United States · photo requirements
A US Visa / DS-160 photo is 51 × 51 mm
Short answer
A US Visa / DS-160 photo must be 51 × 51 mm (2 × 2 in), usually 600 × 600 pixels at 300 DPI, with a white background and head height 50–69% of the frame. PicsForm maps this to U.S. Department of State / USCIS (travel.state.gov) for United States, last checked Aug 18, 2026.
Official rule table
Values below are the PicsForm catalog mapping, not a screenshot of the government site.
| Requirement | Official rule (catalog) |
|---|---|
| Photo size | 51 × 51 mm (2 × 2 in) |
| Digital size | 600 × 600 px @ 300 DPI |
| Background | white (#FFFFFF) |
| Head size | 50–69% of frame (1.00–1.38 in (25.5–35.2 mm)) |
| Eye line from bottom | 56–69% |
| Glasses | Not permitted |
| Expression | Neutral expression, mouth closed |
| Headwear | Fashion hats not permitted; religious covering only where policy allows |
| File size | Typically ≤ 240 KB |
How to make this photo
- Stand 1.5–2 metres from the camera, camera at eye height, against a real plain white wall. Do not use a digital backdrop or AI face edit.
- Include the top of the hair, both ears if the document requires them, and the upper shoulders — do not crop at the neck.
- Open Create with US Visa / DS-160 selected, upload the portrait, and read the compliance report.
- If the verdict is Retake, fix the listed official rule and photograph again. Do not pay for a photo that still fails a hard rule.
Why photos like this get rejected
- Head height outside the official band
- Chin sitting on the bottom edge (shoulders missing)
- Glasses glare or tinted lenses where glasses are not permitted
- Shadows or a non-plain background
- Wrong pixel size or file too large for the portal
Questions
- What size is a US Visa / DS-160 photo?
- 51 × 51 mm (2 × 2 in). Digital export in this catalog is 600 × 600 px at 300 DPI.
- What is the US Visa / DS-160 photo size in pixels?
- 600 × 600 pixels at 300 DPI in the PicsForm catalog. Re-check the live portal if it publishes a different pixel cap.
- Can I wear glasses in a US Visa / DS-160 photo?
- Not permitted
- Can I smile in a US Visa / DS-160 photo?
- Neutral expression, mouth closed
- What background does a US Visa / DS-160 photo need?
- Plain white (#FFFFFF). Keep it even — no pattern, shadow, or extra people.
- What head size does US Visa / DS-160 require?
- Chin-to-crown should occupy 50–69% of the photo height (1.00 in (25.5 mm) to 1.38 in (35.2 mm)).
- Can I take a US Visa / DS-160 photo with my phone?
- Yes, if the camera is at eye level, the face is sharp, lighting is even, and the crop matches the published size. PicsForm can check a phone portrait against this document’s catalog rules. It cannot invent missing shoulders or guarantee an embassy will accept the file.
- Can I use an old US Visa / DS-160 photo?
- Most authorities want a recent likeness (often within six months) that still looks like you. Reuse an old file only if it still matches the current size, background, and appearance rules.
- Can I use an AI-generated or digitally altered US Visa / DS-160 photo in 2026?
- No. U.S. Department of State guidance for 2026 requires an unaltered original photo. Digital backdrops, beauty filters, and AI face edits are not allowed. PicsForm only resizes the file to official pixels. See /us-passport-photo-ai-rules-2026.
Source method
- PicsForm does not invent photo specifications.
- Each catalog row is mapped to a published government or issuing-authority page when a URL exists.
- Where a rule is ambiguous (for example a visa processed by a local VAC with extra crop rules), the product labels Review instead of treating a guess as compliance.
- Last-checked dates record when a human last opened the official page. They are not a government certification.