United States · Visa · Digital upload photo · Digital upload
U.S. Visa DS-160 - Digital Upload
The official digital image requirement is at least 600 x 600 pixels, up to 1200 x 1200 pixels. Measurement size: 50–69% of photo height. Use a white; plain background. The document authority or upload workflow makes the final acceptance decision. U.S. nonimmigrant DS-160 digital-photo upload. The official pages require a square 600–1200 px JPEG and describe one printed-photo fallback if upload fails; post-specific interview rules vary. The 2 x 2 inch rule applies to existing-photo scans and named printed-photo categories, not every digital upload. The head-size text gives 1–1 3/8 inches with a parenthetical 22–35 mm and 50–69%; the inch/mm conversion conflicts, so this flow uses the stated percentage range and leaves absolute millimetres unspecified.
U.S. Visa DS-160 - Digital Upload source-backed photo requirements, examples, retake guidance, and local privacy notes. U.S. nonimmigrant DS-160 digital-photo upload. The official pages require a square 600–1200 px JPEG and describe one printed-photo fallback if upload fails; post-specific interview rules vary. The 2 x 2 inch rule applies to existing-photo scans and named printed-photo categories, not every digital upload. The head-size text gives 1–1 3/8 inches with a parenthetical 22–35 mm and 50–69%; the inch/mm conversion conflicts, so this flow uses the stated percentage range and leaves absolute millimetres unspecified. Use this as local guidance, then verify current official instructions before submitting.
Open local photo tool- Minimum image
- at least 600 x 600 pixels, up to 1200 x 1200 pixels
- Measurement size
- 50–69% of photo height
- Background
- white; plain
- File size
- maximum 240 KB
- Editing
- Acceptance remains at the discretion of the U.S. embassy or consulate.
- Dataset version
- e6a3cf1a
- Field verification
- 2026-10-29
- Output
- Digital upload
Official Sources
Published by Tejji. This guidance is not an official issuing-authority service and does not imply government affiliation.
- U.S. Department of State — U.S. Department of State source record reviewed 2026-10-29
- U.S. Department of State — U.S. Department of State source record reviewed 2026-10-29
- U.S. Visitor Visa — Photo Upload Context — U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs source record reviewed 2026-10-29
Full photo specifications
| Requirement | Published rule and evidence |
|---|---|
| Document and applicant scope | U.S. nonimmigrant DS-160 digital-photo upload. The official pages require a square 600–1200 px JPEG and describe one printed-photo fallback if upload fails; post-specific interview rules vary. The 2 x 2 inch rule applies to existing-photo scans and named printed-photo categories, not every digital upload. The head-size text gives 1–1 3/8 inches with a parenthetical 22–35 mm and 50–69%; the inch/mm conversion conflicts, so this flow uses the stated percentage range and leaves absolute millimetres unspecified. U.S. Department of State sourceU.S. Department of State sourceU.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs source |
| Output type | Digital upload |
| Official image dimensions | 600 x 600 pixels |
| Measurement size | 50–69% of photo height |
| Background | Visa photos must be taken in front of a plain white or off-white background. |
| Pose and framing | square image suitable for the Department of State photo tool crop |
| Eyes and eye-line | The captured U.S. visa pages publish head-size rules but not a separate eye-line distance. |
| Digital file requirements | Image must be square, 24-bit color, in sRGB color space, JPEG format, and no more than 20:1 compression. |
| Editing policy | Acceptance remains at the discretion of the U.S. embassy or consulate. |
Photo rejection risks
- wrong_head_size
- wrong_background
- glasses_glare
Local print price example
No published price example verified. General print prices vary by provider and location.
Field-level source evidence
Each listed excerpt supports the named artifact fields. Translations are labeled and are not represented as official English text.
U.S. Department of State — U.S. Department of State · reviewed 2026-10-29
Supports: maximum subject percentage, minimum subject percentage, application and output scope
Source locator: Photo Requirements > Your photos or digital images must be
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.
U.S. Department of State — U.S. Department of State · reviewed 2026-10-29
Supports: permitted background colors, plain background requirement
Source locator: Photo Requirements > Your photos or digital images must be
Taken in front of a plain white or off-white background
U.S. Department of State — U.S. Department of State · reviewed 2026-10-29
Supports: file requirements accepted extensions, file requirements max height pixels, file requirements max kb, file requirements max width pixels, file requirements min height pixels, file requirements min kb, file requirements min width pixels
Source locator: Digital Image Requirements > The digital image must adhere to the following specifications
The image dimensions must be in a square aspect ratio (the height must be equal to the width). Minimum acceptable dimensions are 600 x 600 pixels. Maximum acceptable dimensions are 1200 x 1200 pixels. The image must be in color (24 bits per pixel) in sRGB color space. The image must be in JPEG file format. The image must be less than or equal to 240 kB (kilobytes). The compression ratio should be less than or equal to 20:1.
U.S. Department of State — U.S. Department of State · reviewed 2026-10-29
Supports: application and output scope
Source locator: Digital Image Requirements > 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) and scanned at a resolution of 300 pixels per inch (12 pixels per millimeter).
U.S. Visitor Visa — Photo Upload Context — U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs · reviewed 2026-10-29
Supports: application and output scope
Source locator: Visitor Visa > Gather Required Documentation
Photo – You will upload your photo while completing the online Form DS-160. If the photo upload fails, you must bring one printed photo in the format explained in the Photograph Requirements.
U.S. Department of State — U.S. Department of State · reviewed 2026-10-29
Supports: background requirements
Source locator: Photo Requirements list
Taken in front of a plain white or off-white background
U.S. Department of State — U.S. Department of State · reviewed 2026-10-29
Supports: crop rules can user crop, editing rules allowed
Source locator: Digital Image Requirements: photo tool
select a digital image stored on your computer resize and rotate it if necessary crop it to a square image of exactly 600 x 600 pixels, and save it to your computer to submit online or for printing
U.S. Department of State — U.S. Department of State · reviewed 2026-10-29
Supports: pose and framing
Source locator: Digital Image Requirements: dimensions
must be in a square aspect ratio (the height must be equal to the width)
U.S. Department of State — U.S. Department of State · reviewed 2026-10-29
Supports: dimensions pixels height, dimensions pixels width
Source locator: Digital image must be
600x600 pixels in dimension
U.S. Department of State — U.S. Department of State · reviewed 2026-10-29
Supports: editing policy, editing rules forbidden
Source locator: Photo Requirements: general
Photos must not be digitally enhanced or altered to change your appearance in any way.
U.S. Department of State — U.S. Department of State · reviewed 2026-10-29
Supports: file requirements max pixels, file requirements min pixels
Source locator: Digital Image Requirements: dimensions
Minimum acceptable dimensions are 600 x 600 pixels. Maximum acceptable dimensions are 1200 x 1200 pixels.
U.S. Department of State — U.S. Department of State · reviewed 2026-10-29
Supports: photo rejection risks
Source locator: Photo Requirements: not acceptable
Eyeglasses are no longer allowed in new visa photos. | Headphones, wireless hands-free devices, or similar items are not acceptable in your photo. | Uniforms should not be worn in your photo, except religious clothing that is worn daily. | Photos copied or digitally scanned from driver’s licenses or other official documents are not acceptable.
Examples
- Minimum digital image size: at least 600 x 600 pixels, up to 1200 x 1200 pixels Digital upload for U.S. Visa DS-160 - Digital Upload.
- Background example: white.
- File examples: JPG, maximum 240 KB.
Retake Guidance
- Use a plain background (white) with even front lighting.
- Keep the face centered, phone level, and shoulders square to the camera.
- Retake if measurement size is outside 50-69% of the photo height.
- Retake instead of using filters, retouching, portrait mode, background replacement, or AI alteration when the source warns against edits.
- Acceptance remains at the discretion of the U.S. embassy or consulate.
Data Flow
No photo bytes leave this browser for the local capture, validation, crop, report, and download flow unless you explicitly choose a future upload feature.
FAQs
What photo size is listed for U.S. Visa DS-160 - Digital Upload?
The current artifact lists 600 x 600 pixels, with a measurement size range of 50–69% of photo height. Check the linked official source for the latest instructions.
Can I edit a U.S. Visa DS-160 - Digital Upload photo?
Acceptance remains at the discretion of the U.S. embassy or consulate.
Is this U.S. Visa DS-160 - Digital Upload page an official service?
No. This page summarizes maintained official-source guidance from U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs and links to the sources so you can verify the current rule text.
Can this page promise acceptance?
No. Use the app result as guidance only. The document authority or upload workflow makes the final acceptance decision.
Does local validation upload my photo?
No photo bytes leave this browser in the default local flow. Camera frames, uploads, checks, reports, and downloads stay local unless you choose an explicit upload feature later.