The DS-260 is completed online, and people expect a photo upload somewhere in it, the way the DS-160 has one. The State Department's photo guidance describes none. What it asks DS-260 applicants for is **two identical printed photos, brought to the immigrant visa interview**. The rules those prints follow are the standard US visa photo rules, and the ones that get people caught out are the print size, glasses and the six-month age limit.

<Callout type="note" title="Quick answer">
**What you bring:** **2 identical color photos** per applicant, at the **immigrant visa interview**, along with your DS-260 confirmation page. No DS-260 upload is described.

**Print:** exactly **2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm)**, **matte or glossy photo quality paper**.

**Head:** **1 inch to 1 3/8 inches (25 to 35 mm)**, bottom of chin to top of hair.

**Look:** taken in the **last 6 months**, **plain white or off-white** background, full face, neutral expression, both eyes open, **no eyeglasses** (rare medical exception), no hat unless worn daily for religious reasons, no headphones.

**Check your embassy:** posts publish their own interview instructions, and some word the rules differently.
</Callout>

Every rule below comes from the Department of State's visa photo pages and its immigrant visa interview pages, read on September 16, 2026. travel.state.gov refuses automated readers, so we read the same pages on the Department's adoption.state.gov mirror. The consular officer at your interview decides whether the photos are accepted.

<SpecTable
  document="DS-260 immigrant visa photos"
  verifiedOn="September 16, 2026"
  source={{ label: "U.S. Department of State - Photo Frequently Asked Questions", href: "https://adoption.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/photos/frequently-asked-questions.html" }}
  rows={[
    { label: "Number", value: "2 identical photos per applicant" },
    { label: "When", value: "At the immigrant visa interview" },
    { label: "Size", value: "Exactly 2 x 2 in (51 x 51 mm)" },
    { label: "Head height", value: "1 to 1 3/8 in (25 to 35 mm), chin to top of hair" },
    { label: "Paper", value: "Photo quality, matte or glossy" },
    { label: "Color", value: "Color only; black and white refused" },
    { label: "Maximum age", value: "Taken within 6 months of applying" },
    { label: "Background", value: "Plain white or off-white" },
    { label: "Expression", value: "Neutral, both eyes open, facing camera" },
    { label: "Eyeglasses", value: "Not allowed; rare medical exception" },
    { label: "Not accepted", value: "Copies of ID photos, snapshots, edited photos" },
  ]}
/>

## Where the DS-260 photos actually go

The State Department's [Photo Requirements](https://adoption.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/photos.html) page splits the forms in two. For the DS-160 and DS-1648, "the form will instruct you to upload your digital image as part of completing the online visa application form." For the DS-260, the instruction is different: "you must provide two (2) identical photos at your immigrant visa interview," printed on photo quality paper, 2 x 2 inches.

The interview page in the immigrant visa process lists what every applicant brings, and photographs are on it: "two identical color photograph(s) for each applicant, which must meet the general Photograph Requirements," next to the passport, the DS-260 confirmation page and the originals of civil documents uploaded into CEAC. The step before it, Prepare for the Interview, says: "Every visa applicant, no matter their age, must bring certain documents to the interview, including photographs."

So what you upload to CEAC is civil documents. The photos are paper, and they travel in your folder to the embassy or consulate. Our [US visa and immigration photo guide](/blog/us-immigration-photo-requirements) sorts every form by which of those two routes it uses.

## Size and head height

The photo FAQ is precise: "The photo must be exactly 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm)." For the head: "between 1 inch and 1-3/8 inches (between 25 and 35 mm) from the bottom of your chin to the top of your hair."

One detail worth knowing if you read the main Photo Requirements page too. It gives the same range as "1 inch and 1 3/8 inches (22 mm and 35 mm)." One inch is 25.4 mm, so the 22 mm there doesn't match its own inch figure, and the FAQ says 25 mm. Aim for a head between 25 and 35 mm and you satisfy both readings.

Two ways people get the size wrong:

- **Printing a digital file at the wrong scale.** A square file printed as a 4 x 6 photo is not a 2 x 2 photo. The print has to measure 2 inches on each side.
- **Trimming a larger photo down.** Cutting a 35 x 45 mm or a wallet-size print into a square can leave the head outside the 25 to 35 mm window.

For how the square format converts between inches, millimeters and pixels, see the [600x600 photo](/blog/600x600-photo) guide.

## Paper and color

"Photos must be printed on photo quality paper. The photo quality paper can be either matte or glossy photo paper." And: "Black and white photos will not be accepted."

The two photos must be **identical**, so print both from the same file at the same time. Two different shots, even from the same session, aren't two identical photos.

## What the photo must show

From the Photo Requirements page and the FAQ, your photos must be:

- Taken within the last 6 months "to reflect your current appearance"
- In front of a plain white or off-white background
- In full-face view, directly facing the camera, with the face horizontally centered
- With a neutral facial expression and both eyes open. "Photos with unusual expressions and squinting will not be accepted."
- In clothing you normally wear every day. No uniforms, "except religious clothing that is worn daily."
- Without a hat or head covering that obscures the hair or hairline, unless it's worn daily for a religious purpose. "Your full face must be visible, and the head covering must not cast any shadows on your face."
- Without headphones or wireless hands-free devices. A hearing device you normally wear is allowed.

### Eyeglasses

"Effective November 1, 2016, eyeglasses are no longer allowed in new visa photos, except in rare circumstances when eyeglasses cannot be removed for medical reasons." The example given is recent ocular surgery, and "a medical statement signed by a medical professional/health practitioner must be provided in these cases." Even then, the frames must not cover the eyes and there must be no glare, shadow or refraction obscuring them.

Tinted lenses are a separate, stricter rule for visas: "If you are applying for a U.S. visa, you may not wear any glasses with dark or tinted lenses for your photo." Our [glasses in passport photos](/blog/glasses-in-passport-photo) guide compares this with other countries.

### Photos that are never accepted

"Photos copied or digitally scanned from driver's licenses or other official documents are not acceptable. In addition, snapshots, magazine photos, low quality vending machine or mobile phone photos, and full-length photographs are not acceptable." And on editing: "you are not allowed to digitally enhance or alter the photo to change your appearance in any way." That includes removing red eye with an editing tool, which the FAQ names specifically. Using the red-eye reduction setting on the camera is fine.

<Callout type="warning" title="The State Department is wary of phone photos">
Its FAQ says "Most webcams and mobile phones cannot provide images of sufficient quality," and it recommends a professional visa photo service. A phone photo can work if it is sharp, evenly lit and printed at full quality, but a dim, grainy or heavily compressed one is exactly what that sentence is about. If your phone struggles in your light, use a studio.
</Callout>

## Children and babies

Each applicant brings two photos, and the Prepare for the Interview page says "every visa applicant, no matter their age." A baby on a derivative immigrant visa needs two identical 2 x 2 prints of their own.

The FAQ's child rules apply in full:

- "The child must be the only person in the photo. Nothing used to support the child should be in the camera's frame, including the arms or hands of a parent holding the child."
- Eyes open: "Please have your child's eyes open and looking straight ahead towards the camera."
- For babies, the FAQ suggests laying them on their back on a plain white or off-white sheet, or covering a car seat with one, and making sure there are no shadows on the face.

There's no infant leniency on open eyes in the visa rules, unlike some passport rules. Plan the shoot for a time the baby is awake.

## Diversity Visa selectees: same two prints

If you were selected in the DV lottery, the DS-260 photos follow the same rules. The photo FAQ says a DV selectee "must provide two (2) identical photos at your immigrant visa interview," and the DV interview preparation page says each DV applicant "will need to bring two (2) identical photos to the interview."

The digital image you sent with your original entry doesn't replace those prints. If the entry photo is more than six months old by the time you apply, it is too old to reuse anyway. For the entry-stage rules for spouses and children, see [DV lottery family photos](/blog/dv-lottery-family-photos).

## Your embassy's instructions can add detail

The State Department sends applicants to their embassy or consulate's own interview instructions, and those are worth reading for the photo line. As one example, the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem's family-based visa checklist asks for "two identical (5 cm x 5 cm, or 2 inch x 2 inch) photographs with a plain, light background taken within the last six months," without glasses, and adds that head coverings are permitted if the face shows "from the crown of the head (hairline) to the tip of the chin and from ear to ear."

Where a post's wording differs from the general rules, a photo that meets both is the safe choice: plain white or off-white background, no glasses, head coverings only for daily religious wear with the whole face visible. More on what to bring on the day in our [US visa interview photo](/blog/us-visa-interview-photo) guide.

## DS-260, DS-160 and I-485: don't mix the rules

| | DS-160 (nonimmigrant) | DS-260 (immigrant visa abroad) | I-485 (green card in the US) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who handles it | Consulate | Consulate | USCIS |
| What you supply | Digital image uploaded with the form | 2 identical prints at the interview | See USCIS guidance |
| Format | Square JPEG | 2 x 2 in photo paper | See USCIS guidance |
| Glasses | Not allowed | Not allowed | See USCIS guidance |

**DS-160.** The digital file has its own pixel and file-size rules, covered in [DS-160 photo requirements](/blog/ds-160-photo-requirements).

**I-485.** People adjusting status inside the US file with USCIS, not the State Department. USCIS Policy Alert PA-2025-29, dated December 12, 2025, says USCIS "will not use or reuse self-submitted photographs" and that Form I-485 requires "the collection of new biometrics, including a new photograph." The form instructions haven't caught up in every respect, which our [green card photo requirements](/blog/green-card-photo-requirements) guide lays out source by source. None of that changes the DS-260: consular immigrant visa applicants still bring prints.

## Getting the two prints right

<Steps items={[
  { title: "Shoot against a plain white or off-white wall", text: "Stand a couple of feet in front of it so your shadow falls behind you. Face a window for even daylight. Glasses, headphones and hats off, unless a head covering is daily religious wear." },
  { title: "Camera at eye level, a few feet away", text: "Face the lens straight on, neutral expression, both eyes open. Take several shots in sharp focus and choose one. Use a good camera or a phone in strong, even light." },
  { title: "Crop to a square with the head at 25 to 35 mm", text: "On a 2 x 2 inch print, the head from chin to top of hair takes up about half to two-thirds of the height. Keep the face centered and don't edit anything but the crop." },
  { title: "Print two identical copies on photo paper", text: "Matte or glossy photo quality paper, in color, at exactly 2 x 2 inches. A 4 x 6 sheet with several 2 x 2 photos laid out at the correct scale works at a photo counter." },
  { title: "Measure before the interview", text: "Each photo 2 inches square; head 1 to 1 3/8 inches. Check the date you took the photo is within 6 months of your application. Pack both prints with the DS-260 confirmation page." }
]} />

<ToolCTA document="us-visa" title="Two 2 x 2 inch prints for your immigrant visa interview" text="Upload a photo taken against a plain white wall. We crop it to 2 x 2 inches with the head in range, check tilt, background, sharpness and exposure, and lay out prints on a 4 x 6 sheet for any photo counter. We don't retouch faces. Checking is free; $6.99 with the print sheet." />

## Where our tool fits

We are an independent photo service, not the State Department or the National Visa Center, and a consular officer decides on your photos. What we do is the preparation. [Upload a photo](/photo?document=us-visa) and we crop and resize it to a 2 x 2 inch square, check the head sits in the required range, and check head tilt, background evenness, sharpness and exposure before you pay. The [US visa photo](/us-visa-photo) page covers the same checks for the digital DS-160 file. The $6.99 option includes a 4 x 6 inch print sheet at the correct scale, so both photos come from the same file and are identical.

Two honest limits. We can't reliably detect glasses, so take them off before you shoot. And we don't replace backgrounds or smooth faces, because the visa rules forbid altering a photo to change your appearance. If the wall isn't white, fix the wall.

## Checklist for the interview folder

<RuleList items={[
  { text: "Two identical color prints per applicant, including children and babies", ok: true },
  { text: "Exactly 2 x 2 inches, on matte or glossy photo quality paper", ok: true },
  { text: "Head 1 to 1 3/8 inches, chin to top of hair", ok: true },
  { text: "Taken within 6 months, plain white or off-white background", ok: true },
  { text: "Full face, neutral expression, both eyes open", ok: true },
  { text: "Eyeglasses, or any dark or tinted lenses", ok: false },
  { text: "A photo copied from a driver's license or another document", ok: false },
  { text: "Two different shots instead of two identical prints", ok: false },
  { text: "Red eye, blemishes or background removed with editing software", ok: false },
  { text: "A parent's hands or arms visible in a child's photo", ok: false }
]} />

<LeadMagnet id="photo-checklist" />

## Frequently asked questions

### Do I upload a photo with the DS-260?

No digital upload is described for the DS-260. The State Department's photo pages say DS-260 applicants must provide two identical photos at the immigrant visa interview, while it is the DS-160 and DV entry forms that ask for a digital image. Bring the prints with your DS-260 confirmation page and passport.

### What size are DS-260 immigrant visa photos?

Exactly 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm), in color, printed on matte or glossy photo quality paper. Your head should measure 1 inch to 1 3/8 inches (25 to 35 mm) from the bottom of the chin to the top of the hair, against a plain white or off-white background.

### How many photos do I need for an immigrant visa interview?

Two identical color photos for each applicant. The State Department's interview preparation page lists them for every applicant, and its photo FAQ gives the same number for DS-260 applicants and for Diversity Visa selectees. Children and babies traveling on their own immigrant visas need their own two photos.

### Can I wear glasses in my immigrant visa photos?

No. Eyeglasses have not been allowed in new visa photos since November 1, 2016, except in rare medical cases such as recent eye surgery, with a medical statement signed by a medical professional. Dark or tinted lenses are never allowed for a visa photo, even with a prescription.

### Can I use the same photo as my DS-160 or DV entry?

Only if it is still within 6 months of your application and prints correctly at 2 x 2 inches. The rules on pose, background and head size are the same, but the DS-260 needs two identical prints, and a DV entry photo taken for an earlier program year will usually be too old.

### Are the photos for DS-260 and Form I-485 the same?

No. The DS-260 is for an immigrant visa issued abroad, and the prints go to the consular interview. The I-485 is filed with USCIS inside the United States, and USCIS policy since December 2025 says it will not use self-submitted photos and requires a new photo at biometrics for that form.

<Sources items={[
  { label: "U.S. Department of State - Photo Requirements (visas; read on the adoption.state.gov mirror)", href: "https://adoption.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/photos.html" },
  { label: "U.S. Department of State - Photo Frequently Asked Questions", href: "https://adoption.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/photos/frequently-asked-questions.html" },
  { label: "U.S. Department of State - Digital Image Requirements", href: "https://adoption.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/photos/digital-image-requirements.html" },
  { label: "U.S. Department of State - Immigrant Visa Process, Step 10: Prepare for the Interview", href: "https://adoption.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/the-immigrant-visa-process/step-10-prepare-for-the-interview.html" },
  { label: "U.S. Department of State - Immigrant Visa Process, Step 11: Applicant Interview", href: "https://adoption.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/the-immigrant-visa-process/step-10-prepare-for-the-interview/step-11-applicant-interview.html" },
  { label: "U.S. Department of State - Diversity Visa: Prepare for the Interview", href: "https://adoption.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/diversity-visa-program-entry/diversity-visa-interview/diversity-visa-prepare-for-interview.html" },
  { label: "U.S. Embassy Jerusalem - Checklist for your family-based visa interview", href: "https://il.usembassy.gov/checklist-for-your-family-based-visa-interview/" },
  { label: "USCIS - Policy Alert PA-2025-29, Photograph Reuse for Identity Documents (December 12, 2025)", href: "https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/policy-manual-updates/20251212-PhotographReuse.pdf" }
]} />