US Visa Photo for DS-160 (600x600, under 240 KB)
Create the digital image the DS-160 asks you to upload: a square JPEG between 600×600 and 1200×1200 pixels and no larger than 240 KB. The tool below crops to those numbers and compresses automatically.
🔒 100% in your browser — your photo is never uploaded
1. Choose a photo — front-facing, even light, plain light background.
2. Adjust — drag to move, slider to zoom.
3. Optional: replace background
⚠️ Many authorities reject photos that are digitally altered. For the safest result, take the photo against a plain light wall and skip this step.
Background editing is disabled for this photo type because the issuing authority prohibits edited or background-replaced photos. Use a real plain wall.
4. Checks
- Waiting for a photo
Automated checks are guides only — they can't judge expression, glasses, shadows or focus.
5. Download (free)
Requirements at a glance
| Photo size | 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm) |
|---|---|
| Digital output (this tool) | 600 × 600 px JPEG, alt 1200 × 1200 px |
| Head height (chin to crown) | 25.4–34.9 mm |
| Eye line from bottom | 28.6–34.9 mm |
| Background | plain white or off-white |
| File size | max 240 KB (auto-compressed) |
| Print resolution | 300 DPI |
| Photos per 4×6 / A4 sheet | 6 / 20 |
| Background editing | avoid; optional tool available |
Official source: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/photos/digital-image-requirements.html and photo requirements. Checked 2026-10-20. Rules change — always confirm with the issuing authority before applying.
What the DS-160 photo upload checks
The online nonimmigrant visa form (DS-160) and the DS-1648 make you upload a digital image before you can submit. The Department of State's digital image rules are short but strict: the picture must be square, at least 600×600 and at most 1200×1200 pixels, in colour (24-bit sRGB), saved as JPEG, and 240 KB or smaller. The compression ratio should be no more than 20:1, which is why we search for the highest JPEG quality that still fits under the limit instead of simply crushing the file.
Composition follows the same template as US passport photos: the head, from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head, should be 50–69% of the image height (1 to 1 3/8 inches on a 2×2 print), and the eyes should sit between 1 1/8 and 1 3/8 inches from the bottom (about 56–69% of the height). The green band in the preview marks that eye zone.
Rules people miss
- No glasses. Eyeglasses are no longer allowed in new visa photos except in rare medical cases with a signed statement.
- Taken within the last 6 months and reflecting how you look now.
- Plain white or off-white background, full-face view, neutral expression, both eyes open.
- No uniforms (except daily religious clothing), no headphones or wireless devices.
- No scans of driver's licences, no selfies at arm's length with distortion, no full-length shots.
Do I also need a printed photo?
For most nonimmigrant visas the upload is enough, but some embassies and consulates ask you to bring one printed 2×2 inch photo to the interview. Check the instructions of the post where you will apply. If you need one, use the 4x6 print sheet button below and order a normal 4×6 print — you get six 2×2 photos for the price of one print. Immigrant visa (DS-260) applicants must bring two identical printed 2×2 photos.
If the DS-160 rejects your file
Most upload failures are technical: the file is too big, not square, or not a JPEG (HEIC from an iPhone is the usual culprit). Downloads from this page are always square JPEGs at exactly 600×600 (or 1200×1200) and are compressed to 240 KB or less, and the status line tells you the final size. If the upload passes but the photo "does not meet requirements", the problem is usually lighting, shadows on the background, or head size — retake in daylight facing a window, about 1.2 m from the camera.
How to make a US visa photo with this tool
- Pick a photo taken in the last few months against a plain white or off-white background, face lit evenly from the front.
- The tool finds your face and scales it so the head is about 30 mm tall on a 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm) photo.
- Drag or zoom until every check is green — the eyes must sit inside the green band.
- Download the 600×600 px JPG (compressed under 240 KB) for online forms, or a 4×6 sheet with 6 photos to print.
FAQ
What size is a DS-160 photo?
Square, between 600x600 and 1200x1200 pixels, JPEG, 240 KB or less. Our default download is 600x600.
How do I get my visa photo under 240 KB?
The tool lowers JPEG quality step by step until the file fits under 240 KB and shows the final size. A 600x600 photo normally fits at high quality.
Can I wear glasses in a US visa photo?
No, except in rare medical cases with a signed medical statement, and then the frames must not cover the eyes and there must be no glare.
Is a US visa photo the same as a passport photo?
The composition is the same (2x2 inch template, white background, head 1 to 1 3/8 inch). The difference is the upload limits: the DS-160 needs a JPEG of 240 KB or less.
Will the embassy accept a photo from this tool?
We size and compress to the published specification, but acceptance is at the discretion of the embassy or consulate.