United States · photo maker
US Visa (DS-160) Photo (600×600 px)
US Visa (DS-160) photo rules: 600×600 to 1200×1200 px, head 50–69% of the photo height, white or off-white background, taken within 6 months. IDPlain checks your photo against each rule, tells you exactly what to fix, and makes the exact upload file for $3.99. We only crop and resize — never edit.
Last updated
Official requirements
- File
- 600×600 px JPEG, up to 240 KB
- Head size
- Sized such that the head is between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches (22 mm and 35 mm) or 50% and 69% of the image's total height
- Background
- Taken in front of a plain white or off-white background
- Glasses
- Eyeglasses are no longer allowed in new visa photos, except in rare circumstances when eyeglasses cannot be removed for medical reasons (signed medical statement required).
- Head covering
- Do not wear a hat or head covering that obscures the hair or hairline, unless worn daily for a religious purpose. Your full face must be visible...
- Expression
- With a neutral facial expression and both eyes open
- Taken within
- 6 months
Source: travel.state.gov (archived copy). Last checked Nov 7, 2026.
Download these requirements as a one-page PDF to bring to the counter.
What we will not do
“Please remember that photos must not be digitally enhanced or altered to change your appearance in any way.”Official rule
“crop it to a square image of exactly 600 x 600 pixels | The background is cropped using a photo retouching tool, changing the outline of the head, face, and neck.”Official example of an altered photo
That's why IDPlain never replaces the background, retouches skin or "fixes" lighting. We check the photo you took and tell you how to retake it if something is off; then we only crop and resize it to the official size. Why we never edit the background
- ✓ Document
- 2 Photo
- 3 Check
- 4 Preview
- 5 Download
Before you shoot
- Plain, light wall
- Face a window
- Phone at eye level
- Neutral face, eyes open
Errors from the official upload
Your photo does not need cropping: Photo dimensions are 600x600
What the US State Department photo tool means when it says your photo does not need cropping, and what it doesn't check.
Read moreOverall image quality may be poor (low resolution, lack of clarity, or overly compressed)
Why the US State Department photo tool rejects a photo as poor quality — usually an over-compressed JPEG — and how to make a file that passes.
Read moreMinimum photo dimensions are 600x600
Why the US State Department photo tool says the minimum photo dimensions are 600x600, and how to get a photo that is large enough.
Read more
US Visa (DS-160) photo questions
Can I take my own US Visa (DS-160) photo at home?
Yes. A photo taken at home by a friend or family member is accepted if it meets the rules. The official guidance: “While we recommend you use a professional photo service to ensure your photos meet all the requirements, you may take the photo yourself.”
Can I wear glasses in my US Visa (DS-160) photo?
The official rule: “Eyeglasses are no longer allowed in new visa photos, except in rare circumstances when eyeglasses cannot be removed for medical reasons (signed medical statement required).”
Can I smile in my US Visa (DS-160) photo?
The official rule: “With a neutral facial expression and both eyes open.”
Can I wear a hat or head covering?
The official rule: “Do not wear a hat or head covering that obscures the hair or hairline, unless worn daily for a religious purpose. Your full face must be visible...”
How recent must the photo be?
It must have been taken within the last 6 months.
Can I edit the photo or change the background?
No. The official rule: “Please remember that photos must not be digitally enhanced or altered to change your appearance in any way.” That's why IDPlain only crops and resizes.
Last updated