US visa photo: 2 x 2 inch / 600 x 600 px
A US visa photo is square, with strict limits on how large your head is and where your eyes sit. This page draws those limits as guides and exports both the 600 x 600 pixel digital file and a 300 dpi print file.
iPhone HEIC files are read directly.
Drag on the preview to reposition the photo.
Load a photo first.
Set scaling to none (100%) in the print dialog.
The State Department requirements
Square: 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm) on paper, at least 600 x 600 pixels digitally (up to 1200 x 1200). The head must be 50-69% of the image height from crown to chin, and the eyes 56-69% of the way up from the bottom. Taken within six months, plain white or off-white background, neutral expression, JPEG under 240 KB for upload.
ESTA and DS-160 differ
ESTA may not require a photo upload at all, while the DS-160 non-immigrant visa application does, and rejects a non-compliant file on the spot. If the upload fails you are told to bring a printed 2 x 2 inch photo to the interview instead.
Hitting 600 x 600 px and 240 KB at once
600 x 600 pixels is exactly 2 x 2 inches at 300 dpi. The 240 KB cap is met by lowering JPEG quality, but too much compression makes the face grainy and the photo can be refused. The digital-resize page binary-searches for the highest quality that still fits.
Frequently asked questions
Can I wear glasses?
No. Since November 2016 glasses are not accepted in US visa photos, except with a signed medical note when they cannot be removed. Take them off for the shot.
Does the background have to be white?
White or off-white only — light blue or grey are rejected. Stand at least 50 cm away from the wall so you do not cast a shadow on it.
What else gets a photo rejected?
Hats or head coverings (unless worn daily for religious reasons and not obscuring the face), headphones, sunglasses, filters or skin smoothing, another person partly in frame, shadows, red-eye, blur, or a photo older than six months. Uniforms are also discouraged.
Can I upload this page's output straight to the DS-160?
Usually yes, if you export at 600 x 600 pixels as a JPEG under 240 KB. The head size and eye line are checked automatically, so line up carefully with the guides.