The 20:1 compression rule, explained.
The short answer
The State Department says the compression ratio of a US visa photo should be 20:1 or less. A 24-bit colour image takes 3 bytes per pixel before compression, so a 600 × 600 photo is 1,080,000 bytes raw and must still be at least 54,000 bytes as a JPEG. Squeezing a photo far below the 240 kB limit can make it fail.
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What the rule says
The digital image requirements list "Compression ratio should be less than or equal to 20:1" next to the other file rules: square, 600 to 1200 pixels, JPEG, 240 kB or less, colour at 24 bits per pixel.
The page gives the ratio, not a byte figure. The byte figures below are our arithmetic. The same page fixes the colour depth at 24 bits (3 bytes) per pixel, which sets the uncompressed size.
The arithmetic
Uncompressed size = width × height × 3 bytes. Divide by 20 to get the smallest file that keeps the ratio at 20:1 or less.
| Photo size | Uncompressed | Smallest file at 20:1 | Largest file allowed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 600 × 600 px | 1,080,000 bytes | 54,000 bytes (54 KB) | 240 kB |
| 800 × 800 px | 1,920,000 bytes | 96,000 bytes (96 KB) | 240 kB |
| 1000 × 1000 px | 3,000,000 bytes | 150,000 bytes (150 KB) | 240 kB |
| 1200 × 1200 px | 4,320,000 bytes | 216,000 bytes (216 KB) | 240 kB |
What it means in practice
- Don't run a visa photo through a generic "compress to 20 KB" tool. It will be far below the floor.
- If a portal rejects a file that is under 240 kB, check the ratio before anything else.
- Our US visa photo tool searches for a JPEG quality that lands between the floor and 240 kB for the size it makes, and shows both numbers in its checks.
Official sources
- Digital image requirements (U.S. Department of State)Checked 21 October 2026. Read through an Internet Archive copy captured 2026-01-09; the live page blocks automated browsers.
- Photo composition template (U.S. Department of State)Checked 21 October 2026. Internet Archive copy captured 2026-01-05.
- Photo requirements for U.S. visas (U.S. Department of State)Checked 21 October 2026. Internet Archive copy captured 2025-12-30.
Questions
Does the 20:1 rule apply to the DV lottery photo?
The DV section of the same page lists a JPEG of 600 × 600 pixels at 240 kB or less. It doesn't repeat the ratio, so we don't state that it applies. Staying above 54 KB at 600 × 600 is a safe choice either way.
Why 3 bytes per pixel?
The page asks for colour at 24 bits per pixel, and 24 bits is 3 bytes: one each for red, green and blue.