600×600 px Rules verified Sep 30, 2026

US visa photo (DS-160): size, rules and free checker

The DS-160 visa photo is a square JPEG, 600 × 600 to 1200 × 1200 pixels, 240 KB or less. Your head fills 50–69% of the height and your eyes sit 56–69% up from the bottom. Plain white or off-white background, no glasses, taken in the last 6 months.

Take your photo

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

US visa (DS-160) photo requirements

The official rules at a glance. We check each of them on your photo.

Photo size	2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm), printed
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
Print	Colour, on matte or glossy photo paper
Glasses	Not allowed, unless medically needed (signed statement)
Expression	Neutral, mouth closed, both eyes open
Head covering	Religious only, worn daily; must not cover the face or cast shadows
Taken	In the last 6 months

Verified against Photo requirements - U.S. Visas , Digital image requirements , Photo composition template , Visitor visa - travel.state.gov 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.

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.
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).
We check every rule

We crop it to the official size and check it against each DS-160 rule. If something fails, you see why and retake it, free.
Pay only when it passes

Download the file right away. You see the result before you pay.
Upload it to the DS-160

You get a 600 × 600 px JPEG under 240 KB, ready for the photo step of the online form, plus a 4×6 sheet in case you need a print for the interview.

What gets a photo rejected

Officials check these. Most rejected photos break one of them.

JPEG, square, 600x600 to 1200x1200 px, 240 KB or less
24-bit colour, sRGB
Full face, both eyes open
Not digitally altered
No uniforms; no headphones

Price

You see the result first and pay only when it passes. No subscription.

Digital photo

$11.99

The photo file plus a 4×6 sheet to print at a store

Retakes free for 60 days
Accepted or your money back, for photo reasons.

Digital + 4 prints mailed

$16.95

Everything in Digital, and we mail 4 printed photos to you

At a store, for comparison

Walgreens $16.99
CVS $17.99
USPS $15.00
Walmart $7.64

From each store's website; prices vary by store. Checked Oct 4, 2026.

Made for

Parents of babies Baby mode guides a helper with the back camera while your baby lies on a white sheet. Renewing a passport By mail with a printed 2×2, or online with the digital file the form accepts. Visa and lottery applicants DS-160 and DV lottery files at the exact pixel size and file limit. Anyone short on time No trip, no line, no appointment. About two minutes at home.

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

What size is a US visa photo in pixels?

Square, at least 600 × 600 and at most 1200 × 1200 pixels, JPEG, 240 KB or less. We give you 600 × 600.

Can I use my passport photo for a US visa?

Often yes, if it is recent and meets the same rules, but the DS-160 needs a digital file. We make the exact file it accepts.

Are glasses allowed?

No, unless you can’t remove them for medical reasons.

What if the DS-160 photo upload fails?

The form checks size and format. Our file already meets them. If the online check still refuses it, email support and we’ll sort it out.

Do I need a printed photo too?

If the DS-160 photo upload fails, you must bring one printed 2×2 photo to your interview, and some embassies ask for one anyway. You also get a 4×6 sheet to print at any photo counter, or we can mail you 4 prints.

What if the photo is rejected?

If the embassy or consulate rejects it for a photo-compliance reason, we refund you in full and make you a new photo free.

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

Ready in about two minutes

See the result for free. Pay only when it passes.