Guide · Diversity Visa Program
Every year, entries are disqualified over a photo that fails a mechanical check — the wrong pixel size, a 241 KB file, an old picture. The rules are short and strict. Here's all of them, and the fastest way to meet each one.
SOURCE — travel.state.gov · DV Program photo requirements
LAST CHECKED — 2026-09-17 · Re-verify against the current-year instructions before you enter.
§ 01 — The answer block
The DV photo spec is narrower than a regular passport photo. Miss any of these and the entry portal won't accept the upload — or worse, accepts it and disqualifies later.
Head must sit between the guides · 50–69% of height
Make my DV photoThe editor's DV preset enforces 600×600 px and compresses under 240 KB automatically.
§ 02 — For families
Spouse and each child included in the entry needs a separate, recent, spec-correct photo. This is where single-photo tools fall apart — and where saved profiles and batch export earn their keep.
01
Shoot the whole family against the same wall on the same day. Consistent light means consistent backgrounds.
02
Infants can be photographed lying on a white sheet; no one else may be in the frame. Eyes open is required for older children.
03
Run each photo through the checker before the entry window closes. A plan keeps every family member's file in one place.