US visa photo requirements for the digital upload

The US visa application takes a square digital JPEG rather than a printed photo. The Department of State sets 600–1200 pixels per side, a file of at most 240 kB and a head, including hair, that fills 50–69% of the image. VisaPhoto exports a 600 × 600 pixel file for this upload.

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Photo size & positioning

United States dimension templateFront-facing portrait with width, height, head-height and top-gap dimension arrows. Eye height is shown only when specified for this format.600 pxExport width600 pxHeightHead height58–66%348–396 pxTop gapFull head visibleNo fixed marginEye height336–414 px
Illustrative template. Head guides estimate visible head height. Check anatomical crown measurements manually.

Photo requirements

Image size
Square, from 600 × 600 to 1200 × 1200 px
VisaPhoto export
600 × 600 px
File
JPEG, at most 240 kB, 24-bit colour, compression at most 20:1
Head height
50–69% of the image, including hair
Eye position
56–69% of the image height, measured from the bottom
Background
Plain white or off-white
Recency
A recent photo that shows your current appearance
Glasses and expression
No glasses; neutral expression with both eyes open
Physical size
None set for the digital upload

Photo rules

  • Face the camera directly with a neutral expression and both eyes open.
  • Remove your glasses: the Department of State does not allow them in visa photos, except in rare medical cases.
  • Wear a hat or head covering only for religious or medical reasons, with your full face visible.
  • Light your face evenly so there are no shadows on the face or the background.
  • Keep the photo in colour and do not apply filters or retouching.
  • Centre your head so the full head and the top of the shoulders are visible.

Common reasons for rejection

  • Head smaller than 50% or larger than 69% of the image
  • File over 240 kB or an image that is not square
  • Glasses in the photo
  • Shadows on the face or the background
  • Background that is not white or off-white
  • Blurry, dark or over-compressed image

3 steps with VisaPhoto

  1. 1

    Upload a selfie

    Take a clear, front-facing photo with your phone and upload it.

  2. 2

    Generate and check

    AI creates a portrait in this format; framing and image quality are checked.

  3. 3

    Review and download

    Compare the result with the official rules, then download your JPEG files.

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Example

Original selfie 1Reframed photo example 1
Illustrative example in the Schengen 35 × 45 mm frame.

Frequently asked questions

What size is a US visa photo?

The digital photo must be square, between 600 × 600 and 1200 × 1200 pixels, and at most 240 kB. VisaPhoto exports 600 × 600 pixels, which sits within that range.

Can I take my US visa photo with my phone?

You can start from a clear phone selfie taken in soft, even light, facing the camera without glasses or filters. VisaPhoto turns it into a square portrait with a plain background and checks the framing.

What background colour is required?

Plain white or off-white, with no pattern or shadows behind you.

Can I wear glasses in a US visa photo?

No. The Department of State does not allow glasses in visa photos, except in rare medical cases.

Can I use a VisaPhoto portrait for a US visa?

VisaPhoto creates an AI-assisted portrait from your selfie and checks its framing and image quality against the Department of State’s published sizes. It cannot promise acceptance, so compare the result with the requirements before you apply.

Official sources

Sources checked on 2026-09-20.