DV Photo Requirements

You can take a new digital picture or use a digital camera to scan a recent (taken within the last six months) photo, as long as it meets all of the requirements listed below.The quality and style of DV entry pictures must be the same as those for U.S. visas. Here are some examples of pictures that can be used.Do not send in photos that are more than six months old or that don’t meet all of the requirements below. If you send in the same picture you sent in the previous year, a photo that has been changed, or a photo that doesn’t meet the requirements below, you won’t be qualified for a DV.

Your digital images or photographs must be:

• In color
• In focus
• The head should be between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inch (22 mm and 35 mm) in height, or between 50 and 69 percent of the image’s entire height from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head. More information on the size requirements may be found in the Photo Composition Template
• Photographs taken within the previous six months to show your current appearance.
• Photographed on a basic white or off-white backdrop
• Full-face shot, squarely addressing the camera
• With both eyes open and a neutral facial expression
• Clothing that you would ordinarily wear on a regular basis
• Except for religious garb that is worn on a regular basis, uniforms should not be worn in your photograph.
• Unless used on a daily basis for religious reasons, do not wear a cap or head covering that obscures the hair or hairline.Your entire face must be visible, and your head covering must not cast any shadows on it.
• Headphones, Bluetooth hands-free devices, and other similar equipment are not permitted in your photograph.
• Do not wear eyeglasses.
• If you regularly wear a hearing aid or comparable items, they may be visible in your photograph.

Examine the Photo samples for samples of good and undesirable photographs.Driver’s license or other official document photos that have been duplicated or digitally scanned are not accepted.Snapshots, magazine images, low-quality vending machine photos, and full-length photographs are also not permitted.

As part of your application, you must include a digital image. Your digital picture must have the following elements:

• JPEG (.jpg) file type
• File size must be equal to or less than 240 kB (kilobytes).
• 600 x 600 pixels in size with a square aspect ratio (height must match width).

Would you like to scan an existing photograph?Aside from the digital picture requirements, your current photograph must be:

• 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm) 
• 300 pixels per inch (12 pixels per millimeter) resolution scan

Photographing your infant or kid

When photographing your infant or toddler, there should be no other people in the picture, and your child should be gazing at the camera with his or her eyes open.

Tip 1:

Place your infant on his or her back on a white or off-white sheet.This will support your baby’s head and give a clean background for the shot.Make sure there are no shadows on your baby’s face, especially if you are photographing the infant lying down from above.

Tip 2:

Cover a car seat with a basic white or off-white sheet and photograph your child in it.This also ensures that your baby’s head is supported.

DV photo examples