Official US Department of State photo specifications
The US Department of State enforces strict automated biometric validation for nonimmigrant visa (DS-160), immigrant visa, and passport applications:
- Dimensions: Exact square format of 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm), digital resolution minimum 600 x 600 pixels.
- File Size: Maximum 240 KB (kilobytes) in JPEG format.
- Head Size & Proportions: The distance between the bottom of your chin to the top of your head must be between 50% and 69% of the image total height.
- Background & Lighting: Plain white or off-white background with no shadows across the face or background.
- No Eyeglasses: As of recent State Department regulations, eyeglasses are strictly forbidden in visa photos.
Guaranteed DS-160 compatibility
Our US Visa Photo Maker displays the official State Department proportion guide overlay, allowing you to crop and scale your photo with confidence before uploading it to the CEAC DS-160 portal.