US visa photo
US visa photo at 2 x 2 inches, ready to print or upload. We draw the head size guide for you and save the file at 600 x 600 pixels. Free, no sign-up.
Choose the document
US visa: 51 x 51 mm (2 x 2 in), head 25 to 35 mm from chin to crown.
Add your photo
Include your head and shoulders. A plain light wall behind you works best.
Add a photo and it appears inside the frame, ready to drag.
Crown line 8.3 mm from the top. Chin between 33.3 and 43.3 mm.
Fit your head to the lines
Lighten the background
This pulls light greys towards white. It does not remove a busy background, so stand in front of a plain wall.
Check and download
- Look straight at the camera.
- Keep a neutral face with your mouth closed.
- Keep your eyes open and clearly visible.
- Nothing covering your face, and no hair across your eyes.
- No glasses glare. Take glasses off if you can.
- Plain, light background behind you.
- Even lighting, with no shadows on your face or the wall.
- Take off glasses and anything that hides your face.
- Use a colour photo taken in the last 6 months.
The embassy or consulate decides whether your photo is accepted. The State Department suggests a professional visa photo service, so read their page before you apply.
The 600 x 600 px, under 240 kB file is the size the State Department gives for online Diversity Visa entries. Check your own application for its upload rules.
We size and crop your photo to the official measurements. The passport office decides if it is accepted, so check it against their rules.
How to take a US visa photo at home
- 1
Take a clear photo
Stand facing a window with a plain light wall or sheet behind you. Hold the phone at eye height, or prop it up. Keep your face straight, mouth closed and eyes open. Include your head and shoulders.
- 2
Fit it to the lines
Choose US visa, add the photo, then drag and zoom until the top of your head touches the red crown line and your chin sits between the dashed lines. The frame is 51 x 51 mm.
- 3
Download and print
Press Download photo for the single file, or Download print sheet for a 6x4 inch sheet. Print the sheet at any photo kiosk at full size and cut along the thin lines.
US visa photo size and rules
| Document | United States visa |
|---|---|
| Photo size | 51 x 51 mm (2 x 2 in) |
| Head height, chin to crown | 25 to 35 mm |
| Background | Plain white or off-white, with no shadows. |
| Digital file we make | 600 x 600 px JPG. Square, 600 x 600 px, under 240 kB. |
| Copies on a 6x4 inch sheet | 6 |
These figures come from the official guidance. Check the official rules before you apply.
Questions
What size is a US visa photo?
2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm). Your head must be between 1 and 1 3/8 inches from chin to crown, which is 50 to 69 percent of the image height.
What is the digital size for a US visa photo?
For online Diversity Visa entries the State Department asks for a square image of 600 x 600 pixels, under 240 kB. Check your own application for its upload rules.
How recent must the photo be?
Taken within the last 6 months, so it shows how you look now.
Can I take it myself?
The State Department allows it but suggests a professional visa photo service. Your embassy or consulate decides if it is accepted.