United States · visa
DV lottery photo, exactly 600×600 pixels
The Diversity Visa (green card) lottery has the strictest photo spec of any US form: exactly 600×600 pixels, JPEG under 240 KB, head height 50–69% of the frame, and the eye line between 56% and 69% up from the bottom edge. The entry portal rejects anything else, and a rejected photo means a disqualified entry.
- Size
- —
- Digital file
- 600×600 px JPEG · exact
- Background
- white
- Head height
- 50–69%
- Price
- $5.99 · once
Select country and document
Step 1/3
Popular: · ·
- Head size62.4% · 50–69%
- Eye line61.2% · 56–69%
- Backgroundwhite · σ 6
- Lightingeven
- Resolution1832px
MEETS SPEC · ESTIMATED
Checked against the official specification, with the source cited on every document.
Worth knowing: The DV entry period is seasonal, typically early October to early November. Photos must be taken within the last 6 months of your entry. From DV-2027 there is also a $1 entry fee paid at submission.
How our US Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery photo tool works
Add a photo you already have and we measure it against the official US Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery specification (600×600 px, 600×600 px, white background), then produce the exact files you need. Checking is free; you pay $5.99 only if you want the files.
Add your photo
A selfie or any recent photo of yourself, straight from your phone.
See every measurement
Ten checks run against the official spec and show you the numbers.
Fix what's off
Drag to reposition and zoom to resize, or retake the photo if something can't be fixed.
Download your files
Exact digital file, print-ready sheet and compliance report.
What is a US Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery photo?
A DV lottery photo (Diversity Visa, or 'green card lottery') is a digital-only photograph submitted with your E-DV entry: exactly 600×600 pixels, JPEG format, maximum 240 KB, with the head occupying 50–69% of the image and the eyes between 56% and 69% of the height measured from the bottom.
Every applicant and each family member listed on the entry needs their own compliant photo, taken within six months of submission. Photo non-compliance is one of the most common reasons entries are disqualified. The portal's automated validation rejects wrong dimensions before a human ever sees them.
This tool measures your photo against those bands and shows the numbers as you move the crop, then gives you a file at 600×600 px under 240 KB. A large share of disqualified DV entries fail on the photo, so it is worth two minutes to check.
US Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery photo requirements
| Size | 600×600 px exact @300 DPI |
|---|---|
| Digital file | 600×600px JPEG (exact, the portal rejects other sizes) · max 240 KB |
| Background | white |
| Head height | 50–69% of frame height |
| Eye line | 56–69% from the bottom edge |
| Digital upload | accepted |
| Background editing | not permitted, so we leave yours as it is |
- Exactly 600×600 px. The entry portal rejects any other size.
- Entry period is seasonal (typically October–November). A $1 entry fee applies from DV-2027 onward.
- Eye line must sit 56–69% up from the bottom of the frame.
Source: official requirements · verified 2026-07
US Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery photos that pass the checks
Thin frames, no glare, eyes fully visible 
Even light, plain background, neutral expression 
Infant alone in frame, eyes open, plain sheet 
Religious head covering with the full face visible 
Hair back, forehead and both ears clear
US Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery photos that don't pass
Head tilted, hard shadow on the background 
Taken too far away, head too small in the frame 
Someone else's hand in the frame 
Patterned wall and furniture behind
Illustrative examples created for this guide. They are not customer photos, and not decisions by any authority.
What you get for $5.99
- High-resolution file in the exact spec (600×600px, under 240 KB)
- Printable compliance report with everything we measured
- Print-ready 10×15 cm sheet with 4 copies and cut lines
one-time payment, no subscription
Photos that pass
- Exact dimensions: 600×600px · exact
- Plain white background, evenly lit
- Head filling 50–69% of the frame
- Taken in the last 6 months, neutral expression
Photos that get rejected
- Edited, filtered or AI-retouched photos
- Shadows on the face or background
- Busy walls, gradients or the wrong background colour
- Head too large, too small, or off-centre
- Glasses (banned for this document)
- Old photos, or photos of printed photos
Why use PassportClerk for your US Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery photo
- Convenience
- Make it at home from a photo you already have, without booking a studio or queueing for a booth. You get a file sized for the official upload and a print sheet for the times you need paper.
- Built from the official specification
- Every measurement on this page comes from the official US Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery requirements, and the source is linked, dated and re-checked.
- Works from any phone
- Nothing to install. A recent phone camera and a plain wall are enough.
- You see the numbers
- Head height, eye line, background and resolution are all measured and shown to you before you pay.
- Private, then deleted
- We only receive your photo if you buy, and everything is deleted within 48 hours.
If the files we produce don't match the specification on this page, we'll fix them or refund you. The decision on any application always rests with the issuing authority.
Frequently asked questions
What are the exact DV lottery photo requirements?
Exactly 600×600 pixels, JPEG format, maximum 240 KB file size, plain white background, head height 50–69% of the image, eye height 56–69% measured from the bottom, neutral expression, no glasses.
Why was my DV photo rejected?
The most common causes are wrong pixel dimensions, head too large or too small, eyes outside the 56–69% band, shadows on the background, and photos older than 6 months. This page measures each of those before you submit.
Can I use my passport photo for the DV lottery?
Only if it meets the DV spec: many passport photos are cropped differently. Re-check it here against the DV bands. The eye-line rule in particular differs from what photo shops produce.
Do family members need their own photos?
Yes. Your spouse and each child under 21 need their own compliant 600×600 photo, even if they don't travel. A missing or non-compliant family photo disqualifies the entry.
How we handle compliance
- We check your photo against the official rules. We never retouch your face, and we only normalize the background where the destination country permits it.
- Every requirement is cited from official government sources, with the verification date shown on the page.
- What you get is a report of measurements, not a guarantee. Final acceptance always rests with the issuing authority.
official requirements · verified 2026-07