Digital Photo Requirements

Instructions for Submitting a Digital Photograph (Image)
for the USA-GREEN-CARD Lottery Registration Entry (DV Lottery)

The submitted image must adhere to the following specifications. Photographs submitted must be a recent photograph, taken within the last 6 months. Please be advised that Failure to comply with any of the following requirements may result in Disqualification from the US DV Lottery Program.

A digital photograph (image) of you, your spouse, and each child must be submitted online with the E-DV entry form. The image file can be produced either by taking a new digital photograph or by scanning a photographic print with a digital scanner.

The image file must adhere to the following compositional and technical specifications and can be produced in one of the following ways: taking a new digital image or using a digital scanner to scan a photograph.

Image Acquisition

• The image file may be produced by acquiring an image with a digital camera or by digitizing a paper photograph with a scanner.
• Digital enhancement or other alterations or retouching are not permitted.
• The original aspect ratio of the image must be preserved. (No image stretching is allowed.)

Compositional Specifications:

The submitted digital image must conform to the following compositional specifications or the entry will be disqualified.

Content

• The image must contain the full face, neck, and shoulders of the entrant in frontal view with a neutral, non-smiling expression and with eyes open and directed at the camera.
• The image must not contain any parts of the body below the entrant's shoulders.
• The image must not include other objects or additional people.
• The entrant must be vertically oriented in the image.

• The image must be from a recent (within 6 months) photo of the entrant.

Head Position

• The person being photographed must directly face the camera.
• The head of the person should not be tilted up, down, or to the side.
• The head height or facial region size (measured from the top of the head, including the hair, to the bottom of the chin) must be between 50 percent and 69 percent of the image's total height. The eye height (measured from the bottom of the image to the level of the eyes) should be between 56 percent and 69 per cent of the image's height.

Background

• The person being photographed should be taken with the person in front of a neutral, light-colored background.
• Dark or patterned backgrounds are not acceptable.

Focus/Resolution

• The photograph must be in focus.

• The entire face must be in focus.
• Fine facial features must be clearly recognizable.
• Pixels or dot patterns must not be perceptible.

Decorative Items

• Photographs in which the person being photographed is wearing sunglasses or other items that detract from the face will not be accepted.

Head Coverings and Hats

• Photos of applicants wearing head coverings or hats are only acceptable if the head covering is worn for religious beliefs; even then, the head covering may not obscure any portion of the face of the applicant. Photographs of applicants with tribal or other headgear not specifically religious in nature will not be accepted; photographs of military, airline, or other personnel wearing hats will not be accepted.

Color photographs in 24-bit color depth are required

Color photographs may be downloaded from a camera to a file in the computer or they may be scanned onto a computer. If you are using a scanner, the settings must be for True Color or 24-bit color mode. See the additional scanning requirements below.

Technical Specifications

The submitted digital photograph must conform to the following specifications or the system will automatically reject the E-DV entry form and notify the sender.

Taking a New Digital Image

If a new digital image is taken, it must meet the following specifications:

Scanning a Submitted Photograph

Before a photographic print is scanned, it must meet the compositional specifications listed above. If the photographic print meets the print color and compositional specifications, scan the print using the following scanner specifications: