Home > Passport Photo Requirements > United States DV lottery Photo 2x2 inch (51x51 mm, 5.1x5.1 cm)

United States DV lottery Photo Maker
2x2 inch (51x51 mm, 5.1x5.1 cm) Size and Requirements

Country

United States

Document type

DV lottery

Passport picture size

Width: 2 inch, Height: 2 inch

Resolution (DPI)

600

Image definition parameters

Head must be between 1 -1 3/8 inches (25 - 35 mm) from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head

Background color

White

Printable photo

Yes

Digital photo for online submission

Yes

Digital photo size

Width: 600 pixels , Height: 600 pixels

Photo Paper type

matte

Detailed requirements
Last Update: July 27, 2026
United States DV lottery photo

Your photos or digital images must be:

In color
Sized such that the head is between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches (25 mm and 35 mm) or 50% and 69% of the image's total height from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head.
Taken within the last 6 months to reflect your current appearance
Taken in front of a plain white or off-white background
Taken in full-face view directly facing the camera
With a neutral facial expression and both eyes open
Taken in clothing that you normally wear on a daily basis
Uniforms should not be worn in your photo, except religious clothing that is worn daily.
Do not wear a hat or head covering that obscures the hair or hairline, unless worn daily for a religious purpose. Your full face must be visible, and the head covering must not cast any shadows on your face.
Headphones, wireless hands-free devices, or similar items are not acceptable in your photo.
Eyeglasses are no longer allowed in new visa photos, except in rare circumstances when eyeglasses cannot be removed for medical reasons; e.g., the applicant has recently had ocular surgery and the eyeglasses are necessary to protect the applicant's eyes. A medical statement signed by a medical professional/health practitioner must be provided in these cases. If the eyeglasses are accepted for medical reasons:
- The frames of the eyeglasses must not cover the eye(s).
- There must not be glare on eyeglasses that obscures the eye(s).
- There must not be shadows or refraction from the eyeglasses that obscures the eye(s).
If you normally wear a hearing device or similar articles, they may be worn in your photo.

Digital Image Requirements

The digital image must adhere to the following specifications:

Dimensions	The image dimensions must be in a square aspect ratio (the height must be equal to the width). Dimensions must be 600 x 600 pixels.
Color	The image must be in color (24 bits per pixel) in sRGB color space which is the common output for most digital cameras.
File Format	The image must be in JPEG file format
File Size	The image must be less than or equal to 240 kB (kilobytes).
Compression	The image may need to be compressed in order for it to be under the maximum file size. The compression ratio should be less than or equal to 20:1.

Want to scan an existing photo?

In addition to the digital image requirements, your existing photo must be:

2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm)
Scanned at a resolution of 300 pixels per inch (12 pixels per millimeter)

Additional Requirements for the Diversity Visa (DV) Program

Diversity Visa Program Entrants

If you are entering the Diversity Visa (DV) Program online, you must upload your digital image as part of your entry. Your digital image must be:

In JPEG (.jpg) file format
Equal to or less than 240 kB (kilobytes) in file size
In a square aspect ratio (height must equal width)
600x600 pixels in dimension

Scanning an Existing Printed Photo

A recent printed photograph may be scanned, but it must first meet the standard printed-photo requirements.

The original printed photo should be:

2 × 2 inches
51 × 51 millimetres
In color
Printed clearly on photo-quality paper
Properly composed

Scan the photo at a resolution of 300 pixels per inch.

The final digital file must still be:

Exactly 600 × 600 pixels
JPEG or JPG
No more than 240 KB
Square

Diversity Visa Program Selectees

Each DV applicant will need to bring two (2) identical photos to the interview. Your photos must be:

Printed on photo quality paper
2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm) in size

DV Lottery Photos for Babies and Children

Every person included in a Diversity Visa entry needs an individual photo that meets the requirements, including babies and young children.

Only the child should appear in the image.

Do not show:

A parent holding the child
Another person’s hands
Toys
A car-seat pattern
Blankets with visible patterns

For a baby, place the child on a plain white or off-white sheet and take the photo from directly above.

Make sure:

The baby’s full face is visible
No shadows fall across the face
No other person appears
The background is plain
The image is clear and in focus

A young child should look toward the camera with the eyes open whenever possible.

Prepare Your DV Lottery Photo With Our DV Lottery Photo maker

Upload your recent photo and create a square 600 × 600-pixel image for your Diversity Visa entry.

The passport photo tool can help you:

Crop your photo to 2X2 inch format.
Position your face correctly.
Prepare a clean, plain background.
Create both a digital image for online submission and produce a printable photo layout (100% compliant photo)

Frequently Asked Questions

What size must a DV Lottery photo be?

The digital photo submitted with an online Diversity Visa entry must be exactly 600 × 600 pixels.

What is the maximum DV Lottery photo file size?

The JPEG file must be 240 KB or smaller.

Which file format should I use?

Use JPEG or JPG format.

Can I take my DV Lottery photo with a phone?

Yes. A phone camera may be used when the resulting photo is clear, properly lit and correctly composed.

Avoid a close-up handheld selfie. Ask another person to take the photo or use a tripod and timer.

Can I smile in my DV Lottery photo?

Use a neutral facial expression with both eyes open. Avoid a broad or exaggerated smile.

Can I wear glasses?

Eyeglasses are generally not allowed in new U.S. visa photos. Remove them before taking your DV Lottery photo.

Can I wear a head covering?

A head covering may be worn for a religious purpose when it is normally worn every day. It must not cover the face or cast facial shadows.

Fashion hats, caps and nonreligious head coverings should be removed.

Can I reuse last year’s DV Lottery photo?

Use a photo taken within the last six months that reflects your current appearance. An older photo may not meet the requirement even when your appearance seems unchanged.

Can I submit a passport photo?

You may use a passport size photo only when it is recent and meets every DV digital requirement, including the exact dimensions, file type and file-size limit.

Do not scan or copy the image directly from your passport.

Can I submit a black-and-white photo?

No. The image must be in color.

Sources: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/photos.html#DV

Source

https://travel.state.gov/content/tr...

Do not worry about the photo size requirements. IDPhotoDIY online tool will help you make correct United States DV lottery size photos.

How to make United States DV lottery photo online

Step 1: Use a digital camera or a smartphone

Find someone to take the photo for you and selfie photo is not acceptable for passport photo application. If you have a tripod, use it. A tripod will make it easier to keep the camera steady and level. The distance of the person to the camera should be around 1 meter.

Step 2: Find a venue with good lighting

When taking photo, you should face the light, such as a nice bright window or the door. This can provide even lighting to avoid shadows on the face and background. The face must be evenly lit. There should be no shadows and glares on the face.

Note: No need to worry about the background as our online passport photo generator will automatically remove or change the background for you.

unacceptable passport photo

Step 3: Wear properly for your passport photo

Do not wear uniforms. Wear regular street clothes in your photo.

Do not wear eyeglasses. If you wear glasses, sunglasses, or tinted glasses, take them off for your passport photo.

Your face must still be fully visible. Don’t let your hair drape over your face and obscure your eyes. If you have very long bangs that cover your eyebrows, you should pin them back with bobby pins. It’s best if your ears show, as well, but that won’t cause your photo to be rejected.

No hats are allowed in passport photos unless it is religious headgear such as a headscarf or yarmulke that you wear every day.

acceptable passport photo

Step 4: Pose for a passport

Look straight towards the camera with face straight on. Head should not be tilted or rotated.

Both ears showing or both edges of the face visible if hair covers the ears.

Shoulders should be visible, and there should be enough space around the head for cropping the photo.

Position the camera in the same height as the head.