If you are applying for a US visa, you upload a digital photo as part of the DS-160 form, and the form checks the file when you upload it. The rules come from the US Department of State. Here is what they say and what they mean in practice.
The rules at a glance
| Rule | What it means |
|---|---|
| Shape and pixels | Square, from 600 × 600 to 1200 × 1200 pixels |
| File size | Up to 240 KB |
| File type | JPEG |
| Colour | A colour photo |
| Compression | 20:1 or less |
| Head size | 50% to 69% of the photo height, from chin to top of head |
| Background | Plain white or off-white |
| Age of the photo | Taken in the last 6 months |
Source: travel.state.gov, digital image requirements.
The rule most people miss: a hidden minimum size
The US sets a maximum of 240 KB but no minimum in kilobytes. The compression rule creates one anyway. A 20:1 limit means a 600 × 600 photo must be about 53 KB or more. A file squeezed down to 30 KB is under 240 KB but can still fail.
That is also why 600 × 600 pixels is the easiest size to get right. At 600 × 600 the file needs to be between about 53 KB and 240 KB, which leaves plenty of room. At 1200 × 1200 it would need to be at least about 211 KB, which leaves very little room below 240 KB.
What the photo must show
- Your full face, looking straight at the camera, with both eyes open.
- A neutral expression.
- No glasses, unless you need them for medical reasons.
- No hats or headphones. Head coverings you wear every day for religious reasons are allowed.
- No digital editing of any kind.
Most problems come from the photo, not the file: shadows on the wall, glare, a tilted head, or a head that fills too little of the frame. How to take a passport photo at home covers the setup.
How to make it with SafeResize
- Open the US visa photo page and add your photo.
- Drag and zoom until your face fills the oval: top of the head on the top line, chin on the bottom line.
- Download. The file is 600 × 600 pixels, JPEG and under 240 KB. It is saved at high quality, which keeps it well clear of the compression limit, and the result screen shows each rule as passed.
- Upload it in the DS-160.
The photo is processed in your browser and is never uploaded to SafeResize.
A printed photo for the interview
Some embassies and consulates also ask you to bring one printed 2 × 2 inch photo to the interview. Check the instructions from the embassy where you have your appointment. If you need one, the US passport photo page makes a 4 × 6 inch print sheet with 2 × 2 inch copies, which you can print at any photo shop at actual size.
Related US documents
- Diversity Visa (DV lottery): almost the same rules, but the photo must be exactly 600 × 600 pixels, and every family member needs their own photo. DV lottery photo.
- Passport renewal online: 54 KB to 10 MB, in JPG, PNG, HEIC or HEIF. US passport renewal photo.
If the DS-160 rejects your photo
The usual causes are shadows, a background that is not plain white, glasses, a head that is too small, and a file outside the size or pixel limits. Why photos get rejected explains the fix for each.
Rules change. We checked these against the official page on 28 September 2026. Confirm on travel.state.gov before you apply.