US Visa Photo — at home in 60 seconds
U.S. Nonimmigrant Visa (DS-160 / DS-1648 digital upload) and Immigrant Visa (DS-260 printed photos)
Take it with your phone against a plain, light wall. We crop it to the exact size (2×2 in) and check the head size, position and background against the published rules.
Free to try. From $3.99, paid once, only if you like your photo.
Limited time offer then $6.99 from Jan 1, 2027
Your exact local price is shown before you take your photo. Processed on your device. Never uploaded to our servers.
Good
Head too small
Busy background
Quick answer
A US Visa Photo must be 2 × 2 in (50.8 × 50.8 mm) when printed, or a digital file of 600 × 600 px (up to 240 KB, JPEG), with the head 25–35 mm from chin to top of head, on a white or off-white background, taken within the last 6 months. A photo you take yourself is accepted when it meets these rules.
- Printed photo
- 2 × 2 in (50.8 × 50.8 mm)
- Digital file
- 600 × 600 px · up to 240 KB · JPEG
Verified October 3, 2026 from travel.state.gov (U.S. Department of State).
Photo requirements
Summarised from the official sources below.
- Printed photo
- 2 × 2 in (50.8 × 50.8 mm)
- Digital file
- 600 × 600 px · up to 240 KB · JPEG
- Head size (chin to top of head)
- 25–35 mm (50–69 % of the photo height)
- Eye line from the bottom
- 28–35 mm (56–69 %)
- Background
- White, off-white. Plain, free of shadows, texture, lines or objects. Blue/grey backgrounds shown as UNACCEPTABLE examples.
- Expression
- Neutral facial expression, both eyes open, full-face view directly facing the camera.
- Glasses
- Not allowed since 1 Nov 2016 except rare medical cases with signed medical statement.
- Head covering
- Not allowed if it obscures hair/hairline unless worn daily for religious purpose; full face visible, no shadows.
- Babies and children
- No other person in the photo; child looking at camera with eyes open; baby can lie on plain white/off-white sheet or sit in a car seat covered with a white sheet; no shadows on face.
- Photo age
- Taken within the last 6 months
- Online application
- DS-160 / DS-1648 online nonimmigrant visa application (upload)
More rules (9)
- colour, 24-bit sRGB
- JPEG compression ratio ≤ 20:1
- if scanning an existing 2x2 in photo: scan at 300 ppi (12 px/mm)
- no uniforms except daily religious clothing
- no headphones / wireless hands-free devices; hearing devices allowed
- photos copied/scanned from driver's licences or other documents not acceptable; no snapshots, magazine photos, low-quality vending-machine or mobile-phone photos, full-length photos
- must not be digitally enhanced or altered to change appearance
- DS-260 immigrant visa: bring 2 identical 2x2 in photos on photo-quality paper to the interview
- some embassies require 1 printed photo at the NIV interview
Print at home or at a kiosk
Print the sheet at 100% (Actual size), never “Fit to page”, on photo paper. Each sheet has a 50 mm ruler so you can check the size.
How to take it at home
- Stand about half a metre in front of a plain, light wall, facing a window.
- Hold the phone at arm’s length or ask someone to help. The live guide checks distance, light and head position.
- Get your digital file and print sheet. Print at 100% or upload the file.
Price
Free to try. From $3.99, paid once, only if you like your photo.
Limited time offer then $6.99 from Jan 1, 2027
Your exact local price is shown before you take your photo.
Photo Acceptance Guarantee — rejected for a technical reason we check? We refund you.
Why people choose Ovalight
Made for the moment you need a photo that just works.
- Money back if it’s rejected Rejected for a technical reason we check? We refund you.
- Free to try Take and check your photo for free. You pay once, only when you like the result.
- Your photo stays on your phone Processed on your device. Never uploaded to our servers.
- Checked against the official rules Every rule comes from the issuing authority’s own website, last verified on October 3, 2026.
- Free retakes for 24 hours Not happy with it? Retake the same document up to 3 times within 24 hours.
- Secure payment, no subscription Pay once through Stripe. We never see your card details.
Official sources
Verified on October 3, 2026
- Photo Requirements (U.S. Visas) — travel.state.gov (U.S. Department of State)
- Digital Image Requirements (U.S. Visas) — travel.state.gov (U.S. Department of State)
- Photo Composition Template (U.S. Visas) — travel.state.gov (U.S. Department of State)
Questions
What size is a US Visa Photo?
Printed: 2 × 2 in (50.8 × 50.8 mm). Digital: 600 × 600 px · up to 240 KB · JPEG.
Can I take my US Visa Photo at home?
Yes. The photo is not taken at the office and no registered photographer is required, so a photo you take yourself is accepted when it meets the rules on this page.
What background is required?
White, off-white. Plain, free of shadows, texture, lines or objects. Blue/grey backgrounds shown as UNACCEPTABLE examples.
Can I smile?
Neutral facial expression, both eyes open, full-face view directly facing the camera.
Can I wear glasses?
Not allowed since 1 Nov 2016 except rare medical cases with signed medical statement.
Can I wear a head covering?
Not allowed if it obscures hair/hairline unless worn daily for religious purpose; full face visible, no shadows.
How recent must the photo be?
Taken within the last 6 months.
What about babies and children?
No other person in the photo; child looking at camera with eyes open; baby can lie on plain white/off-white sheet or sit in a car seat covered with a white sheet; no shadows on face.
Can I print the photo at home?
Yes. Print the sheet at 100% (Actual size) on photo paper, at home or at a pharmacy or kiosk, and check the size with the 50 mm ruler.
More United States documents
Other documents that use 2×2 in
Ovalight is an independent service. Only the authority that issues your document decides whether to accept a photo.