United States · photo maker
DV Lottery Photo (600×600 px)
DV Lottery photo rules: 600×600 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.
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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 percent and 69 percent of the image's total height
- Background
- Taken in front of a plain white or off-white background
- Glasses
- Do not wear eyeglasses.
- 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, and the head covering must not cast any shadows on your face.
- Expression
- Taken in full-face view directly facing the camera with a neutral facial expression and both eyes open
- Taken within
- 6 months
Sources: travel.state.gov (archived copy), public-inspection.federalregister.gov, federalregister.gov. Last checked Nov 7, 2026.
Download these requirements as a one-page PDF to bring to the counter.
What we will not do
“Submitting the same photograph that you submitted with a prior year's entry, a photograph that has been manipulated, or a photograph that does not meet the specifications below may make you ineligible for a DV.”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
DV Lottery photo questions
Can I take my own DV Lottery 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: “Do you want to take the photo yourself? ... you may take the photo yourself. Photos must not be digitally enhanced or altered to change your appearance in any way.”
Can I wear glasses in my DV Lottery photo?
The official rule: “Do not wear eyeglasses.”
Can I smile in my DV Lottery photo?
The official rule: “Taken in full-face view directly facing the camera 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, and the head covering must not cast any shadows on your face.”
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: “Submitting the same photograph that you submitted with a prior year's entry, a photograph that has been manipulated, or a photograph that does not meet the specifications below may make you ineligible for a DV.” That's why IDPlain only crops and resizes.
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