DV Lottery Photo Size: 600 × 600 Pixels, Up to 240 KB (DV-2026 Rules)

Official rules: 600 × 600 px, up to 240 KB, background: plain white or off-white. Source: travel.state.gov, checked 28 Sep 2026.

US DV Lottery photo size at a glance

The US DV Lottery photo is 600 × 600 pixels, uploaded as a JPEG file up to 240 KB, on a plain white or off-white background.

Printed sizeNo print size given
Pixels (official rule)Square, exactly 600 × 600 pixels; scan a 2 × 2 inch print at 300 ppi
File sizeUp to 240 KB
BackgroundPlain white or off-white
Head size50% to 69% of the photo height, chin to top of head
Sourcetravel.state.gov
Checked28 Sep 2026
Size diagram of the US DV Lottery photo: 600 × 600 pixels, with the head 50% to 69% of the photo height
The US DV Lottery photo, drawn to its shape: 600 × 600 pixels, with the head 50% to 69% of the photo height. From the official rules (travel.state.gov, checked 28 Sep 2026).

What the official pages say about the US DV Lottery photo

The Diversity Visa Program offers immigrant visas to people from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. Entries are made online at dvprogram.state.gov, and the photo is uploaded as part of the entry; it cannot be sent separately. You need a recent photo of yourself, your spouse and each unmarried child under 21 on the entry, but not of one who is already a US citizen or permanent resident.

The DV-2026 instructions are strict. An entry may be ineligible if a photo does not fully meet the rules or has been manipulated in any way, and sending the same photo as a previous year's entry makes you ineligible. Do not wear eyeglasses. Headphones and hands-free devices are not allowed, though a hearing device you normally wear can stay. A head covering is allowed only if worn daily for religious reasons. Photos scanned from a driving licence or another official document are not acceptable. For a baby, use a plain white or off-white sheet to lie on or to cover a car seat, with no one else in the picture.

Sources, checked 25 Oct 2026: Instructions for the 2026 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (U.S. Embassy in Cameroon), Diversity Visa Instructions (travel.state.gov), Visas: Enhancing Vetting and Combatting Fraud in the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (Federal Register, 11 March 2026), Amended order granting the motion for preliminary injunction, Red Eagle Law v. Rubio, No. 26-cv-4738 (US District Court for the Southern District of California, 21 Oct 2026; copy in the RECAP archive) and Red Eagle Law v. Rubio, No. 26-6943, appeal docket (US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit; copy in the RECAP archive).

How to make your US DV Lottery photo

  1. Stand about an arm's length from the camera in front of a plain wall (plain white or off-white). Face a window for soft, even light.
  2. Add the photo on this page. It stays on your device.
  3. Drag and zoom until your face fills the green oval: top of the head on the top line, chin on the bottom line.
  4. Download the photo. The pixels, file size and format are checked before you save it.
  5. Upload it to the official application.

Questions and answers

What size is the US DV Lottery photo?

Official pixel rule: Square, exactly 600 × 600 pixels; scan a 2 × 2 inch print at 300 ppi. SafeResize makes a 600 × 600 pixel file that meets it.

What is the US DV Lottery photo size in inches or cm?

The official rule is in pixels: Square, exactly 600 × 600 pixels; scan a 2 × 2 inch print at 300 ppi.

What file size does the US DV Lottery photo need to be?

Up to 240 KB. SafeResize checks the size before you download, and keeps it inside the limit whether the website counts 1 KB as 1,000 or 1,024 bytes.

What background colour does the US DV Lottery photo need?

Plain white or off-white. Stand in front of a plain wall with no pattern, and face a window so there are no shadows behind you. The official rules do not allow edited photos, so SafeResize does not change the background for this document: a plain wall is the way.

How big should my head be in the US DV Lottery photo?

From the chin to the top of the head, your head should fill 50% to 69% of the photo height. The face guide in the tool shows both lines.

Can I wear glasses in my US DV Lottery photo?

The official rules say: No glasses, neutral face, head not tilted.

What photo does a baby or child need for the US DV Lottery?

The official rules say: A separate colour photo from the last 6 months for you, your spouse and each child.

When can I enter the DV-2027 lottery?

Not yet, as of 25 Oct 2026: the State Department had not announced the DV-2027 registration period. A federal court order of 21 Oct 2026 requires it to announce the period on travel.state.gov by midnight EST on 29 October and to open registration by midnight EST on 1 November 2026, for thirty days. The government has appealed and asked the appeals court to pause the order, so check travel.state.gov before you rely on these dates.

Is the DV-2027 photo the same as the DV-2026 photo?

The DV-2027 instructions were not out on 25 Oct 2026. The rule of 11 March 2026 still asks for a colour JPEG photo of you, your spouse and each unmarried child under 21, taken no more than six months before you enter, facing the camera on a neutral, light-coloured background, with no eyeglasses. The DV-2026 instructions set it at 600 × 600 pixels, up to 240 KB.

Do I need a passport to enter the DV lottery?

Yes, unless you are exempt. Under the rule in force from 10 April 2026, the entry asks for your valid, unexpired passport's number, issuing country and expiry date, and a scan of its biographic and signature page as a JPEG of up to 5 MB. A PDF is not accepted.

Does it cost anything to enter the DV lottery?

Yes, $1. The rule of 11 March 2026 says the State Department published a final rule on 16 September 2025 announcing a $1 Diversity Visa Registration Fee, collected when you register.

What else do the US DV Lottery photo rules say?

A separate colour photo from the last 6 months for you, your spouse and each child. No glasses, neutral face, head not tilted. You also need a JPEG scan (up to 5 MB, no PDF) of your passport's details page and signature page, and a $1 fee.

Which file format should I use?

JPEG. SafeResize saves a JPG (JPEG) file.

Can I take this photo at home?

Yes. A photo taken at home is fine if it follows the rules above. It is easier if someone else takes it for you.

Is my photo uploaded to SafeResize?

No. The photo is processed inside your browser and never leaves your phone or computer.

Please note: The State Department had not published the DV-2027 instructions as of 25 Oct 2026. A court order of 21 Oct 2026 requires it to announce the entry dates by 29 Oct and open entries by 1 Nov 2026, for 30 days, but the government has appealed, so check travel.state.gov before you apply.

Source: travel.state.gov, checked 28 Sep 2026. Rules can change, so confirm on the official page before you apply.

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