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Guide · Updated October 27, 2026
US visa photo (DS-160): size and rules
Short answer
- The DS-160 form asks for a digital photo: square, 600 × 600 to 1200 × 1200 pixels, JPEG, at most 240 kB, in color.
- The face rules are the same as for a US passport photo: white background, neutral expression, no glasses, taken in the last 6 months.
- You can take it at home with a phone; keep a printed 2 × 2 copy in case your consulate asks for one.
DS-160 photo requirements
| File | JPEG, square, 600 × 600 to 1200 × 1200 pixels, at most 240 kB |
|---|---|
| Color | In color, not black and white |
| Size | 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm), square |
| Head size | 1 to 1 3/8 inches from chin to top of hair |
| Background | Plain white or off-white, no shadows or patterns |
| Face | Facing the camera, neutral expression, both eyes open |
| Glasses | Not allowed (rare medical exceptions with a signed statement) |
| Head coverings | Only for religious or medical reasons, face fully visible |
| Age of the photo | Taken in the last 6 months |
| Editing | None: no filters, retouching or background changes |
Official source: State Department: photos for visas
How to take a visa photo at home
- Stand about 2 feet in front of a plain white or off-white wall, facing a window.
- Ask someone to take it from about 4 feet away, phone at your eye height.
- Glasses off, hair away from your eyes, mouth closed, look straight at the camera.
- Crop to a square with the head at the right size, and save a JPEG under the size limit. Don't edit anything else.
Where the photo goes
You upload it in the DS-160 at the photo step on the State Department's Consular Electronic Application Center site. The form checks the file; if it doesn't accept it, follow the instructions shown there and bring a printed photo to your interview.
Check your photo for free
Proud Look's photo tool checks your phone photo against the official rules for free and crops it to 2 × 2 inches. It never edits you or the background: no AI, no retouching. Choose “US visa (DS-160)”. The digital file and a 4 × 6 print sheet cost $8.99; if a government office rejects the photo, you get a free new photo (within 90 days) or a full refund (notice within 90 days).
A government officer always makes the final decision; no service can guarantee acceptance.