US Visa Photo — 2×2 inch, and the Digital File the DS-160 Wants
A US visa photo is 2×2 inches (51×51 mm), in colour, against a plain white or off-white background, taken within the last six months, with your head between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches from chin to top. Applying online adds a second set of rules: the digital image you upload to the DS-160 must be a JPEG between 600×600 and 1200×1200 pixels and no larger than 240 kB. This tool crops your photo to the 2×2 inch frame and exports a file inside those limits — cropping and resizing happen in your browser, and your original is never uploaded.
- Download your file before you leave — we don’t keep a copy.
- We crop and resize only. We don’t replace backgrounds or airbrush skin — take the photo against a white wall to begin with.
- Your photo must reflect how you look now; don’t submit an old photo or a retouched one.
Sign in to generate. A headshot and an ID photo each use one credit.
The headshot keeps the same face and sends the photo to an image service. An ID photo is cropped in your browser and the original is not uploaded. Neither result is stored—download it yourself.
US visa photo requirements
| Rule | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Printed size | 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm) |
| Head height | 1 inch to 1 3/8 inches (25–35 mm), chin to top of head* |
| Head share of frame | 50%–69% of the photo height |
| Background | Plain white or off-white, no shadows |
| Colour | Colour photo |
| Recency | Taken within the last 6 months |
| Digital format | JPEG (.jpg) |
| File size | 240 kB or less |
| Pixel dimensions | Minimum 600 × 600 px, maximum 1200 × 1200 px |
*The State Department’s own page also prints “22 mm” in brackets. 1 inch is 25.4 mm, so 25–35 mm is the correct conversion; the bracketed figure on their page is a rounding error. Rules as published by the U.S. Department of State — confirm on travel.state.gov before you submit.
The digital file: 600×600 to 1200×1200 pixels, 240 kB, JPEG
When you fill in the DS-160 online form, you upload an image rather than post a print. The system checks it as you upload, and the three limits that catch people out are format, size and file weight:
- Format — the upload must be a JPEG. A PNG screenshot from your phone will be refused.
- Dimensions — square, at least 600×600 pixels and no more than 1200×1200. Smaller than 600 gets rejected; larger than 1200 gets rejected too.
- File weight — 240 kB or less. A high-resolution phone photo is usually several megabytes, so it has to be compressed, not just cropped.
Why US visa photos get rejected
- The image isn’t square, or is smaller than 600×600 pixels.
- The file is a PNG, or a JPEG over 240 kB.
- The head is too small or too large in the frame.
- The background is grey, patterned or uneven, or there’s a shadow behind you.
- The photo is older than six months, or doesn’t match how you look now.
- You’re wearing glasses, a hat or headphones.
- The photo has been retouched, filtered or upscaled — consular officers compare the photo against you in person, and a photo that doesn’t look like you causes delays.
How to take a photo that passes the upload check
- Stand about an arm’s length in front of a plain white or cream wall, facing a window. No flash — flash puts a shadow on the wall.
- Ask someone to shoot from eye level, framing from mid-chest up. Leave room at the top; we’ll crop to 2×2.
- Turn off portrait mode, beauty mode and HDR. Shoot plain, then crop.
- Check you’re not wearing glasses, and that your whole head and both ears are visible.
Printed photo or digital upload — which do you need?
If you’re applying by filling in the DS-160 online, the photo you upload is the one that matters, and you may also be asked to bring a print to your interview. If you’re applying with a paper form, you need a printed 2×2 inch photo. Print requirements — matte or glossy paper, how many copies — are set by the office handling your case, so check the page for the consulate or embassy you’re applying through rather than relying on a general guide.
FAQ
- Is a US visa photo the same size as a US passport photo?
- Yes — both are 2×2 inches (51×51 mm). The digital limits differ only because an online form needs a file.
- What size should the digital image be?
- A square JPEG between 600×600 and 1200×1200 pixels, 240 kB or less. We export 600×600 by default.
- Can I use my phone photo?
- Yes, if it’s a straight photo with no filter, taken against a plain white wall within the last six months.
- Why was my photo rejected at upload?
- Usually a non-JPEG file, dimensions outside 600–1200 px, or a file over 240 kB.
- Can I submit a photo where the background was replaced or the skin retouched?
- We don’t do either. A photo that doesn’t look like you in person can cause delays at your interview; take the photo against a white wall instead.
Cropping and resizing happen in your browser, and your original is never uploaded.