All countries United States Visa / Green Card DS-160
US visa and Green Card photo: 2 × 2 in
You need a 600 × 600 pixel photo on a white background, JPEG under 240 KB. Make it right here. Your photo is processed in the browser and never uploaded.
Checked 5 August 2026 · U.S. Department of State
Specification
- Print size
- 2 × 2 in
51 × 51 mm · 5.1 × 5.1 cm - Digital size
- 600 × 600 px
- Background
- White
- Head height
- 56 %
- Eye line
- 62.5 % from bottom
- File
- JPEG ≤ 240 KB
- Per sheet
- 2 photos
White background, 2×2 inches, head between 50 % and 69 % of the height.
- Processed in your browser
- Never sent to a server
- No watermark
- No sign-up
Photo requirements
Everything an accepted Visa / Green Card photo has to satisfy.
- 2 × 2 in — 51 × 51 mm · 5.1 × 5.1 cm · 600 × 600 px @ 300 dpi
- Background: White
- Head height: 56 %, eye line 62.5 % from bottom
- File: JPEG ≤ 240 KB
- White background, 2×2 inches, head between 50 % and 69 % of the height.
How to shoot it at home
Stand facing a window so the light falls evenly on your face, about two metres from a plain wall. Have someone hold the camera at eye level rather than shooting from below. Neutral expression, mouth closed, both ears and the jawline visible, no shadow behind your head.
Printing: photos per sheet
2 photos of 51 × 51 mm fit on one A4 sheet at 300 dpi. Print at 100 % scale. “Fit to page” quietly resizes everything, and the photo stops matching the spec.
Related pages
Frequently asked
What size is a US visa photo?
2 × 2 inches, which is 51 × 51 mm or 5.08 × 5.08 cm. Digitally that is 600 × 600 pixels at minimum, square, with your head taking up 50 % to 69 % of the height.
How many photos do I need?
One digital photo for the DS-160 form. Consulates often also ask for a printed 2 × 2 photo at the interview, so check your appointment letter and bring one to be safe.
Why does DS-160 say the photo upload failed?
The form rejects anything over 240 KB, anything that is not JPEG, and anything smaller than 600 × 600 pixels or not perfectly square. Exporting here keeps all four inside the limits. If the file is within spec and the site still errors, that is their service, not your photo — try again later.
Can I wear glasses?
No. Glasses have not been allowed in US visa and passport photos since November 2016, except with a signed medical statement.
What should I wear?
Everyday clothes. No uniforms, nothing that looks like a uniform, and no white top — it blends into the white background. Head coverings only for religious reasons, with your full face visible.
What if my photo is rejected?
The usual causes are head size outside 50–69 %, shadow on the face or behind the head, a background that is not plain white, glasses, or a photo older than six months. Retake it against a plain wall and re-crop; the specification itself does not change.
How old can the photo be?
Taken within the last six months, and it must show your current appearance.
What size is a US visa and Green Card photo, in cm and inches?
51 × 51 mm, which is 5.1 × 5.1 cm or 2 × 2 inches. Those are the same photo stated three ways; use whichever unit the form in front of you asks for.
What size is a US visa and Green Card photo in pixels?
600 × 600 pixels, which is 300 dpi at the print size. Anything smaller will look soft when printed.
What background colour does a US visa and Green Card photo need?
White, plain and evenly lit, with no shadow behind the head. The tool can replace the background for you if the wall behind you is not right.
What file format and size does a US visa and Green Card photo need?
JPEG, no larger than 240 KB. The export here compresses to stay under that limit without dropping below the required resolution.
How many copies of a US visa and Green Card photo fit on one sheet?
2 photos of 51 × 51 mm on an A4 sheet. Print at 100 % scale, never "fit to page".
Why does DS-160 reject the photo?
DS-160 refuses anything that is not JPEG, anything above 240 KB, and anything smaller than 600 × 600 pixels. Exporting here keeps all three inside the limits. If the file is within spec and the site still errors, that is their service, not your photo.
Hand this to an agent
Paste the prompt into any AI assistant and it has everything it needs: the exact numbers, the page they came from and the source they were checked against. The full spec is the longer reference version.
Reference information, not immigration advice. An application is filled in and signed by the applicant.
Sources
- U.S. Department of State — Checked 5 August 2026 · U.S. Department of State
This is an independent site, not a government body. Requirements change, so check them against the official source before you apply. We promise a photo that matches the published specification. We never promise that an application will be approved.