US visa photo requirements for the DS-160 upload
The online DS-160 visa application asks for a digital photo, and it rejects files that are the wrong shape, the wrong size or too heavily compressed. Here are the official rules in one place, plus a simple way to hit them.
Last checked against the official sources: 20 October 2026
| Requirement | Rule |
|---|---|
| Shape | Square: the height must equal the width |
| Pixel size | At least 600 × 600, at most 1200 × 1200 |
| File type | JPEG (.jpg or .jpeg) |
| File size | 240 KB or less |
| Compression | Ratio of 20:1 or less, so the file can’t be squeezed too far either (see below) |
| Colour | Colour, 24 bits per pixel, sRGB (what phones and cameras produce) |
| Head size | Chin to top of head is 50% to 69% of the image height |
| Taken | Within the last 6 months, so it shows how you look now |
| Background | Plain white or off-white |
| Glasses | Not allowed, except in rare medical cases |
| Expression | Facing the camera, neutral expression, both eyes open |
Photo already square and between 600 and 1200 px?
The compressor fits it under 240 KB at the highest quality that fits, and converts PNG to JPEG.
The two size rules most people miss
Everyone sees the 240 KB maximum. Fewer people notice the second rule on the State Department’s digital image page: the compression ratio must be 20:1 or less. In plain terms, a photo can be rejected for being squeezed too hard, not just for being too big.
An uncompressed colour photo uses 3 bytes per pixel. Dividing that by 20 gives a practical minimum file size for each photo size:
| Photo size | Uncompressed | Smallest safe file |
|---|---|---|
| 600 × 600 | 1,080,000 bytes | about 54 KB |
| 800 × 800 | 1,920,000 bytes | about 96 KB |
| 1000 × 1000 | 3,000,000 bytes | about 150 KB |
| 1200 × 1200 | 4,320,000 bytes | about 216 KB |
So a 600 × 600 photo has plenty of room (roughly 54 KB to 240 KB), while a 1200 × 1200 photo has to land between about 216 KB and 240 KB. If you have the choice, 600 × 600 is the easiest size to get right. These minimums are our own calculation from the 20:1 rule, so treat them as a safe guide rather than an official table.
This is also why you shouldn’t pick a tiny target like 50 KB “just to be safe”: a heavily compressed photo breaks the 20:1 rule and looks blotchy to the officer reviewing it.
Step by step
- Take the photo against a plain white or off-white wall, facing the camera, without glasses, with even light and no shadows. It must be from the last 6 months.
- Crop it to a square in your phone or computer’s photo editor (most have a “square” crop option). Leave space above the head so the head fills 50% to 69% of the height.
- Resize it to between 600 × 600 and 1200 × 1200 pixels. On Windows, the Photos app has a “Resize image” option; on a phone, a free resize app or your editor’s export settings will do it. The compressor below doesn’t crop or set exact pixel sizes, so do this step first.
- Check the file size. If it’s already 240 KB or less (and above the minimum in the table), it’s ready. If not, open the compressor at 240 KB and drop the photo in. It keeps the pixel size and finds the best quality that fits.
- Upload it to the DS-160 and look at the preview carefully before continuing.
Common reasons the photo is rejected
- The image isn’t square, or is smaller than 600 × 600 or larger than 1200 × 1200.
- The file is over 240 KB, or so heavily compressed that it breaks the 20:1 rule.
- It’s a PNG or HEIC file renamed to .jpg. The portal checks the real file type, so convert it properly (the compressor saves a real JPEG).
- Glasses, a shadow on the background, a head that’s too small in the frame, or a photo that’s more than 6 months old.
Even when the upload works, the consular officer can still ask for a new photo at your interview if it doesn’t meet the requirements, so it’s worth getting the composition right, not just the file.
Official sources
This is an independent guide, not affiliated with any government. We check these rules regularly, but they can change at any time, so confirm them on the official pages above before you submit.
Questions
What size must a US visa photo be for the DS-160?
It must be square, at least 600 × 600 pixels and at most 1200 × 1200 pixels, a colour JPEG, and no larger than 240 KB. The State Department also says the compression ratio must be 20:1 or less, so the photo shouldn’t be compressed further than it needs to be.
Can my DS-160 photo be too small in KB?
In effect, yes. Because the compression ratio must be 20:1 or less, a photo squeezed into a very small file can fail even though it is under 240 KB. By our calculation, a 600 × 600 photo should be at least about 54 KB and a 1200 × 1200 photo at least about 216 KB.
Can I wear glasses in my US visa photo?
No. Eyeglasses are no longer allowed in new visa photos, except in rare circumstances when they can’t be removed for medical reasons, which then need a medical statement.