US Visa (DS-160 digital upload) photo requirements

A quick summary of the published size rules for this visa photo, and a free tool that crops your own photo to that size and checks the measurable rules — privately on your device.

⚠ Use a photo taken against a real plain white or off-white background. Do not edit, filter or retouch it — retake it instead.

Make my US Visa (DS-160 digital upload) photo

Size at a glance

Photo size	50.8 × 50.8 mm (2.00 × 2.00 in) proportions
Head height (chin to top of head)	25.4–35 mm (50–69% of photo height)
Eye line from bottom	28.4–35 mm
Background	White / off-white
Digital file	600 × 600 px, JPEG ≤ 240 KB
Digitally edited photos	Not accepted — US Department of State (visa photos): photos must not be digitally enhanced or altered to change your appearance; the State Department also warns against AI or digital editing tools.
Photos per 4×6 print	6

Square JPEG, 600×600 to 1200×1200 px, 240 KB or less.

How to take it at home

Stand about 1–1.5 m in front of a plain, light wall in even light; avoid shadows on your face and behind you.
Have someone else take the photo at eye level (selfies at arm's length distort the face). Look straight at the camera.
Keep a neutral expression or a natural smile. Both eyes open, hair away from the face, and no glasses.
Leave plenty of space above your head and around your shoulders. Don't use filters, beauty modes or portrait (background-blur) mode.
Open the photo tool: it crops to the exact size, places your head and eye line in range and checks the measurable rules. It does not change your background for documents that forbid edited photos — if the background isn't plain, retake the photo.
Download the digital file, or a 4×6 sheet and print it as a standard photo print ("fit / no crop").

The issuing authority makes the final decision on every photo; automatic checks can't guarantee acceptance.

Official source: travel.state.gov. This summary is provided for convenience and may be out of date.