United States Diversity Visa Lottery
Last verified 2026-06-28 against U.S. Department of StateStandards: ICAO Doc 9303 · ISO/IEC 19794-5Government-spec dimensions, head positioning, and file constraints.
- Pixel size
- 600 × 600 px
- Print size
- 51 × 51 mm · 299 DPI
- Background
- white#FFFFFF
- Face height
- 50–69% · target 60%
- Eye line
- 56%–69% from bottom
- File size limit
- 240 KB
Note: Diversity Visa digital entry photo; neutral expression; glasses not permitted
Dimensions
- Print equivalent: 2 x 2 in (51 x 51 mm), aspect ratio 1:1
- Pixel size: 600 x 600 px
- DPI: 300 DPI typical
- File format / max file size: JPEG, max 240 KB
- Color mode: sRGB color only
Head position
- Head height (chin to top of head): approximately 50%-69% of frame height
- Eye line from bottom of frame: approximately 56%-69%
- Head position: Directly facing camera, no tilt or rotation
- Shoulders: Square to camera
Background
- Color: Plain white or off-white
- Requirements: No shadows, no texture, no patterns, and no objects behind the subject
Expression
- Neutral expression is the safest target
- Both eyes open and looking directly at the camera
- Mouth closed; avoid exaggerated smiles
Accessories
- Eyeglasses: NOT permitted. Diversity Visa entry photos follow the Department of State no-glasses rule.
- Sunglasses / tinted lenses: Prohibited
- Religious head coverings: Permitted if the full face is visible from chin to forehead
- Hats / non-religious head coverings: Prohibited
Other rules
- Photo must be recent and reflect current appearance
- No digital alteration, filters, or AI enhancement
- Use a color image with normal exposure and sharp focus
Notes
- The Diversity Visa Lottery uses the same square digital-photo geometry as DS-160 visa photos.
- The 240 KB ceiling is tight; JPEG compression must preserve facial detail and clean edges.
Sources
Can I wear glasses for a Diversity Visa Lottery photo?
No. Department of State visa-photo rules do not allow eyeglasses in new Diversity Visa entry photos, except for rare medical exceptions.
Can I wear a head covering?
Religious head coverings are permitted if the full face is visible from chin to forehead and there are no shadows. Hats and ordinary head coverings are prohibited.
Can I smile in a DV Lottery photo?
Use a neutral expression with both eyes open and the face looking directly at the camera. A neutral crop is safest for automated quality checks.
How recent does the photo need to be?
Use a recent photo that reflects your current appearance. Do not use a digitally altered or AI-enhanced portrait.
What size and format should I upload?
Use a 600 x 600 px JPEG square on a plain white or off-white background. Keep the file at or below 240 KB.
Live validation
against the actual rulebook.
Every crop is measured against the published tolerance ranges for the selected document. Pass or warn, in real time — no "submit and hope."
The same checks the authority will run — before you submit.
- Face height & eye line measured from the pupil midpoint with sub-pixel accuracy, clamped to the tolerance range your authority publishes.
- Background colour checked across a sampled grid — catches gradients and fringe from poor segmentation (ΔE < 3 against spec).
- File-size ceiling enforced per-spec — recompressed silently for sub-60 KB e-visa portals, lossless for print.
- Sharpness & expression guards warn on blur, closed eyes, or non-neutral expressions before you export.
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