DV Lottery photo size — 600×600 pixel State Department dimensions

Exact dimensions and pixel size

The DV Lottery photo is square — 51×51 millimeters (2×2 inch) at 300 DPI, equivalent to 600×600 pixels. The DV portal accepts files up to 1200×1200 pixels at the upper end. JPEG only; file size must be under 240 KB. Anything outside that pixel or file-size window is rejected at upload before the entry is accepted.

This is the same physical and pixel spec as the US passport photo and the US DS-160 visa photo — Department of State unifies the format across DV Lottery entries, regular passport applications, immigrant visas (DS-260), and nonimmigrant visas (DS-160). One generated photo covers the DV entry and any subsequent Green Card interview photo requirement.

Head height and framing

Head height (chin to crown, including hair) must be 50-69% of the frame height — 25-35 mm at 51 mm. Eyes must sit between 56% and 69% from the bottom edge. The face must be centered horizontally with shoulders visible at the bottom of the frame.

The DV portal's automated photo checker measures head height, eye position, and face centring on every upload. Failure to meet any single threshold returns a generic 'photo does not meet specifications' error, which is often the difference between an accepted entry and a forfeit slot during the limited submission window.

Background and colour

Plain white or off-white background, uniform, no shadows. The DV portal's checker accepts both pure white and slight off-white tints. Patterned, coloured, or gradient backgrounds are rejected. Visible shadows behind the head from indoor lighting are the second-most-common rejection cause after head-height failures.

Photo must be in full colour with natural skin tone. The DV portal's screening has been updated to detect AI-generated and heavily smoothed photos, which are now classified as 'altered photograph' and grounds for entry disqualification — a significant change from earlier years where heavy filtering was tolerated.

Recency, glasses and expression

Photo must be taken within the last 6 months. The DV portal compares against your passport biographic photo if you've travelled to the US before; significant divergence is flagged for review but rarely auto-rejects.

Glasses are not permitted — the State Department removed the medical exception in November 2016 across all photo-required applications including the DV Lottery. Religious head coverings are accepted only when the face is fully visible. Expression: neutral or subtle natural smile without teeth showing. Big toothy smiles cause automatic rejection.

dvprogram.state.gov portal upload requirements

The DV Lottery entry portal accepts only JPEG files. Pixel dimensions must be square between 600×600 and 1200×1200; file size must be under 240 KB. complypic targets 200-220 KB at 600×600 px to give margin without sacrificing sharpness.

If you win DV selection, the same photo is used at the immigrant visa interview at a US consulate abroad. Selectees bring two printed 2×2 inch photos to the interview plus the digital file used for the DV entry — the 4×6 inch print sheet from complypic contains two correctly cropped photos suitable for this purpose.

FAQ