DV lottery photo
The Diversity Visa entry takes one square JPEG per person: 600 × 600 pixels and no more than 240 KB. This crops your photo to that file in one go.
Set to: 600 × 600 px (US visa, DV lottery) · Under 240 KB
or drop it here · up to 50 MB, free
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Fit the face inside the oval: the top of the head near the upper edge of the oval, the chin at its lower edge.
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DV lottery photo in 3 steps
- Select a new photo taken this year against a white or off-white wall. 600 × 600 px and Under 240 KB are set.
- Place the frame so your whole head sits in the middle, with a little space above the hair.
- Click Resize photo and use the JPG in your DV entry.
U.S. Department of State photo rules for DV entries
| Format | JPEG (.jpg) |
|---|---|
| Pixels | Square, 600 × 600 |
| File size | 240 KB or less |
| Scanned print | 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm) scanned at 300 pixels per inch |
| Standard | Same rules as U.S. visa photos |
| Risk | A photo that does not meet the rules may make you ineligible |
Sources: travel.state.gov: photo requirements · DV-2026 instructions and FAQs
Is DV-2027 registration open
Not as of October 2026. The State Department announced on 5 November 2025 that DV-2027 registration was delayed, the program was paused in December 2025, and no opening date has been announced while the matter is in court. Check dvprogram.state.gov or travel.state.gov before you do anything else. Entry is free when it is open, so any site that takes money for "lottery registration" while the official form is closed is not the real thing.
The photo itself does not change: the same 600 × 600 px JPEG under 240 KB, unaltered, is what the DS-160 US visa application asks for, so the file you make here is useful either way.
The photo is where most entries go wrong
The DV instructions warn that a photo that does not meet the specifications may make you ineligible, and the problem usually surfaces only if you are selected, months later. Earlier instructions were even clearer: entries with photos that do not fully meet the rules or have been manipulated are disqualified. There is no second chance to swap the photo after the entry is submitted.
Two mistakes are especially common. The first is reusing last year's photo: submitting the same photograph as in a previous entry makes you ineligible, so take a new one each year. The second is an edited photo, with the background cut out or the face retouched. Use a real white or off-white wall.
What this tool does and does not do
It crops your picture to a square and saves it at exactly 600 × 600 pixels, at the highest JPEG quality that stays at or under 240 KB. That takes care of the two technical checks of the entry form. It does not detect your face, measure the head size or change the background. You place the frame yourself: keep the head centred and large, roughly half to two thirds of the height, with the top of the shoulders showing.
If you are filing an entry with a spouse or children, make one file for each person from separate photos. Babies and young children need their own photo too, with nobody else in the picture.
Practical tips for the photo
Take it in daylight facing a window, with nothing behind you but the wall. No glasses: U.S. visa photos have not allowed them since 2016, except for medical reasons. Keep a neutral face, both eyes open, and wear everyday clothes, not a uniform. The State Department does not charge for a DV entry, so be wary of any site that asks you to pay to submit it or to check your photo.
Frequently asked questions
What is the DV lottery photo size?
A square JPEG of 600 × 600 pixels, 240 KB or smaller. A scanned print must be 2 × 2 inches scanned at 300 pixels per inch.
Can I use the same photo as my last DV entry?
No. The instructions say submitting the same photograph as a prior year's entry makes you ineligible. Take a new one.
Is this the same as the US visa photo?
The DV photo follows the same standard as U.S. visa photos. The difference here is that the DV form takes exactly 600 × 600 and this page also keeps the file under 240 KB.
Can I change the background with software?
Avoid it. Manipulated photos are a known reason for ineligibility. Use a white or off-white wall.
When does DV-2027 registration open?
No date has been announced. As of October 2026 registration has not opened after the delay and the December 2025 pause. Only dvprogram.state.gov runs the real entry form.
Is my photo uploaded?
No. It is processed in your browser on your device.