US Online Visa Photo
600×600-pixel square JPEG, 240 kB or less, with the head between 50% and 69% of the image height. The digital photo specification used for online U.S. visa entry (DV program instructions; the same standard as the DS-160 upload).
Size & specifications
US Online Visa Photo — requirements
| Printed size | — |
|---|---|
| Digital size | 600 × 600 px |
| Head height | 50-69% of image height (chin to crown) |
| Background | White |
| Resolution | ≥ 300 DPI |
| Recency | Within 6 months |
| Glasses / expression | Do not wear eyeglasses · Neutral expression, full face visible; no hats or head coverings unless worn daily for a religious purpose |
| Digital format | JPEG (.jpg), up to 240 kB, 600×600 px, square |
One upload, two deliveries: the pixel-exact digital file and a 300 dpi print-ready sheet.
What each line means
Digital size — the digital file must measure 600 × 600 px. Anything smaller gets refused by many online systems before a person sees it.
Head height — your head, crown to chin, should span 50-69% of image height (chin to crown). Too small reads distant; too large and the crop will not fit.
Background — a plain White background, with no shadows or gradients. A wall lit unevenly is the fastest route to a refusal.
Resolution — 300 dpi keeps a face sharp in print. Below that, features soften and agencies ask for a retake.
Recency — Within 6 months. Hair, glasses and weight change faster than people assume, and the officer compares the photo with you at the counter.
Glasses / expression — glare on lenses hides the eyes, and hidden eyes are an automatic rejection in most systems. If you wear glasses, read this line twice.
Digital format — some portals accept a single file type and quietly refuse everything else. Check what you are handing over before you upload.
Photo examples
What passes — and what gets rejected.
How to take a US Online Visa Photo with your phone
Online US visa digital photo format
Online US visa submissions use a digital photo: a JPEG of up to 240 KB at 600×600 px. A full-resolution phone frame is several megabytes, so the file must be compressed to fit under the size cap. This page handles that compression.
Head height in the image
The official guidance puts the head at 50 to 69 percent of the image height. This is wider latitude than the print system's millimetre bands. Frame with the head filling most of the square and margin to spare; the head height stays inside the range.
Eyeglasses, hats, expression, and background
This channel is stricter than the print side: no eyeglasses at all, and no hats or head coverings unless worn daily for religious reasons. Neutral expression, plain white background, and the photo taken within the last 6 months.
Downloaded file
The download from this page is a JPEG compressed to fit all three limits: dimensions, format and size. The background is cleaned and the ratio checked before release.
Why US Online Visa Photo gets rejected
File size and format errors
Submissions fail first on the file: anything over 240 KB, below 600×600 px, or saved in a format other than JPEG. Phone photos straight off the camera fail on size alone.
Eyeglasses, shadows, and cropped heads
Eyeglasses are the next most common fault; the requirement excludes them outright. Shadows on the background and cropped heads are also faults.
Photo age and file handling
Photos older than six months fail regardless of quality. The tool handles compression, but the freshness is your responsibility.
How it works
Photo tips
Frequently asked questions
What size is a US Online Visa Photo?
The standard size is 600 × 600 px (600 × 600 px at 300 DPI). The tool crops and scales your photo to exact requirements automatically.
Can I smile in the photo?
Requirements call for: Neutral expression, full face visible; no hats or head coverings unless worn daily for a religious purpose. When in doubt, keep a neutral face with both eyes open.
How recent must the photo be?
Within 6 months Old photos are a common rejection reason.
Is my photo private?
Yes. Uploaded photos are encrypted in transit and automatically deleted within 24 hours. We never share or resell uploads.
What are the US online visa photo requirements?
A 600×600 px JPEG, up to 240 KB, on a white background. No eyeglasses, no head coverings unless worn daily for religious reasons, neutral expression, full face visible, taken within 6 months.
Why won't my photo upload?
Almost always the file: over 240 KB, wrong dimensions, or the wrong format. The download from this page is compressed to fit all three.
Can I wear glasses in the photo?
No. The requirement excludes eyeglasses. Frames and glare also hide the eyes, which trips the checks on submitted photos.