Make your photo now
For a U.S. visa you need the same 2 x 2 inch photo as for a U.S. passport: head 1 to 1 3/8 inches (25–35 mm) tall, plain white background, taken in the last 6 months. DS-160 online applications additionally accept a square digital photo (minimum 600 x 600 pixels) — the JPG this app saves at 600 DPI is 1200 x 1200 pixels and satisfies that.
Not sure whether your photo will pass? See Why ID photos get rejected.
U.S. Visa Photo requirements
| Photo size | 2 x 2 in (51 x 51 mm) |
|---|---|
| Pixels (print) | 600 x 600 px at 300 DPI · 1200 x 1200 px at 600 DPI |
| Head height | 25–35 mm from chin to crown — official published figure. |
| Background | Plain white or off-white. |
| 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
Glasses have not been allowed in U.S. visa photos since 2016. Look directly at the camera with a neutral expression and both eyes open.
If you are submitting the DS-160 online, upload the single-photo JPG; if your local consulate asks for printed photos, use the 4 x 6 inch sheet and cut along the guides.
United States specifics
Do you bring your own photo for a U.S. visa?
It depends on the visa type. For a nonimmigrant visa you complete Form DS-160 (or DS-1648) online, and the form asks you to upload a digital image: a square JPEG between 600 x 600 and 1200 x 1200 pixels, no larger than 240 kB, in sRGB color. Some embassies and consulates also want one printed 2 x 2 inch photo at the interview, and the U.S. Embassy in Poland advises bringing one because the DS-160 system accepting your upload does not guarantee the consular section will. For an immigrant visa on Form DS-260 you bring two identical printed 2 x 2 inch photos to the interview.
The free maker produces the square 600 x 600 pixel file the DS-160 expects and a 4 x 6 inch sheet for prints. Check the exported file size stays under 240 kB before uploading. Do not use background replacement or retouching; the State Department says photos must not be digitally enhanced or altered in any way.
Where to print a U.S. visa photo
Most applicants are outside the United States, where the State Department simply recommends a professional visa photo service near the embassy or consulate. Prices there are not published. Ask for the U.S. 2 x 2 inch (51 x 51 mm) format; the U.S. Mission in Ireland warns that Irish and European passport-size photos are the wrong size. Inside the United States, for example before an interview abroad:
- Walgreens prints passport and visa photos for USD 16.99 (2026), two 2 x 2 prints with a digital copy by email.
- Walmart Photo Center charges USD 7.64 (2026) for 2 x 2 prints sized to State Department requirements.
- Any photo counter will print the 4 x 6 inch sheet from the maker as a standard 4 x 6 photo; cut the two 2 x 2 photos out yourself.
Why U.S. consulates reject visa photos
- Head outside 22 to 35 mm, or outside 50 to 69 percent of the image height.
- Older than 6 months, or your appearance has changed a lot since it was taken.
- Background not plain white or off-white; face turned, eyes closed, or expression not neutral.
- Eyeglasses of any kind, unless a signed medical statement explains why they cannot be removed.
- Hat or head covering that hides the hairline, earphones, or a uniform.
- Photo scanned from an ID card, a snapshot, a low-quality phone or booth photo, or a full-length picture.
- Digital file that is not square, not JPEG, over 240 kB, or outside 600 to 1200 pixels.
Official source, verified 3 September 2026
Requirements are taken from the State Department's Photo Requirements page and its Digital Image Requirements page, plus the U.S. Embassy in Poland's visa photo page. Because travel.state.gov refuses automated requests, both pages were checked on 3 September 2026 through the same State Department content served at adoption.state.gov; neither page carries a last-updated date.
Checked against the official source on 2026-09-03.
Sources
- travel.state.gov/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/photos.html
- adoption.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/photos.html
- travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/photos/digital-imag
- adoption.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/photos/digital-im
- pl.usembassy.gov/visa-photo-requirements/
- ie.usembassy.gov/passport-and-visa-photo-requirements/
- common.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2022/10/Photo-Requirements.pdf
- photo.walgreens.com/store/passport-photos
- photos3.walmart.com/category/83-passport-photos?product=203-passport-photos&theme=fuji
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 single photo (for online uploads) or the 4 x 6 in print sheet, and print it at CVS, Walgreens, any pharmacy kiosk or at home for the price of a regular photo print.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a U.S. Visa Photo?
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 U.S. Visa Photo need?
Plain white or off-white.
Can I take a U.S. Visa Photo 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 U.S. Visa Photo 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.
Where can I print my U.S. Visa Photo?
Download the 4 x 6 in (10 x 15 cm) sheet and print it as an ordinary borderless 4 x 6 in (10 x 15 cm) photo at actual size (100%, no scaling) at a photo shop, a pharmacy photo kiosk, an online print service or on a home printer, then cut along the guide lines. You pay only for an ordinary photo print, not a photo-booth service fee. Local examples: Walgreens Photo, Walmart Photo Center, CVS Photo, USPS. More detail: Printing passport photos in the United States.
What are the digital requirements for the DS-160 photo?
A square JPEG, minimum 600 x 600 and maximum 1200 x 1200 pixels, under 240 KB, in color, with a plain white background. Choose the 2 x 2 inch U.S. preset and 600 DPI in the maker to get a 1200 x 1200 pixel file.