US visa photo: size and requirements
Official size: 2 × 2 inches; digital 600 × 600 to 1200 × 1200 pixels. Make a compliant US visa photo free in your browser; nothing is uploaded.
Official US visa photo requirements
- Printed size
- 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm)
- Digital image
- Square, from 600 × 600 to 1200 × 1200 pixels, JPEG, 240 kB or less, in colour
- Head size
- Top of the head (including hair) to chin: 50–69% of the image height; eyes at 56–69% of the height from the bottom
- Background
- Plain white or off-white
- How recent
- Taken in the last 6 months
- Glasses
- Not allowed since 1 November 2016, except for medical reasons with a signed medical statement
For the DS-160 upload the file must be a JPEG of 240 kB or less. The tool downloads a 600 × 600 pixel JPEG and shows its file size under the download button; if it is over 240 kB, run it through the Image Compressor.
How to make your US visa photo
- The tool above is already set to the US visa size. Upload a clear, front-facing photo taken against a plain wall.
- Optionally remove or replace the background, then zoom and position your face inside the frame.
- Download it as a PNG for printing or a JPEG for online forms.
- Compare it with the official requirements below before you submit.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a US visa photo?
2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm). Head or face size: Top of the head (including hair) to chin: 50–69% of the image height; eyes at 56–69% of the height from the bottom.
What are the digital photo rules for a US visa?
Square, from 600 × 600 to 1200 × 1200 pixels, JPEG, 240 kB or less, in colour.
What background does a US visa photo need?
Plain white or off-white.
Can I wear glasses in a US visa photo?
Not allowed since 1 November 2016, except for medical reasons with a signed medical statement.
How recent must a US visa photo be?
Taken in the last 6 months.
Can I make a US visa photo online for free?
Yes. Upload a clear, front-facing photo above: the tool crops it to the US visa size and can replace the background, all in your browser, so the photo is never uploaded. Download it as a PNG for printing or a JPEG for online forms, and check the official requirements before you submit.
Other passport and visa photo guides
- Passport photo size chart — cm, inches and pixels by country
- US passport photo — 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm)
- UK passport photo — 45 × 35 mm (height × width)
- Canadian passport photo — 50 × 70 mm (2 × 2¾ inches)
- Australian passport photo — 35–40 mm wide × 45–50 mm high
- Indian passport photo — 4.5 × 3.5 cm (45 mm high × 35 mm wide)
- Pakistani passport photo — 45 × 35 mm (height × width)
- Nigerian passport photo — 600 × 800 pixels for the online application
- Bangladeshi e-passport photo — No photo needed for most applicants (taken at the passport office)
- Philippine passport photo — No photo needed (taken at the DFA consular office)
- Schengen visa photo — 35–40 mm wide, ICAO passport-photo format
- Canada visitor visa photo — At least 35 × 45 mm
- Australian visa photo — 45 × 35 mm (height × width)
- Chinese visa photo — 33 × 48 mm
- UK visa photo — Digital, at least 600 × 750 pixels
- Indian e-Visa photo — Square JPEG, 10 KB to 1 MB
- Irish visa photo — 35–38 mm wide × 45–50 mm high