Your photo is a vital part of your visa application. To learn more,
review the information below on how to provide a suitable photo. Digital
images are required for some visa categories, while photos are required
for other visa categories. The acceptance of your digital image or photo
is at the discretion of the U.S. embassy or consulate where you apply.
We recommend you use a professional visa photo service to ensure your
photo meets all the requirements.
Your photos or digital images must be:
- In color
- Sized such that the head is
between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches (22 mm and 35 mm) or 50% and 69% of
the image's total height from the bottom of the chin to the top of
the head. View the Photo
Composition Template for more size requirement details.
- Taken within the last 6 months to
reflect your current appearance
- Taken in front of a plain white
or off-white background
- Taken in full-face view directly
facing the camera
- With a neutral facial expression
and both eyes open
- Taken in clothing that you
normally wear on a daily basis
- Uniforms should not be worn in
your photo, except religious clothing that is worn daily.
- Do not wear a hat or head
covering that obscures the hair or hairline, unless worn daily for a
religious purpose. Your full face must be visible, and the head
covering must not cast any shadows on your face.
- Headphones, wireless hands-free
devices, or similar items are not acceptable in your photo.
- Effective November 1, 2016,
eyeglasses are no longer allowed in new visa photos, except in rare
circumstances when eyeglasses cannot be removed for medical reasons;
e.g., the applicant has recently had ocular surgery and the
eyeglasses are necessary to protect the applicant's eyes. A medical
statement signed by a medical professional/health practitioner must
be provided in these cases. If the eyeglasses are accepted for
medical reasons:
- The frames of the eyeglasses
must not cover the eye(s).
- There must not be glare on
eyeglasses that obscures the eye(s).
- There must not be shadows or
refraction from the eyeglasses that obscures the eye(s).
- If you normally wear a hearing
device or similar articles, they may be worn in your photo.
Review the Photo
Examples to see examples of acceptable and unacceptable photos.
Photos copied or digitally scanned from driver’s licenses or other
official documents are not acceptable. In addition, snapshots, magazine
photos, low quality vending machine or mobile phone photos, and
full-length photographs are not acceptable.
Please review the additional photo requirements for:
Additional Information
Additional
Requirements for Nonimmigrant Visas
Applicants using Form DS-160 or Form DS-1648
If you are applying for a nonimmigrant visa by filling out the DS-160
or DS-1648 online form, the form will instruct you to upload your
digital image as part of completing the online visa application form.
Review the Digital
Image Requirements, which also provide additional requirements if
you are scanning an existing photo.
Some embassies and consulates require visa applicants to bring one
(1) photo, which meets requirements, to the interview. Review the embassy
or consulate instructions where you will apply to learn more.
Additional
Requirements for Immigrant Visas
Applicants using Form DS-260
If you are applying for an immigrant visa, using Form DS-260, you
must provide two (2) identical photos at your immigrant visa
interview. Your photos must be:
- Printed on photo quality paper
- 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm) in size
Additional Requirements
for the Diversity Visa (DV) Program
Diversity Visa Program Entrants
If you are entering the Diversity Visa (DV) Program online, you must
upload your digital image as part of your entry. Your digital image must
be:
- In JPEG (.jpg) file format
- Equal to or less than 240 kB
(kilobytes) in file size
- In a square aspect ratio (height
must equal width)
- 600x600 pixels in dimension
Do you want to scan an existing photo? In addition to the digital
image requirements, your existing photo must be:
- 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm)
- Scanned at a resolution of 300
pixels per inch (12 pixels per millimeter)
Diversity Visa Program Selectees
Each DV applicant will need to bring two (2) identical photos to the
interview. Your photos must be:
- Printed on photo quality paper
- 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm) in size
Do you want to
take the photo yourself?
While we recommend you use a professional visa photo service to
ensure your photo meets all the requirements, you may take the photo
yourself. Photos must not be digitally enhanced or altered to change
your appearance in any way. Please review the following technical
requirements and references for guidance on taking your own photo.
Taking photos of your baby or toddler
When taking a photo of your baby or toddler, no other person should
be in the photo, and your child should be looking at the camera with his
or her eyes open.
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Tip 1:
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Lay your baby on his or her back on a plain white or
off-white sheet. This will ensure your baby's head is supported
and provide a plain background for the photo. Make certain there
are no shadows on your baby's face, especially if you take a
picture from above with the baby lying down.
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Tip 2:
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Cover a car seat with a plain white or off-white sheet and
take a picture of your child in the car seat. This will also
ensure your baby’s head is supported
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Change of
Appearance
If your photo(s) or digital image does not reflect your current
appearance, even if it is not older than 6 months, the U.S. embassy or
consulate will request that you provide a new photo with your
application.
Applicants will be requested to obtain a new photo if they have:
- Undergone significant facial
surgery or trauma
- Added or removed numerous/large
facial piercings or tattoos
- Undergone a significant amount of
weight loss or gain
- Made a gender transition
Generally, if you can still be identified from the photo in your visa
application, you will not need to submit a new photo. For example,
growing a beard or coloring your hair would not generally be considered
a significant change of appearance.
If the appearance of your child under the age of 16 has changed due
to the normal aging process, he or she will generally not have to
provide a new photo. However, the acceptance of your photo or digital
image is at the discretion of the U.S. embassy or consulate where you
apply.
