glasses are not allowed in US visa or DV photos
• No head coverings except for religious reasons (face fully visible)

DV Lottery Photo: the 600×600 Pixel Rule

• The Electronic Diversity Visa (E-DV) entry system enforces the digital specs exactly:
• Format: JPG (.jpg)
• Dimensions: square, 600×600 to 1200×1200 pixels
• File size: maximum 240KB
• Colour: 24-bit colour (not greyscale)
• If your photo isn't a perfect square at 600px+ the system rejects it instantly. Resize to 2×2 inch to get an exact square at the correct resolution, then compress to stay under 240KB.

US Visa vs Green Card vs DV Lottery — Same Photo

• All three use the identical 2×2 inch / 600×600px white-background standard:
• Nonimmigrant visa (B1/B2, F1, H1B, etc.): 2×2 inch, uploaded in the DS-160 form
• Immigrant visa / Green Card (DS-260): 2×2 inch
• DV Lottery (E-DV entry): 600×600px square, under 240KB
• So a single compliant 2×2 inch photo works for any US visa or Green Card application.

How to Make a US Visa Photo at Home

1. Stand against a plain white wall with even, shadow-free lighting 2. Have someone take a straight-on frontal photo (no selfie), camera at eye level 3. Remove the background and replace it with plain white if your wall isn't suitable 4. Resize to 2×2 inch — this produces a perfect square at the correct pixel resolution 5. Check that your head measures 1 to 1⅜ inches (50–69% of the photo height) 6. Compress to stay under the 240KB DV Lottery limit

Common Reasons US Visa & DV Photos Are Rejected

• Photo not a perfect square (the #1 DV Lottery rejection)
• Wearing glasses (no longer allowed)
• Background not plain white, or with shadows
• Head too small or too large in the frame
• File over 240KB or not in JPG format
• Photo older than 6 months, or reused from a previous application

Free vs Paid Photo Services

Pharmacies and photo studios charge $10–17 for US visa photos, and dedicated DV Lottery photo tools often charge a fee just to crop to 600×600. Preparing the photo yourself with the correct 2×2 inch square dimensions, a clean white background, and a sub-240KB file costs nothing — and works for the DS-160, DS-260, and E-DV entry alike.