DV Lottery / Green Card · 2026
DV Lottery photo requirements 2026: the full checklist
A wrong photo is one of the most common reasons a Diversity Visa entry is disqualified — and the cruel part is that the official form often accepts it anyway, then rejects it later. Here's exactly what's required and how to be sure before you submit.
🚨 The trap nobody warns you about: the DV entry form runs a technical check (is the file the right size and format?) but it does not detect a bad background or wrong head size. You can upload a grey-background photo, see no error, and lose your entry at review months later. Check the composition yourself first.
Digital photo specifications
| Requirement | Value |
|---|---|
| Aspect ratio | Square (1:1) |
| Dimensions | 600×600 to 1200×1200 pixels |
| Format | JPEG (.jpg) only |
| File size | 240 KB or less |
| Colour | 24-bit colour (sRGB) |
| Head size | 50–69% of image height (chin to crown) |
| Background | Plain white or off-white |
| Recency | Taken within the last 6 months |
Composition rules
- Full face, front view, eyes open, looking at the camera.
- Neutral expression, mouth closed, head not tilted.
- One person only — no chairs, toys, or other people in frame.
- No glasses (unless a signed medical waiver), no hats or head coverings except for religious reasons that don't obscure the face.
- Even lighting with no shadows on the face or background.
DIYPassPhoto measures head size, background colour, framing and sharpness, then formats to exactly 600×600 px under 240 KB — all in your browser, nothing uploaded. Select "US Visa / DV Lottery" from the menu.
Top rejection reasons
- Background isn't truly white. A white wall photographs grey or cream under poor light. This is the #1 silent failure. Here's how to fix it without editing.
- Head outside 50–69%. Too far away or too close.
- File over 240 KB or not square. Easy to fix with correct export.
- Shadows on the face or behind the head.
- Edited photos. For US documents, AI background replacement and retouching are not allowed in 2026 — and the State Department's automated checks can flag them.
� How to take a US passport photo at home · Fix a grey background →