United States · visa
US visa photo (DS-160), square and to spec
The DS-160 nonimmigrant visa application takes a square digital photo: between 600×600 and 1200×1200 pixels, JPEG under 240 KB, sRGB colour, on a plain white background, with your head filling 50–69% of the frame. Glasses have been banned in US visa photos since 2016.
- Size
- 50.8×50.8 mm
- Digital file
- 1200×1200 px JPEG
- 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: Bring a printed 2×2 inch photo to your consular interview as backup, because some posts ask for one even when the DS-160 upload succeeded. The print sheet in your purchase covers it.
How our US Visa (DS-160) photo tool works
Add a photo you already have and we measure it against the official US Visa (DS-160) specification (50.8×50.8 mm, 1200×1200 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 Visa (DS-160) photo?
A US visa photo is the square digital photograph uploaded with the DS-160 nonimmigrant visa application: between 600×600 and 1200×1200 pixels, JPEG under 240 KB in sRGB colour, on a plain white background, with the head occupying 50–69% of the frame. Glasses have been banned since November 2016.
The DS-160 runs an automated photo check at upload, and consular posts may still ask for a printed 2×2 inch copy at the interview. The photographic standard is shared with the US passport photo, but the file constraints (square and under 240 KB) are the DS-160's own.
This page measures your photo against the State Department's bands: head size, background, lighting, dimensions and file size. You get a compliant square file plus a 2×2 inch print sheet for the interview.
US Visa (DS-160) photo requirements
| Size | 50.8×50.8 mm · 1200×1200 px @300 DPI |
|---|---|
| Digital file | 1200×1200px JPEG · max 240 KB |
| Background | white |
| Head height | 50–69% of frame height |
| Digital upload | accepted |
| Background editing | not permitted, so we leave yours as it is |
- Digital photo must be square, between 600×600 and 1200×1200 px, sRGB 24-bit.
- AI alteration is banned, the same as for US passport photos.
Source: official requirements · verified 2026-07
US Visa (DS-160) 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 Visa (DS-160) 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 (1200×1200px, 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: 1200×1200px
- 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 Visa (DS-160) 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 Visa (DS-160) 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 DS-160 photo requirements?
Square aspect, 600×600 to 1200×1200 pixels, JPEG, maximum 240 KB, 24-bit sRGB colour, plain white or off-white background, head height 50–69% of the image, eyes open, neutral expression, no glasses, taken within the last 6 months.
Why does the DS-160 portal reject my photo?
The usual causes: file over 240 KB, non-square dimensions, head outside the 50–69% band, shadows or colour cast on the background, and glasses. Each of those is measured in the free check before you upload anything.
Can I reuse my US passport photo?
Usually yes. The photographic standard is the same, but the digital file must meet the DS-160's own limits (square, ≤240 KB), which passport prints and scans often miss. Re-check the actual file here.
No glasses at all?
Correct. Since November 2016 glasses are not allowed in US visa photos except with a medical statement. Take them off for the photo.
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