DV Lottery Photo Requirements
The Diversity Visa (DV) lottery — often called the green card lottery — requires a digital photo that meets strict technical standards: a 600 x 600 pixel JPEG of no more than 240 kB, with the head measuring 22–35 mm (or 50–69% of the image height) on a plain white or off-white background, taken in the last six months. A photo that does not meet the specifications, or that has been manipulated, can make you ineligible. This guide sets out the requirements straight from the official DV instructions. Verified against the Federal Register publication of the DV-2026 instructions, 2026-09-30.
The requirements at a glance
| Digital size | 600 x 600 pixels, square (height = width) |
| File format | JPEG (.jpg) |
| File size | 240 kB or less |
| Head size | 22–35 mm (1–1 3/8 in), chin to top of head, or 50–69% of image height |
| Background | Plain white or off-white |
| Age of photo | Taken within the last 6 months |
| Glasses | Not permitted |
| Scanned print | 2 x 2 in (51 x 51 mm), 300 ppi (12 px/mm) |
The digital file: 600 x 600 px, JPEG, under 240 kB
Your uploaded image must be 600 x 600 pixels, in a square aspect ratio (height equal to width), saved as JPEG (.jpg), and no more than 240 kB in file size. These are the technical limits the entry system enforces, so it is worth checking them before you start your entry rather than after. Our digital file requirements guide explains how format and compression affect a photo, and the passport photo checker can help you confirm the framing.
Head size and framing
The head must be sized so that, measured from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head, it is between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches (22 mm and 35 mm), or between 50 percent and 69 percent of the image's total height. The photo must be a full-face view directly facing the camera, in focus, and in colour, with a neutral facial expression and both eyes open. Because a square 600 x 600 frame is required, getting the head proportion right at capture time is easier than cropping later.
Background, clothing and accessories
Shoot in front of a plain white or off-white background. Wear clothing you normally wear on a daily basis — uniforms should not be worn, except religious clothing worn daily. The teaching on accessories is specific: do not wear eyeglasses; headphones, wireless hands-free devices or similar items are not acceptable; and a hat or head covering that obscures your hair or hairline is not allowed unless worn daily for a religious purpose, in which case your full face must be visible and the covering must not cast shadows on your face. If you normally wear a hearing device or similar article, it may be worn. For the reasoning behind these rules, see our glasses and backgrounds guides.
Scanning a printed photo
You can scan a recent printed photo instead of taking a new digital one, as long as it meets both the print and digital standards. The printed photo must be 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm) and scanned at 300 pixels per inch (12 pixels per millimetre), and the resulting file must still be a square 600 x 600 pixel JPEG of no more than 240 kB. Note that photos copied or digitally scanned from a driver's licence or other official document are not acceptable, and neither are snapshots, magazine photos, vending-machine photos or full-length photographs.
Your spouse and children
If you include a spouse or children on your entry, you must submit a photo of each of them using the same technical specifications as your own. Recent photos (taken within the last six months) are required for you, your spouse and all derivative children on the entry — though you do not need a photo for a spouse or child who is already a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident. This is a common reason entries are thrown out: the family photos are checked to the same standard as the principal applicant's.
Photos of babies and toddlers
The instructions give specific advice for very young children: no other person should be in the photo, and the child should be looking at the camera with their eyes open. Two practical tips: lay the baby on their back on a plain white or off-white sheet so the head is supported and the background is plain (take care that there are no shadows on the face, especially if shooting from above), or cover a car seat with a plain white sheet and photograph the child in the seat. Our baby and toddler photo guide covers the same problem for passport photos.
Common mistakes
- Submitting a photo older than six months, or the same photo used in a prior year's entry.
- A file that is not 600 x 600 px, not square, not JPEG, or larger than 240 kB.
- A head size outside 22–35 mm (or 50–69% of the image height).
- Wearing eyeglasses, headphones or a hair-obscuring hat.
- A background that is not plain white or off-white.
- Forgetting to include photos of your spouse or children.
The DV photo is a U.S. visa photo by another name: the instructions state that DV entry photos must be of the same quality and composition as U.S. visa photos. To see how the lottery photo differs from a green-card photo, read green card vs DV photo.
Source: U.S. Department of State, “Diversity Visa Instructions for DV-2026”, published in the Federal Register (Public Notice 12558, 89 FR 79997, 1 October 2024), retrieved 2026-09-30. The DV program runs annually and the technical requirements can change, so confirm them on the current official instructions before you enter.
Frequently asked questions
What size must the photo be for the DV lottery?
Your digital image must be 600 x 600 pixels, in a square aspect ratio (height equal to width), in JPEG (.jpg) format, and no more than 240 kB in file size.
How large should the head be in the photo?
The head must measure between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches (22 mm and 35 mm), measured from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head, or between 50 percent and 69 percent of the image's total height.
What background is required?
A plain white or off-white background.
How old can the photo be?
It must have been taken within the last six months, to reflect your current appearance. Submitting the same photo that you used in a prior year's entry can make you ineligible.
Can I wear glasses in my DV photo?
No. The DV instructions say do not wear eyeglasses. If you normally wear a hearing device or similar article, it may be worn.
Can I wear a hat or head covering?
Not one that obscures your hair or hairline, unless you wear it daily for a religious purpose. Your full face must be visible and the covering must not cast any shadows on your face. Headphones and wireless hands-free devices are not acceptable.
Do I need photos of my family too?
Yes, if you include a spouse or children on your entry you must submit a photo of each of them using the same technical specifications as your own.
Can I scan a printed photo instead?
Yes, if it meets the standards. A scanned photo must be 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm) and scanned at a resolution of 300 pixels per inch (12 pixels per millimeter), in addition to the digital requirements (JPEG, square, 600 x 600 px, no more than 240 kB).
Is the DV photo the same as a US visa photo?
Yes. DV entry photos must be of the same quality and composition as U.S. visa photos. Photos copied or scanned from a driver's licence or other official document are not acceptable, and neither are snapshots, magazine photos, vending-machine photos or full-length photographs.
How much does it cost to register for the DV lottery?
There is no cost to register for the DV program. Selectees who are scheduled for an interview pay a visa application fee before their formal visa application.