DV Lottery Photo (600 x 600 pixels)

Size2 x 2 inches
BackgroundPlain white to off-white
Head height50–69% of the photo
GlassesNot allowed

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Add a photo for your DV Lottery

Take a photo or choose oneOn a phone you can use your camera. JPEG, PNG or HEIC.

For the best result

Plain wallCleaner edges around hair
Face the lightA window or lamp, no side shadow
Neutral faceEyes open, look at the lens
No glassesBanned on this document. Hats too
Arm's lengthHead and shoulders in frame

Your photo stays on your device. It is processed here in your browser — we don't upload it, and we can't see it.

About this photo

The Diversity Visa lottery entry needs one digital photo per person: a JPEG, exactly 600 x 600 pixels, 240 KB or smaller, on a plain white or off-white background. The rules are stricter than for most U.S. photos because a bad photo does not just get you a warning - the State Department instructions say a photo that does not meet the specifications, has been manipulated, or was used in a previous year's entry may make you ineligible for a Diversity Visa. If you are later selected, you must also bring two printed 2 x 2 inch photos to your immigrant visa interview.

Diversity Visa (Green Card Lottery) Entry Photo photo requirements

Diversity Visa (Green Card Lottery) Entry Photo photo specification
Digital format	JPEG (.jpg) only
Pixel dimensions	Exactly 600 x 600 pixels, square (height must equal width)
File size	240 KB or less
Recency	Taken within the last 6 months and must reflect your current appearance
Head height	50% to 69% of the image height from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head - 300 to 414 pixels on a 600 px image
Eye height	56% to 69% of the image height measured from the bottom edge - roughly 337 to 414 pixels up on a 600 px image
Background	Plain white or off-white, evenly lit, no shadows
Pose	Full face directly at the camera, neutral expression, both eyes open, in focus
Eyeglasses	Do not wear eyeglasses. Hearing aids and similar devices may be worn
Who needs a photo	You, your spouse, and every derivative child listed on the entry - each needs their own photo, even children who will not travel with you
If you scan a print	The print must be 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm) scanned at 300 pixels per inch
If you are selected	Two identical printed 2 x 2 inch photos on photo-quality paper at the immigrant visa interview

Mistakes that get this photo rejected

600 x 600 exactly - not "at least 600". Unlike the DS-160, which accepts anything from 600 x 600 up to 1200 x 1200, the E-DV entry form specifies 600x600 pixels in dimension. Upload a 1000 x 1000 file and the entry system rejects it, with no human to appeal to.
Reusing the photo you submitted in a previous year's entry will make you ineligible. The State Department states this outright, and it detects duplicates. Take a genuinely new photo each entry season.
A missing or non-compliant photo for a spouse or a child - including step-children and adopted children, and children who will not immigrate with you - can disqualify the whole entry. Only a spouse or child who is already a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident may be left out.
No eyeglasses at all. The DV instructions say flatly "Do not wear eyeglasses", with no exception listed in the DV text itself.
The entry window is short and seasonal - recent programs opened around noon Eastern in early October and closed around noon Eastern in early November, with no late or paper entries. Prepare photos before the window opens; demand crushes the site in the final days.
There is only one entry per person per year and duplicate entries disqualify all of them. If the system rejects your submission before you get a confirmation number, that is not a duplicate and you may resubmit.

Printing it for about 40¢

The 4×6 sheet this tool gives you holds several copies of your photo at exactly 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm). Order it as an ordinary 4×6 photo print — about 19¢ at Walmart, 39¢ at Walgreens or 42¢ at CVS — then cut them out. That is the same print the store charges $7.64 to $16.99 for at the counter.

The one thing that goes wrong: letting the store’s website or kiosk crop, zoom or “fit” your image. That changes the photo’s physical size and is the most common reason a printed photo is rejected. Always choose the option that prints the whole sheet at actual size.

Common questions

What size does the DV lottery photo have to be?

Exactly 600 x 600 pixels, square, saved as a JPEG of 240 KB or less. If you scan an existing print instead, the print must be 2 x 2 inches scanned at 300 pixels per inch, then resized to 600 x 600.

Why was my DV entry photo rejected?

The commonest causes are wrong pixel dimensions (anything other than 600 x 600), a file over 240 KB, a non-JPEG format, a head that falls outside 50%-69% of the frame height, or a background that is not plain white. The entry system checks these automatically, so fix the file and resubmit before the window closes.

Can I use last year's DV lottery photo?

No. The State Department instructions say that submitting the same photograph that was submitted with a prior year's entry will make you ineligible for a Diversity Visa. Take a fresh photo within six months of entering.

Do my children and spouse need their own photos?

Yes. You must include a recent photo of yourself, your spouse, and every derivative child on the entry - including step-children and adopted children, and children who do not intend to immigrate. You may omit a spouse or child who is already a U.S. citizen or green card holder.

I was selected. What photos do I need now?

Selectees and each accompanying family member must bring two identical printed 2 x 2 inch photos on photo-quality paper to the immigrant visa interview at the embassy or consulate. They must be taken within six months and follow the same visa photo standards.

Can I print my DV photos at CVS or Walgreens?

Yes - for the interview stage. Download the free 4 x 6 sheet, upload it to the CVS or Walgreens photo site, and collect a glossy 4 x 6 print holding six 2 x 2 photos, usually well under a dollar. The entry itself needs only the digital 600 x 600 file, no print.

How much does it cost to enter the DV lottery?

Entering is free - the State Department charges nothing for the online entry form, and any site charging you to submit it is not official. Making the photo here is also free with no watermark, so your only possible cost is a drugstore print later if you are selected.

When does the DV lottery open?

The entry period is short and runs once a year - recent programs opened in early October and closed in early November, always at 12:00 noon U.S. Eastern time. Check travel.state.gov for the current year's exact dates, because the instructions and dates are republished for each program year.

Other photos you can make free

Checked August 2026 Specifications and prices on this page come from the sources below. Rules and prices change — if you spot something out of date, please tell us.