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US Visa Photo Checker

Works for DS-160, DS-260, and US passport photos — we check the State Department's published spec for composition, framing, expression, and file size.

Drop a photo here, or click to upload
JPEG up to 240 KB · 600 × 600 px to 1200 × 1200 px · square aspect
State Department spec

What "passes" actually means

Source: travel.state.gov.

DIGITAL

File specs

Aspect
1 : 1 (square)
Dimensions
600 × 600 to 1200 × 1200 px
Color
24-bit color · sRGB
Format
JPEG only
File size
≤ 240 KB · ≤ 20× compression
SCANNED

Scanning a print

Print size
2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm)
Resolution
≥ 300 DPI
Note
Most fail because the scan dimensions don't match the print.
Composition · Subject
Background
Plain white or off-white, no patterns or shadows
Head Size
50–69% of frame height
Eyes
Both eyes open, looking at the camera
Pose
Front-facing (no profile shots)
One Person
Only one face in the photo
Recency
Taken within the last 6 months
One last thing
CEAC may still reject a photo that passes this checker. We approximate the published spec; the embassy makes the final call.