Make your photo now
The Diversity Visa (DV) lottery entry takes a square digital photo only — nothing is printed or posted. It must be a JPEG between 600 x 600 and 1200 x 1200 pixels, no larger than 240 KB, taken within the last six months, against a plain white or off-white background, with no glasses. The entry form rejects the photo outright if any of those fail, and an entry with a non-compliant photo is disqualified without notice.
Make my DV Lottery Photo (Diversity Visa) now →
Not sure whether your photo will pass? See Why ID photos get rejected.
DV Lottery Photo (Diversity Visa) requirements
| Photo size | 2 x 2 in (51 x 51 mm) |
|---|---|
| Digital file | Square JPEG, 54 KB – 10 MB (JPG, PNG, HEIC and HEIF are also accepted) — the file this app saves meets the format and size rules automatically. |
| Head height | 25–35 mm from chin to crown — official published figure. |
| Background | Plain white or off-white or cream. |
| Glasses | Not allowed — remove glasses for this photo. |
| Editing | Must be original and unedited — retouching, filters and replaced backgrounds are explicitly banned for this document. |
| Expression | Neutral expression, mouth closed, both eyes open, facing the camera straight on. |
| Official source | Official photo requirements ↗ |
Good to know
The head must fill 50% to 69% of the image height — the same proportion as a printed U.S. passport photo, which is why the 2 x 2 inch preset produces correct geometry here. Choose 600 DPI for a 1200 x 1200 pixel file, the maximum the form accepts.
The 240 KB size limit is the constraint people hit most often. A 1200 x 1200 JPEG can exceed it; if the form refuses your file for size, export at 300 DPI instead (600 x 600 pixels), which is still within spec and comfortably under the limit.
Entries are disqualified for a photo that was used in a previous year's entry, or for a group photo cropped down to one person. Take a new one.
How to make it in 3 steps
- Take or choose a photo. Stand in front of a plain light wall in even light with no shadows, camera at eye level about 2 m away, head and shoulders in frame with space around your head.
- Crop with the head guides. The maker opens preset to the 2 x 2 in (51 x 51 mm) standard with the official 25–35 mm head range marked. Drag and zoom until the crown of your head and your chin sit on the guides, then run the built-in photo check.
- Download. Save the digital photo file — it already meets the upload format and file-size rules.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a DV Lottery Photo (Diversity Visa)?
2 x 2 in (51 x 51 mm) — 600 x 600 px at 300 DPI. The head must measure 25–35 mm from chin to the top of the head.
What background color does a DV Lottery Photo (Diversity Visa) need?
Plain white or off-white or cream.
Can I take a DV Lottery Photo (Diversity Visa) at home with my phone?
Yes. Stand in front of a plain light wall in even daylight, have someone take a sharp, front-facing photo from about 2 m away, then crop it to the exact 2 x 2 in (51 x 51 mm) standard with the free maker — the head guides show you the official head-height range.
Is this DV Lottery Photo (Diversity Visa) maker really free and private?
Yes — completely free, with no ads, no watermark and no signup. Unlike photo-booth apps and paid services, your photo is processed entirely in your browser and is never uploaded to any server.
What are the DV lottery photo requirements?
A square colour JPEG, 600 x 600 pixels minimum and 1200 x 1200 maximum, under 240 KB, taken within the last six months, on a plain white or off-white background, with a neutral expression or natural smile, both eyes open and no glasses. The head must occupy 50% to 69% of the image height.
Can I use my passport photo for the DV lottery?
Only if it was taken within the last six months and has not been submitted with a previous DV entry. The geometry is the same as a U.S. passport photo, so a recent one usually qualifies — but reusing a photo from an earlier entry is grounds for disqualification.
Why does the DV entry form reject my photo?
Most often the file is over the 240 KB limit, is not square, or is below 600 x 600 pixels. Export at 300 DPI for a 600 x 600 file if the 1200 x 1200 version is too large. Other common causes are glasses, a visibly non-white background, or a photo older than six months.