United States · Visa (DS-160)
US visa photo (DS-160)
The DS-160 upload wants a square JPEG between 600 x 600 and 1200 x 1200 pixels, at most 240 kB, with the head at 50 to 69 percent of the image height. Make the file here, or check one you already have — the check costs nothing.
Requirements verified September 16, 2026 — always confirm with the issuing authorityThe check is free and runs on your device. You pay only if you download the finished file — $4.99, or $6.99 with a 4 × 6 in print sheet.
The exact specification
The same numbers the checker applies — drawn from our United States guide, which lists the official sources it was verified against.
- Printed size
- 2 × 51 × 51 mm
- Print rules
- A scanned print must be 2 x 2 in scanned at 300 ppi, which is exactly 600 x 600 px.
- Digital file
- JPEG · 600 × 600 to 1200 × 1200 px · 240 kB max
- Head size
- 25–35 mm chin to crown
- Eye line
- 28–35 mm from the bottom edge
- Background
- Plain white or off-white
- Glasses
- Eyeglasses have not been allowed in new US visa photos since 1 November 2016. We cannot reliably detect glasses, so we report this check as unverified rather than passing it.
- Taken within
- the last 6 months
About background editing. Only cropping, rotating and resizing are clearly allowed. Background replacement and AI 'enhancement' are a different category; off by default.
What the free check covers
We measure
- Head size against the published window
- Eye position, where the authority sets one
- Head tilt and rotation
- Background brightness and evenness
- Sharpness and exposure
Only you can confirm
- Glasses — we can't reliably detect them, so we flag rather than pass
- Expression and mouth position
- Red eye
- Filters, retouching or AI edits made before upload
We are an independent service, not affiliated with any government. The issuing authority always makes the final decision — a pass here means your photo meets the published measurements we can check.
Common questions
The digital image must be square, at least 600 x 600 pixels and at most 1200 x 1200 pixels, in JPEG format, 240 kB or smaller, in 24-bit color in the sRGB color space. If you print a photo instead, it must be exactly 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm).
Keep reading
US Visa and Immigration Photos by Form: 2026 Guide
Which US visa and immigration forms need your photo in 2026: DS-160 uploads, DS-260 prints, DV entries, USCIS forms and biometrics, in one sourced table.
Read the guideTroubleshootingDS-160 Photo Upload Error? Fix It in 2 Minutes
Every DS-160 photo upload error explained: what the CEAC check rejects, the exact file specs, and how to make a photo that passes. Pay only at download.
Read the guideRequirementsDS-160 Photo Requirements 2026: Exact Specs
Every DS-160 photo spec with its source: 600x600 to 1200x1200 pixels, 240 kB JPEG, head at 50-69% of image height, no glasses. Checked 16 September 2026.
Read the guide