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Size
| Pixels | 600 × 600 |
|---|---|
| Size | 51 × 51 mm (2 × 2 in) |
| DPI | 300 |
| Head | 25–35 mm from chin to crown (50–69% of the height) |
| Eyes | 56–69% from the bottom. The DV-2026 PDF does not restate the eye line. It inherits the visa composition template (56–69%). |
| Background | White or Off-white |
| File | JPEG, up to 240 KB, compression ≤ 20:1 |
| Glasses | Not accepted, including prescription glasses. |
| How recent | Taken within the last 6 months. Reusing a prior year's entry photo makes you ineligible under the DV-2026 instructions. |
Rules
DV-2026 wants a JPEG of exactly 600 × 600 pixels, 240 kB or smaller. That is stricter than the DS-160 range of 600 to 1200. The entry must be the same quality and composition as a US visa photo, so we also keep compression at 20:1 or less (at least 54,000 bytes at this size).
Head height is 50% to 69% of the image (300–414 pixels at 600). The eye line is not restated in the DV PDF. It comes from the visa template: 56% to 69% from the bottom. We warn on that, rather than treat it as a line in the DV PDF.
Plain white or off-white. Neutral expression, both eyes open, no glasses. Do not retouch. A photo used in an earlier lottery year makes the entry ineligible. DV-2027 and DV-2028 instructions were not available when this page was written.
Do
- Use a recent photo from a camera or phone, shot against a plain wall.
- Keep the finished file at 600 × 600 and under 240 KB. The tool does both.
- Look straight ahead. No smile with teeth.
- Confirm the photo still looks like you, including hair and facial hair.
Don't
- Do not scan a glossy print. The entry often fails when the file looks like a photo of a photo.
- Do not wear glasses.
- Do not submit 599 × 600, a PNG, or a file over 240 KB.
- Do not use a filter that changes skin, eyes, or the shape of your face.
Price for this file
Digital $9.95. Bundle with a 4×6 print sheet $12.95. Up to three people $19.95. Shown for United States · USD.