7/14/2021 Photo Requirements
Photo Requirements
Your photo is a vital part of your visa application. To learn
more, review the information below on how to provide a
suitable photo. Digital images are required for some visa
categories, while photos are required for other visa
categories. The acceptance of your digital image or photo
is at the discretion of the U.S. embassy or consulate where
you apply.
We recommend you use a professional visa photo service
to ensure your photo meets all the requirements.
Your photos or digital images must be:
In color
Sized such that the head is between 1 inch and 1 3/8
inches (22 mm and 35 mm) or 50% and 69% of the
image's total height from the bottom of the chin to
the top of the head. View the Photo Composition
Template for more size requirement details.
Taken within the last 6 months to reflect your current
appearance
Taken in front of a plain white or off-white
background
Taken in full-face view directly facing the camera
With a neutral facial expression and both eyes open
Taken in clothing that you normally wear on a daily
basis
Uniforms should not be worn in your photo, except
religious clothing that is worn daily.
Do not wear a hat or head covering that obscures the
hair or hairline, unless worn daily for a religious
purpose. Your full face must be visible, and the head
covering must not cast any shadows on your face.
Headphones, wireless hands-free devices, or similar
items are not acceptable in your photo.
Eyeglasses are no longer allowed in new visa photos,
except in rare circumstances when eyeglasses
cannot be removed for medical reasons; e.g., the
applicant has recently had ocular surgery and the
eyeglasses are necessary to protect the applicant's
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eyeglasses are necessary to protect the applicant s
eyes. A medical statement signed by a medical
professional/health practitioner must be provided in
these cases. If the eyeglasses are accepted for
medical reasons:
The frames of the eyeglasses must not cover
the eye(s).
There must not be glare on eyeglasses that
obscures the eye(s).
There must not be shadows or refraction from
the eyeglasses that obscures the eye(s).
If you normally wear a hearing device or similar
articles, they may be worn in your photo.
Review the Photo Examples to see examples of acceptable
and unacceptable photos. Photos copied or digitally
scanned from driver’s licenses or other official documents
are not acceptable. In addition, snapshots, magazine
photos, low quality vending machine or mobile phone
photos, and full-length photographs are not acceptable.
Please review the additional photo requirements for:
Nonimmigrant Visas
Immigrant Visas
Diversity Visa (DV) Program
Additional Information
Tips for taking photos yourself
Change of Appearance
Frequently Asked Questions
Additional Requirements for Nonimmigrant
Visas
Applicants using Form DS-160 or Form DS-1648
If you are applying for a nonimmigrant visa by filling out the
DS-160 or DS-1648 online form, the form will instruct you to
upload your digital image as part of completing the online
visa application form. Review the Digital Image
Requirements, which also provide additional requirements if
you are scanning an existing photo.
S b i d l t i i li t t
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Some embassies and consulates require visa applicants to
bring one (1) photo, which meets requirements, to the
interview. Review the embassy or consulate instructions
where you will apply to learn more.
Additional Requirements for Immigrant Visas
Applicants using Form DS-260
If you are applying for an immigrant visa, using Form DS-
260, you must provide two (2) identical photos at your
immigrant visa interview. Your photos must be:
Printed on photo quality paper
2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm) in size
Additional Requirements for the Diversity Visa (DV)
Program
Diversity Visa Program Entrants
If you are entering the Diversity Visa (DV) Program online,
you must upload your digital image as part of your entry.
Your digital image must be:
In JPEG (.jpg) file format
Equal to or less than 240 kB (kilobytes) in file size
In a square aspect ratio (height must equal width)
600x600 pixels in dimension
Do you want to scan an existing photo? In addition to the
digital image requirements, your existing photo must be:
2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm)
Scanned at a resolution of 300 pixels per inch (12
pixels per millimeter)
Diversity Visa Program Selectees
Each DV applicant will need to bring two (2) identical
photos to the interview. Your photos must be:
Printed on photo quality paper
2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm) in size
Do you want to take the photo yourself?
While we recommend you use a professional visa photo
service to ensure your photo meets all the requirements
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service to ensure your photo meets all the requirements,
you may take the photo yourself. Photos must not be
digitally enhanced or altered to change your appearance in
any way. Please review the following technical
requirements and references for guidance on taking your
own photo.
Photo Composition Template
Digital Image Requirements
Use the Department of State’s free photo tool to:
select a digital image stored on
your computer
resize and rotate it if necessary
crop it to a square image of exactly
600 x 600 pixels, and
save it to your computer for printing
Start Photo Tool
This tool requires Adobe Flash Player 10
or later .
Please note: This tool is intended for photo cropping only. A
Department of State employee will make the final decision
whether your visa photo is acceptable or not for your
application.
Taking photos of your baby or toddler
When taking a photo of your baby or toddler, no other
person should be in the photo, and your child should be
looking at the camera with his or her eyes open.
Tip 1: Lay your baby on his or her back on a plain white
or off-white sheet. This will ensure your baby's
head is supported and provide a plain background
for the photo. Make certain there are no shadows
on your baby's face, especially if you take a
picture from above with the baby lying down.
Tip 2: Cover a car seat with a plain white or off-white
sheet and take a picture of your child in the car
seat. This will also ensure your baby’s head is
supported
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supported
Change of Appearance
If your photo(s) or digital image does not reflect your
current appearance, even if it is not older than 6 months,
the U.S. embassy or consulate will request that you provide
a new photo with your application.
Applicants will be requested to obtain a new photo if they
have:
Undergone significant facial surgery or trauma
Added or removed numerous/large facial piercings or
tattoos
Undergone a significant amount of weight loss or
gain
Made a gender transition
Generally, if you can still be identified from the photo in your
visa application, you will not need to submit a new photo.
For example, growing a beard or coloring your hair would
not generally be considered a significant change of
appearance.
If the appearance of your child under the age of 16 has
changed due to the normal aging process, he or she will
generally not have to provide a new photo. However, the
acceptance of your photo or digital image is at the
discretion of the U.S. embassy or consulate where you
apply.
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