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600×600 px Rules verified Sep 30, 2026 DV lottery photo: size, rules and free checker
The Diversity Visa lottery photo is a JPEG of exactly 600 × 600 pixels, 240 KB or less, in colour. No glasses at all, a plain white or off-white background, one person, and it must be a new photo, not one used in an earlier entry. A wrong photo can disqualify the entry.
Phone camera, webcam, or upload a photo you already have
- Cropped to size and checked against every official rule
- Pay only once it passes · Digital $11.99
- Accepted or your money back, for photo reasons. Terms
Top of head Chin 50–69% of height US Diversity Visa lottery photo requirements
The official rules at a glance. We check each of them on your photo.
| Photo size | Exactly 600 × 600 pixels |
|---|---|
| Head size | 50%–69% of the photo height, chin to top of head |
| Eye line | 56%–69% of the height, measured from the bottom |
| Background | Plain white or off-white |
| File | JPEG, 240 KB or less |
| Glasses | Not allowed |
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed, both eyes open |
| Head covering | Religious only, worn daily |
| Taken | In the last 6 months |
Verified against DV-2026 instructions (PDF) , Photo requirements - U.S. Visas , DV-2027 entry period change on Sep 30, 2026.
What PassportOwl does
A photo booth in your pocket, with the official rules built in.
An owl coach while you shoot
Live tips on distance, light and head position, then the photo takes itself when everything lines up.
Every official rule checked
Background, head size, eye line, shadows, glasses and expression, measured against the government’s own numbers.
The exact file, ready to use
Cropped to the official size, plus a 4×6 sheet to print at a store when the document needs prints, or prints mailed to you.
How to take it at home
About two minutes, with your phone or computer.
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Stand in front of a plain wall
White or off-white, with even light from a window in front of you. A white sheet works if your wall is coloured.
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Let the owl coach you
Your phone or webcam checks distance, tilt, light and expression live, then takes the photo when everything is green. Someone else can hold the phone (helper mode).
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We check every rule
We crop it to the official size and check it against each DV lottery rule. If something fails, you see why and retake it, free.
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Pay only when it passes
Download the file right away. You see the result before you pay.
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Add it to your entry
You get a 600 × 600 px JPEG under 240 KB. Keep it with your entry details.
What gets a photo rejected
Officials check these. Most rejected photos break one of them.
- JPEG, exactly 600x600 px, 240 KB or less
- 24-bit colour, sRGB
- No glasses
- Must be a new photo, not one used in a previous entry
- One person per photo
Price
You see the result first and pay only when it passes. No subscription.
Digital photo
$11.99
The file the form accepts, ready to upload
- Retakes free for 60 days
- Accepted or your money back, for photo reasons.
Made for
Your photo stays private
- No account needed
- Photos deleted 72 hours after upload
- Never used to train AI, never sold
- Payments handled by Stripe; we never see your card number
- An independent service, not affiliated with any government agency
Questions
When is the DV lottery open?
Entry dates change each year and the State Department has postponed the DV-2027 entry period. Check the official Diversity Visa page for current dates; the photo rules stay the same.
Can I wear glasses in the DV lottery photo?
No. Take your glasses off for the DV photo.
Can I reuse last year’s photo?
No. Each entry needs a new photo. Reusing one can disqualify you.
Can my family be in one photo?
No. Every person on the entry needs their own photo, children included.
Is the DV lottery free?
Yes, entering is free on the official State Department website. We only charge for the photo, and only once it passes.
How long does it take?
About two minutes to take the photo. The check takes a few seconds, and your file is ready to download as soon as you pay.
Do I pay before I see the photo?
No. You take the photo, we check it, and you see the result first. You pay only once it passes.
Can I retake the photo later?
Yes. Retakes are free for 60 days after you buy, from the link in your receipt.
Can I use my computer instead of my phone?
Yes. Use your webcam, upload a photo you already have, or scan the code to continue on your phone.
What happens to my photo?
It is deleted 72 hours after you upload it, together with every file made from it. It is never used to train AI and never sold.
How can I pay?
With a card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, through Stripe. We never see your card number.
Is PassportOwl a government website?
No. PassportOwl is an independent service, not affiliated with the U.S. Department of State or any government agency. You submit the photo with your application yourself.
Guides
Other US photos
Ready in about two minutes
See the result for free. Pay only when it passes.
Take your photo