US visa photo for the DS-160.
Add a photo, mark the top of your head, your eyes and your chin, and get a 600 × 600 JPEG sized to every rule on the State Department page. A print sheet for 2 × 2 inch photos is included.
Your file stays on your device. Nothing is uploaded to us.
- Drag the blue lines to the top of your head (including hair) and the bottom of your chin.
- Drag the gold line to your eyes and the purple line to the middle of your face.
- Press Make my photo. Moving a line afterwards updates it.
- Shape and size–
- File–
- Compression–
- Colour–
- Head size–
Before you upload, check yourself
The official rules
| Shape and size | Square, at least 600 × 600 px and at most 1200 × 1200 px |
|---|---|
| File | JPEG, 240 kB or less |
| Compression | Ratio of 20:1 or less (so a 600 × 600 file needs at least 54 KB) |
| Colour | Colour, 24 bits per pixel, sRGB |
| Head size | Top of hair to bottom of chin is 50% to 69% of the image height |
| Eye height | 56% to 69% of the image height, measured from the bottom |
| Background | Plain white or off-white |
| Age of photo | Taken in the last 6 months |
| Printed photos | 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm); head 1 to 1 3/8 in (25–35 mm) |
Worth knowing
- The 20:1 compression rule is the one most tools miss. Squeezing a 600 × 600 photo below about 54 KB can get it rejected even though it is under 240 KB. This tool keeps the file between the two limits.
- The State Department warns against "low quality vending machine or mobile phone photos". Use good, even light and a sharp photo; the maker sizes and checks it but cannot add detail that is not there.
- Immigrant visas (DS-260) ask for two identical 2 × 2 in prints on photo paper. Use the print sheet download and print it as a 4 × 6 in photo.
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
What size is a US visa photo in pixels?
Square, between 600 × 600 and 1200 × 1200 pixels. This tool makes 600 × 600, the size most applicants use.
What is the maximum file size for the DS-160 photo?
240 kB. The file also needs a compression ratio of 20:1 or less, which in practice means a 600 × 600 photo should not be smaller than about 54 KB.
Can I take my visa photo with a phone?
You can, if it meets every rule: sharp, evenly lit, plain white or off-white background, no glasses and no edits. The official page warns that low-quality phone photos are rejected, so use good light and stand a little back from the wall to avoid shadows.
Is my photo uploaded anywhere?
No. The cropping, resizing and checks all run in your browser. The photo never leaves your device.