DV Lottery Photo Tool
A bad photo is the one Diversity Visa mistake you cannot fix after you press submit: the entry is simply disqualified. This tool turns a recent portrait into the square JPEG the State Department's entry form asks for, already under its 240 KB ceiling.
Passport Photo
or drop JPG, JPEG, JFIF … files here ·
Max 95 MB per file· Up to 20 files· Deleted after 30 minutes
Files are processed on our servers and deleted after 30 minutes.
Quality is lowered until the photo is at or just under this size; tiny files are padded up to the spec's minimum.
300 DPI is the print standard for passport photos; a 35×45 mm photo is then 413×531 px.
Place several copies on a 4×6 in (10×15 cm) photo print or an A4 page, ready for a photo kiosk or home printer.
How many photos on the sheet. A 4×6 in print fits 6 photos of 2×2 in or 6 of 35×45 mm; an A4 sheet fits more.
How to use this tool
- 1
Photograph each person
You, your spouse and every unmarried child under 21 need a separate, new photo. Shoot against a light wall, glasses off, eyes open, neutral face.
- 2
Use the DV preset
The page opens on US DV Lottery — 600×600 px, max 240 KB with a White Background and JPG output. The Head-size guide marks the 50–69% band.
- 3
Save one file per person
Download each JPG with a clear name, such as the person's first name, so you attach the right face to the right section of the entry form.
A DV Lottery photo is a square JPEG between 600 × 600 and 1200 × 1200 px, no larger than 240 KB, in color on a white or off-white background, with the head filling 50–69% of the image height and no glasses.
DV Lottery photo specifications in numbers
- Minimum size, square
- 600 × 600 px
- Largest file allowed
- 240 KB
- Head height of the frame
- 50–69%
- Eye line from the bottom
- 56–69%
Entry is free and happens only on the official dvprogram.state.gov site, usually during a window of about a month starting in early October. Every person on the entry needs an individual digital photo; group shots and photos cut out of a family picture are refused.
The file rules are mechanical: JPEG, 24-bit sRGB color, square, at least 600 × 600 px and at most 1200 × 1200 px, 240 KB or less. The composition rules are what most people get wrong. The head, from chin to the top of the hair, must take up 50–69% of the image height, and the eyes must sit 56–69% of the way up from the bottom edge. Glasses have been banned in US visa photos since 2016, so they come off here too.
From phone photo to entry form
1
Shoot
Plain light wall, even daylight, camera at eye height about 1.2 m away.
2
Crop
The DV preset squares the frame and sets the head inside the 50–69% band.
3
Shrink
The JPG is saved at 600 × 600 px and kept under 240 KB.
4
Attach
Upload each person's file in their own section of the entry form.
May
Check
Use your confirmation number on the Entrant Status Check.
Photo problems that disqualify a DV entry
| Do | Don't |
|---|---|
| Take a new photo for this program year | Wear glasses or tinted lenses |
| Keep both eyes open and looking at the lens | Edit, smooth or color-correct the face |
| Use even light with no shadow on the wall | Submit a group photo or a cropped one |
| Check every family member's file before submitting | Use a photo from a previous entry |
The same 2 × 2 frame is behind the US passport photo requirements, so a print sheet for a passport can come from the same shot. The US visa photo 600x600 requirements guide covers the consular application after selection.
Green card lottery photo questions
Can I reuse last year's photo for a new DV entry?
No. The instructions require a photo taken within the last six months, and a picture already used in an earlier year's entry can lead to disqualification. Take a fresh one for every program year, for every person on the entry.
Does my spouse need a photo even if they will not immigrate?
Yes. A spouse and all unmarried children under 21 must be listed with their own photo, whether or not they plan to move. Leaving out an eligible family member, or adding someone else's photo, disqualifies the whole entry.
Is the DV photo the same as a US visa photo?
The proportions are the same square 2 × 2 in frame, but the DV form is stricter about the file: JPEG only, 600 × 600 to 1200 × 1200 px and at most 240 KB. A 2 × 2 photo exported for a consular application is often too large for the lottery form; resize image to 600x600 if all you need is the pixel size.
Can I scan a printed 2 × 2 photo instead?
Yes, if you scan the print at 300 dpi so it comes out at 600 × 600 px, then make sure the file is under 240 KB. Upload the scan here to fix the size and background in one pass.
How do I know if my photo was accepted?
The entry form does not grade your photo. You keep your confirmation number and check the result on the Entrant Status Check from May of the following year; if you are selected, the photo is reviewed again during the visa interview stage.
Can I wear a head covering in my green card lottery photo?
Only for religious or medical reasons, and the full face must remain visible from hairline to chin without shadows. Hats, headbands and caps worn for style are not allowed.
