US Visa Photo (DS-160 digital, 600x600): size and requirements
The US Visa Photo size is 600 x 600 pixels for online upload (minimum 600 x 600, maximum 1200 x 1200), file under 240 KB. Plain white or off-white background; head 50 to 69 percent of the photo height. Photo taken within the last 6 months. Last verified 2026-09-30 against U.S. Department of State.
For the digital photo uploaded with a DS-160 nonimmigrant visa application or the DS-260 immigrant visa application. The same file works for the Diversity Visa (green card lottery) entry. Not for a U.S. passport, which is a printed 2 x 2 inch photo.
Requirements at a glance
- Size
- 600 x 600 pixels for online upload (minimum 600 x 600, maximum 1200 x 1200), file under 240 KB
- Head height
- Head 50 to 69 percent of the photo height (head height 50% to 69% of the image height; eyes 56% to 69% from the bottom)
- Eye line
- 56 to 69 percent from the bottom of the photo
- Background
- plain white or off-white background
- Expression
- Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open, looking at the camera
- Glasses
- Not allowed
- Head covering
- Only for religious or medical reasons; full face visible
- Photo age
- Taken within the last 6 months
- We deliver
- 600 x 600 px , under 240 KB, plus a 4 x 6 inch print sheet
What trips people up
- CheckThe file must be a square JPEG between 600x600 and 1200x1200 pixels and no larger than 240 KB. We render exactly 600x600 and compress under the limit.
- CheckColour depth must be 24-bit sRGB. Black and white is rejected.
- CheckThe compression ratio must be 20:1 or less, which rules out heavily compressed WhatsApp downloads as a source.
Known portal issues
- Note
Your photo does not need cropping (red icon)
Check the file is 600 x 600 pixels (or 2 x 2 in at 300 DPI) as our output is. Read the fix - Note
Your face is not the correct size or properly centered
Start from the uncropped original, with head, shoulders and some space above the head in frame. Read the fix - Note
Page reloads after upload with no message (file over 240 KB)
Check the file size before uploading; our 600 x 600 pixel JPEG for the DS-160 is exported under the CEAC limit. Read the fix
Good to know before you pay
The State Department offers a free photo tool that crops an existing photo to 600x600. It does not fix the background or check lighting, which is what usually causes rejections.
Source and verification
Read from the official page. Last checked 2026-09-30 (archived copy dated 2024-09-15) at U.S. Department of State.
The image dimensions must be in a square aspect ratio (the height must be equal to the width). Minimum acceptable dimensions are 600 x 600 pixels. Maximum acceptable dimensions are 1200 x 1200 pixels.
The image must be in JPEG file format
The image must be less than or equal to 240 kB (kilobytes).
The compression ratio should be less than or equal to 20:1.
travel.state.gov blocks automated readers; quotes were read from the Internet Archive snapshot. Head and eye percentages come from the State Department photo composition template.
We are an independent service, not a government website. Applying for a passport or visa is done with your government; we only prepare the photo.
Frequently asked questions
