DV Lottery Photo Requirements

Entering the Diversity Visa (DV) Program means uploading a digital photo with your entry at dvprogram.state.gov — one for you, and one each for your spouse and every child included on your entry. DV entry photographs must meet the same standards as US visa photos, plus a stricter file specification. Because the whole family is on one entry, every photo needs to be right.

The digital file requirements for entrants

File format: JPEG (.jpg)
Dimensions: exactly 600 x 600 pixels — note this is stricter than the DS-160 range
Square aspect ratio — height must equal width
File size: 240 kB or less
Color image (US visa photo standard: 24 bits per pixel, sRGB color space)
Taken within the last 6 months

The photo itself — same standards as US visa photos

Head size: the head must be between 1 inch and 1-3/8 inches from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head — 50% to 69% of the image's total height.
Background: plain white or off-white, with no shadows, patterns, or objects.
Pose and expression: full-face view directly facing the camera, neutral facial expression, both eyes open.
Glasses: eyeglasses are no longer allowed in new visa photos, except in rare medical circumstances documented with a signed medical statement.
Clothing: what you normally wear daily; no uniforms except religious clothing worn daily; no hat or head covering that obscures the hair or hairline unless worn daily for a religious purpose, with the full face visible.
No digital changes: photos must not be digitally enhanced or altered to change your appearance in any way.
Originals only: photos copied or digitally scanned from driver's licenses or other official documents are not acceptable. Neither are snapshots, magazine photos, low-quality vending machine or mobile phone photos, or full-length photographs.

Photos for your spouse and children

The entry requires a recent photograph of yourself, your spouse, and all derivative children included on the entry — each one meeting the same file and composition requirements above. You do not need to include a photograph for a spouse or child who is already a US citizen or a lawful permanent resident. If you scan an existing printed photo instead of using a new digital one, the print must be 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm) and scanned at a resolution of 300 pixels per inch (12 pixels per millimeter). For babies and toddlers, the Department of State's tips are the same as for visa photos: lay your baby on a plain white or off-white sheet, or cover a car seat with one, keep shadows off the child's face, and make sure no other person is in the photo.

If you are selected

Each DV applicant will need to bring two identical photos to the visa interview, printed on photo-quality paper at 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm). It is worth keeping a printed copy of each family member's entry photo for this step.

Common photo problems on DV entries

Using the DS-160 pixel range — a 1200 x 1200 file is too big for a DV entry; it must be exactly 600 x 600
File larger than 240 kB, or not a JPEG
Head too small or too large in the frame (outside 50–69% of the height)
Eyeglasses, shadows, or a colored or patterned background
A filtered, retouched, or AI-edited photo
Reusing an old photo instead of one taken within the last 6 months
A spouse's or child's photo that does not meet the same requirements

Check every family photo before you enter

PassCheck Photo measures each photo against these specifications on your iPhone — head size, eye position, background, shadows, and brightness — with a clear Pass, Review, or Retake result for each item, and exports the digital file for your entry. Everything runs 100% on-device; nothing is uploaded, and faces are never edited. The pre-check is free. The Family Pack ($9.99, one-time) covers up to 4 people — built for exactly this situation. No subscription.

Download on the App Store — free to check

Pre-check only. The U.S. Department of State makes the final decision.

Sources: U.S. Department of State — Visa Photo Requirements (including the Additional Requirements for the Diversity Visa (DV) Program) and the Diversity Visa Program Instructions (travel.state.gov, accessed November 2026). Requirements can change — always confirm the current rules and entry instructions on the official pages before you enter.