Updated · Rules checked against travel.state.gov
DS-160 photo rules
The DS-160 is the online application for nonimmigrant US visas, and you upload your photo as part of it. These rules come from the State Department's visa photo requirements and its digital image requirements.
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Shape | Square: the height equals the width |
| Pixel dimensions | From 600×600 to 1200×1200 pixels |
| File format | JPEG |
| File size | 240 kB or less |
| Color | sRGB, 24-bit color |
| Head height | 50–69% of the image height, from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head |
| Eye height | 56–69% of the image height, measured up from the bottom edge |
| Expression | Neutral, with both eyes open, facing the camera |
| Eyeglasses | Not allowed since November 1, 2016, unless you have a medical statement |
| Hearing devices | Allowed |
| Religious clothing | Allowed if you wear it daily |
| How recent | Taken in the last 6 months |
What the percentages mean in pixels
The head and eye rules are percentages, so they scale with the image. Here is what they work out to at a few common sizes:
| Image size | Head height (50–69%) | Eyes above the bottom edge (56–69%) |
|---|---|---|
| 600×600 px | 300–414 px | 336–414 px |
| 800×800 px | 400–552 px | 448–552 px |
| 1000×1000 px | 500–690 px | 560–690 px |
| 1200×1200 px | 600–828 px | 672–828 px |
The color rule, sRGB and 24-bit, describes an ordinary color JPEG of the kind phones and most cameras produce. It rules out grayscale files and print-oriented color formats such as CMYK. The JPG this tool exports is a standard color file.
In practice, your eyes sit a little above the middle of the square and your head fills a bit more than half of its height. A tiny face in a big frame fails, and so does a face cropped so tightly that the chin or hair touches the edges.
Make your visa photo with this tool
- Check that the document above the buttons says US visa: DS-160 upload. It's already selected on this page.
- Take the photo with the camera guide, or choose a recent JPG or PNG. Stand in front of a plain white or off-white wall with even light on your face.
- The tool crops a square around your face with the head and eyes inside the percentage ranges. Adjust with the head-size slider and the arrows if you need to.
- Fix anything the checks flag. The reminder next to the save button covers what software can't check: glasses, the photo's age and edits.
- Save the JPG with the main button. It's square, inside the 600 to 1200 pixel range and compressed to stay at or under 240 kB, ready for the DS-160 upload step.
A photo straight from a phone is often several megabytes, many times over the 240 kB limit. Don't try to shrink it by taking a screenshot. Save the JPG from the tool, which is already sized and compressed for the form.
Glasses, head coverings and devices
Eyeglasses have been banned in US visa photos since November 1, 2016. That includes clear prescription lenses, not only sunglasses. The exception is medical: if you can't remove your glasses for a medical reason, you need a signed medical statement. Take them off for the picture even if you wear them all day.
Hearing aids and similar devices you normally wear can stay in. Religious clothing that you wear every day, including a head covering, is allowed. Your full face must be visible, and the covering shouldn't cast shadows on it. Headphones and wireless hands-free devices are not acceptable, and uniforms shouldn't be worn unless they're religious clothing worn daily. For clothes and colors, see what to wear for a passport photo.
Immigrant visas and the diversity visa
Immigrant visa (DS-260)
If you're applying for an immigrant visa with Form DS-260, you'll need two identical printed photos, each 2×2 inches. Pick Green card / immigrant visa in the document list. Its main button saves a 4×6 print sheet with several identical copies on one print. See how to print passport photos at Walgreens, CVS or Walmart to order it.
Diversity Visa lottery
The DV lottery entry uses the same visa photo standards, but its file rule is narrower: a square JPEG of exactly 600×600 pixels, 240 kB or less. If you're selected, you'll need two 2×2 printed photos later. The DV lottery photo requirements page covers the details, including the rule against reusing an old entry photo.
Babies and toddlers
For visa photos, the State Department asks that a baby or toddler look at the camera with eyes open, with no other person in the photo. Baby photo doesn't relax any checks for visa documents, so a closed-eyes shot shows as a problem to fix. See how to take a baby passport photo for setups that help.
Adjusting status inside the US
Green card applications filed with USCIS on Form I-485 follow USCIS instructions instead, and USCIS changed its photo policy in December 2025. See green card and USCIS photos.
Questions
Can I use my passport photo for the DS-160?
The composition is the same as a US passport photo, but the DS-160 needs a digital JPEG file: square, 600×600 to 1200×1200 pixels and 240 kB or less. It must also have been taken in the last 6 months. Picking US visa: DS-160 upload in the document list gives you a file that fits those limits.
Can I smile in a US visa photo?
Keep a neutral expression, with both eyes open and facing the camera. That's what the visa photo rules ask for, so the natural smile allowed in a US passport photo is best left out here.
What should I wear for a US visa photo?
Everyday clothes. Uniforms shouldn't be worn unless they're religious clothing worn daily, and headphones and wireless hands-free devices aren't allowed. A religious head covering you wear daily is fine if your full face shows. See what to wear for a passport photo.
Can I wear glasses in my US visa photo?
No. Glasses haven't been allowed since November 1, 2016. The only exception is a medical one, which requires a signed medical statement.
Can I wear a hijab, turban or other religious head covering?
Yes, if it's religious clothing you wear daily. Your full face must still be visible.
My photo is 600×600 but the upload says it's too big. Why?
The limit is on file size as well as dimensions. A 600×600 photo saved at high quality can go over 240 kB. The JPG from this tool is compressed to stay under that limit.
Is this the official DS-160 photo tool?
No. This is an independent tool that isn't affiliated with the State Department. It makes and checks the file on your device, and you upload it to the DS-160 yourself.