US Visa Photo for DS-160 (600 x 600 px)

  • Size2 x 2 inches
  • BackgroundPlain white to off-white
  • Head height50–69% of the photo
  • GlassesNot allowed
  1. Add your photo
  2. We check it
  3. Download & print

Add a photo for your US Visa (DS-160)

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 glassesHats and headphones off 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

If you are applying for a U.S. visitor, student or work visa, you upload a digital photo as part of Form DS-160: a square JPEG between 600 x 600 and 1200 x 1200 pixels, 240 KB or less, taken within the last six months. Many embassies also ask you to bring one printed 2 x 2 inch photo to the interview, and if the DS-160 upload fails you must bring a print - so it is worth having both. This page gives the exact numbers the CEAC upload checker enforces.

United States Nonimmigrant Visa Photo (Form DS-160) photo requirements

United States Nonimmigrant Visa Photo (Form DS-160) photo specification
Digital dimensionsSquare. Minimum 600 x 600 pixels, maximum 1200 x 1200 pixels
File formatJPEG
File size240 KB or less
ColourColour, 24 bits per pixel, sRGB colour space; compression ratio 20:1 or less
Print size (if you bring one)Exactly 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm) on matte or glossy photo-quality paper
Head height1 to 1 3/8 inches (25-35 mm), i.e. 50% to 69% of the image height from chin to the top of the head
Eye height56% to 69% of the image height measured from the bottom edge (1 1/8 to 1 3/8 inches on a 2 inch print)
RecencyTaken within the last 6 months and reflecting your current appearance
BackgroundPlain white or off-white
ExpressionNeutral, both eyes open, facing the camera directly. Unusual expressions and squinting are not accepted
EyeglassesNot allowed since 1 November 2016, except a rare medical exception supported by a signed statement from a health practitioner
ClothingEveryday clothing. No uniforms or camouflage, no headphones or wireless earpieces, no hat unless worn daily for religious reasons
Scanning a printScan a 2 x 2 inch photo at 300 pixels per inch (12 pixels per millimetre)

Mistakes that get this photo rejected

  • The 240 KB ceiling is a hard limit and it is easy to blow past it: a 1200 x 1200 export from a modern phone is often 500 KB or more. Either export at 600 x 600 or raise JPEG compression - but the compression ratio must stay at or below 20:1, so do not crush it into a blocky image.
  • The uploader only accepts a perfectly square image. Any rectangular crop is rejected outright, and the checker will not crop it for you.
  • If the upload fails you will see an X where your photo should be on the DS-160 confirmation page. That is not cosmetic - you must then take one printed 2 x 2 photo along with the confirmation page to the embassy, and you should contact them for their specific instructions.
  • No eyeglasses. This has been the rule since 1 November 2016 and it is one of the most common causes of a photo being refused at the interview window, long after the DS-160 was accepted.
  • Passing the automated upload check is not the same as being accepted. Acceptance is always at the discretion of the embassy or consulate, and a consular officer can still reject a photo that uploaded cleanly.
  • Photos scanned or copied from a driver's licence or another official document are not acceptable, and neither are snapshots, vending-machine photos or full-length shots.

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 are the DS-160 photo requirements?

A square colour JPEG, at least 600 x 600 pixels and no more than 1200 x 1200 pixels, 240 KB or smaller, taken within the last six months on a plain white or off-white background. Your head must occupy 50% to 69% of the image height and your eyes must sit 56% to 69% of the way up from the bottom.

My DS-160 says the photo does not meet requirements. What is wrong?

Almost always one of four things: the image is not perfectly square, it falls outside the 600-1200 pixel range, the file is over 240 KB, or your head is too large or too small in the frame. Re-crop to 600 x 600 with the head filling a little under 60% of the height and re-export as JPEG.

Do I also need a printed photo for my visa interview?

Some embassies and consulates require you to bring one printed 2 x 2 inch photo, so check the instructions for the post where you are applying. You definitely need a print if your DS-160 upload failed and the confirmation page shows an X instead of your picture.

Can I wear glasses in a US visa photo?

No. Eyeglasses have not been allowed in new U.S. visa photos since 1 November 2016. The only exception is a rare medical one - for example after eye surgery - and it requires a signed statement from a medical professional; even then the frames must not cover the eyes and there must be no glare.

Can I print my US visa photo at CVS or Walgreens?

Yes. Download the free 4 x 6 sheet, upload it to the CVS or Walgreens photo site and collect a 4 x 6 print with six 2 x 2 photos on it, typically under a dollar. Either matte or glossy photo paper is acceptable for visa photos.

How much does a US visa photo cost?

Making the digital file here is free and there is no watermark, which covers the DS-160 upload entirely. If you need a print for the interview, one 4 x 6 drugstore print runs about $0.35 to $0.50, against roughly $17 at a walk-in passport-photo counter.

How old can my visa photo be?

It must have been taken within the last six months and must reflect your current appearance. You do not need a new one just because you grew a beard or dyed your hair, but you do after significant facial surgery, major weight change, or adding or removing large piercings or tattoos.

Can I take the photo myself with a phone?

The State Department says you may take it yourself but recommends a professional service, and it warns that most webcams and mobile phones cannot produce sufficient quality. If you do use a phone, use the rear camera, good even light, a plain white wall, and turn off every filter and beauty setting - digitally altering your appearance is prohibited.

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.