United States Visa (DS-160)
Last verified 2026-04-25 against U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs (DS-160 / DS-260 visa applications)Standards: ISO/IEC 19794-5 · ICAO Doc 9303Government-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: Neutral expression; glasses not permitted
Dimensions
- Print equivalent: 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm), aspect ratio 1:1 (square) — same as U.S. passport
- Pixel size: 600 × 600 px (minimum); ceiling 1200 × 1200 px
- DPI: 300 DPI typical
- File format / max file size: JPEG (.jpg); max 240 KB (hard limit enforced by the DS-160 upload — substantially tighter than the passport ceiling)
- Color mode: sRGB color only — no black-and-white
Head position
- Head height (chin to top of head): 1 in to 1 3/8 in (≈ 50%–69% of frame height)
- Eye line from bottom of frame: ≈ 56%–69% of frame height
- 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, no objects behind the subject
Expression
- Expression must be neutral, both eyes open, looking directly at camera
- Mouth closed; a natural smile is acceptable but a neutral expression is the safer target for the automated quality checks
- Hair must not cover the eyes
Accessories
- Eyeglasses: NOT permitted. Per Department of State policy effective November 2016, eyeglasses are not allowed in new visa photos. A rare medical exception requires a signed doctor's statement.
- Sunglasses / tinted lenses: Prohibited
- Religious head coverings: Permitted; the full face must be visible from chin to forehead, with no shadows on the face
- Hats / non-religious head coverings: Prohibited
- Uniforms: Prohibited (including camouflage and clothing resembling a uniform)
- Everyday clothing only
Other rules
- Photo must be taken within the last 6 months and reflect current appearance
- No digital alterations, filters, or AI enhancement
- Color photo only
- The DS-160 upload runs automated ICAO-style facial-image quality checks — pose, head size, eye position, sharpness, exposure, and uniform background are all gated by software at submission. Borderline photos that pass a human reviewer for the printed passport may still be rejected here.
Notes
- The visa photo shares the printed dimensions of the passport photo (2 × 2 in) but is digital-submission-only for DS-160; there is no print upload path.
- The 240 KB ceiling forces JPEG compression — encoders must target this size while preserving the sharpness needed to clear the automated checks.
- The ICAO-strict validation profile in code reflects the stricter DS-160 software gate, distinct from the standard profile used for the passport.
Sources
Can I wear glasses for my DS-160 visa photo?
No — per Department of State policy effective November 2016, eyeglasses are not allowed in new visa photos. A rare medical exception requires a signed doctor's statement. Sunglasses and tinted lenses are also prohibited.
Can I wear a head covering for the visa photo?
Religious head coverings are permitted; the full face must be visible from chin to forehead, with no shadows on the face. Hats and non-religious head coverings are prohibited, as are uniforms and clothing that resembles a uniform (including camouflage).
Can I smile in a U.S. visa photo?
A natural smile is technically acceptable, but a neutral expression with mouth closed and eyes looking directly at the camera is the safer target — the DS-160 runs automated facial-image quality checks at submission.
How recent does the visa photo need to be?
Within the last six months and reflective of your current appearance. No filters, retouching, or AI enhancement.
What format and size does the DS-160 accept?
JPEG (.jpg), sRGB, color only; **maximum 240 KB** — a hard limit enforced by the DS-160 upload, much tighter than the passport ceiling. Pixel size 600 × 600 px (minimum); ceiling 1200 × 1200 px; print equivalent 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm). Plain white or off-white background. The DS-160 is digital-submission-only.
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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