US Visa Photo: DS-160 Requirements and Size
A US visa photo is a square 2x2 inch (51x51 mm) photo submitted with the DS-160 online application. The digital file must be a JPEG between 600x600 and 1200x1200 pixels and no larger than 240 KB, with your head filling 1 to 1 3/8 inches of the frame and the background plain white or off-white. Glasses have not been accepted since November 2016.
Most visa photo rejections are not about the photo being unflattering — they are about the file. The DS-160 form checks your upload automatically and rejects it when the crop is not square, the resolution falls outside the accepted range, the file is too large, or the background is not plain enough. Getting those four things right before you submit removes the most common failure point in the whole application.
This page covers what the DS-160 expects, why each rule exists, and how to produce a file that passes. Upload a photo above, pick the US Visa preset, and download a correctly sized JPEG.
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Photo specifications
- Size
- 51 × 51 mm
- Pixels
- 600 × 600 px
- Output
- 300 DPI
- Backgrounds
Common uses
- DS-160 online visa applications. — The nonimmigrant visa application uploads the photo directly in the form. The file must be a square JPEG in the 600-1200 pixel range, under 240 KB.
- Visa interview appointments. — Bring a printed 2x2 inch photo to the interview as a backup. Print it on photo-quality paper at 300 DPI or higher — inkjet paper that is too thin is a frequent reason consular staff ask for a new photo.
- Visa renewals and drop-box applications. — Renewals that qualify for interview waiver still need a photo that meets the current rules, taken within the last 6 months.
- Immigrant visa and fiancé(e) visa applications. — These use the same 2x2 format and composition rules, submitted through the consular processing system rather than the DS-160.
- Dependent and family applications. — Each applicant, including infants, needs their own photo. The head-size rule is relaxed for babies who cannot hold their head up, but the background and lighting rules still apply.
US Visa Photo Size: Inches, Millimetres, Centimetres and Pixels
The US visa photo is square, so the width and height are always equal in every unit. Pixel values depend on how the photo is submitted — the DS-160 accepts a range, while a printed photo has a single 300 DPI target.
| Unit | Width | Height | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inches | 2 in | 2 in | The size required by the US Department of State for all visa photos |
| Millimetres (mm) | 51 mm | 51 mm | 2 inches is exactly 50.8 mm, rounded to 51 mm for official use |
| Centimetres (cm) | 5.1 cm | 5.1 cm | Common on forms that use metric measurements |
| Pixels — DS-160 minimum | 600 px | 600 px | Smallest file the online form accepts (300 DPI) |
| Pixels — DS-160 maximum | 1200 px | 1200 px | Largest file the online form accepts (600 DPI) |
| Pixels — standard print | 600 px | 600 px | 2x2 inches at 300 DPI, the print standard |
Any square file between 600x600 and 1200x1200 pixels satisfies the DS-160 dimension rule. 600x600 is the safe default: it meets the minimum, stays well under the 240 KB file-size cap, and prints cleanly at 300 DPI.
US Visa Photo Requirements: What the DS-160 Actually Checks
The requirements fall into three groups — the file itself, how you are framed, and how the photo was taken. All three have to pass.
- 1. Square, 2x2 inches, 600-1200 pixels.The image must be perfectly square. A 2x2 inch photo is 600x600 pixels at 300 DPI and 1200x1200 at 600 DPI; anything inside that range is accepted, but non-square crops are rejected outright.
- 2. JPEG format, 240 KB maximum.The DS-160 accepts JPEG (.jpg) only — not PNG, not HEIC, not PDF. The file must stay under 240 KB. Most phone photos exceed this at full resolution, so they need resizing before upload.
- 3. Head 1 to 1 3/8 inches, centred.Measured chin to crown, your head must fill 50-69% of the frame. Your eyes should sit 1 1/8 to 1 3/8 inches (56-69% of the height) from the bottom edge. Too small and the system flags it; too large and your crown gets clipped.
- 4. Plain white or off-white background.No patterns, no objects, and no shadows — including the shadow your own head casts on the wall behind you. Standing a couple of feet from the wall, or using front-facing light, usually removes it.
- 5. No glasses, neutral expression.Glasses have been banned since 1 November 2016 except for documented medical reasons. Keep a neutral expression with both eyes open and your mouth closed.
- 6. Taken within the last 6 months.The photo must reflect your current appearance. If you have changed significantly — major weight change, facial surgery, or a new hairstyle that alters your silhouette — take a new one.
- 7. No filters, no retouching, no uniform.The photo must be an unaltered, colour-accurate image. Everyday clothing is fine; uniforms and camouflage are not. Head coverings are allowed only for religious or medical reasons and must not shadow the face.
Requirements are set by the US Department of State and are updated without notice. Check the official photo guidance linked below before you submit, particularly if you are applying from a country with additional local instructions.
Official sources
The figures on this page were checked against these sources. Requirements change, so confirm the details that apply to your own application before you submit.
- US Department of State — Visa Photo Requirements
- US Department of State — Photo Examples (accepted and rejected)
- USCIS — Photo Requirements
Last reviewed 2026-09-13.
How to Make a US Visa Photo for the DS-160
- 1Choose the US Visa preset above. It is preset to the 2x2 inch (51x51 mm) format the DS-160 expects, so you do not need to enter dimensions.
- 2Upload a recent photo. Any JPG, PNG or WebP up to 10 MB works. A photo taken against a plain wall in daylight gives the cleanest background removal.
- 3Position your head in the frame. Use the zoom and arrows so your head fills roughly 50-69% of the height and sits centred, with a little space above your crown.
- 4Set a white background. The tool removes the original background and replaces it with the plain white the DS-160 requires.
- 5Download as JPG at 600x600. This lands inside the DS-160 pixel range and comfortably under the 240 KB limit.
- 6Upload to the DS-160. If the form reports a file-size error, re-download at a slightly lower quality — the pixel size stays correct.
Photos of babies and toddlers: the head-size rule is relaxed, but keep them centred against a plain background with their eyes open if possible.
Why the DS-160 Rejects Photos
These are the failures that come back most often, in rough order of frequency.
- File too large. Phone cameras produce multi-megapixel images well over the 240 KB cap. Resizing to 600x600 pixels fixes both the dimension and the file-size problem at once.
- Wrong format. iPhone photos are often HEIC and screenshots are often PNG. The DS-160 wants JPEG. Re-export as .jpg.
- Not square. A 600x601 or 598x600 crop is rejected. The aspect ratio must be exactly 1:1.
- Glasses. Still the single most common manual rejection reason. Take them off, even if you wear them every day.
- Shadow behind the head. Caused by a light source to one side. Face a window or use a light positioned next to the camera.
- Head too large or clipped. If your crown or chin touches the edge, the system cannot verify head size. Zoom out slightly.
US Visa Photo Questions
What size is a US visa photo?▾
2x2 inches (51x51 mm). For the online DS-160 form the digital file must be between 600x600 and 1200x1200 pixels. For a printed photo, 2x2 inches at 300 DPI is 600x600 pixels.
Can I wear glasses in a US visa photo?▾
No. The US Department of State has not accepted glasses in visa or passport photos since 1 November 2016, except in rare medical cases supported by a signed doctor’s note.
How tall should the head be in a US visa photo?▾
Measured from the top of the head (including hair) to the bottom of the chin, 1 to 1 3/8 inches (25-35 mm) — roughly 50-69% of the photo height. Your eyes should sit 1 1/8 to 1 3/8 inches (28-35 mm) from the bottom of the image.
What file size does the DS-160 accept?▾
A square JPEG between 600x600 and 1200x1200 pixels, and no larger than 240 KB. The image must be in colour (24 bits per pixel) — black and white photos are not accepted. A standard JPEG from a phone camera or image editor already meets the colour requirement.
Can I upload a photo I already have?▾
Yes, as long as it was taken in the last 6 months and meets the DS-160 rules: square, correct head size, plain white or off-white background, no glasses, and no filters or retouching. The DS-160 checks the file and rejects it if the crop or resolution is wrong.
Is a US visa photo the same as a US passport photo?▾
They use the same 2x2 inch format and the same composition rules, so one photo can usually serve both. The difference is how you submit it: the DS-160 uploads a digital file within a pixel and file-size range, while a passport application by mail needs a printed 2x2 photo on photo-quality paper.
Can I smile in a US visa photo?▾
No. The Department of State requires a neutral expression with both eyes open and your mouth closed. A closed-mouth smile is tolerated by some systems, but an open, teeth-showing smile is a common reason for rejection.
Can I wear a head covering?▾
Only if you wear it daily for religious or medical reasons, and it must not obscure or cast shadows on your face. Hats and head coverings worn purely as fashion are not allowed.