OFFICIAL CONSULAR SPECIFICATION● PHOTO REQUIREMENTS GUIDEERAS Residency & ECFMG Photo Requirements: Medical Student Headshot Guide (2.5×3.5 in)
Complete AAMC Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) and ECFMG photograph specifications for medical residency applicants and international medical graduates (IMGs).
Try the assessment first. Paid downloads include a clean JPEG and print-ready sheet; review the package price before checkout. Follow the receiving authority’s photography instructions.
Treat the residency photograph as its own image project rather than resizing whichever passport export is nearby. Start with a portrait that leaves enough room for the requested framing. Then check the current application instructions before setting the crop and file size.
Who this guide is for
This guide helps residency applicants organize a portrait, avoid distorted resizing and inspect the final upload. It concentrates on preparation and file handling; the active application guidance controls the actual specifications.
ERAS photo requirements: choose your upload route
Source check: October 2, 2026. Use the instructions for your applicant route when preparing your headshot.
| Applicant | File requirements | Where to upload |
|---|---|---|
| US medical graduates | JPG/JPEG or PNG; maximum 150 KB; centered face. | AAMC MyERAS: Upload New Photo |
| International medical graduates | JPEG; maximum 150 KB; no larger than 2.5 × 3.5 inches. | ECFMG MyIntealth: ERAS Support Services |
| Fellowship applicants | Check the current EFDO photo instructions for your submission. | ERAS Fellowships Documents Office |
ERAS photo dimensions and resizing
This converter exports a 375 × 525 pixel JPEG at 150 DPI, equivalent to 2.5 × 3.5 inches. These are its output settings; the current AAMC US-graduate page specifies format, file size and centering without prescribing that exact DPI value.
- Upload your original headshot, then drag and zoom to center the face without stretching it.
- Download the single-photo JPEG for online submission. Keep the 4 × 6 print sheet for paper copies.
- Reopen the downloaded JPEG and check its dimensions, file size and facial detail before uploading.
ERAS photo examples: what to inspect
- Clear framing: the face is centered, with the full head and shoulders visible.
- Retake needed: the face is blurred, an eye is obscured, or the original cuts off the head.
- Re-export needed: the file exceeds your portal's limit or you selected a print sheet instead of a single portrait.
These examples explain preparation checks; the converter does not submit your application or evaluate every program's presentation preferences. ECFMG ERAS submission and Form 186 identity verification are separate workflows.
Read the ERAS and ECFMG photo preparation guideKey Biometric Specifications
Preparing the photo
Practical preparation tips; use the linked application instructions for requirements.
- Open the photo instructions for the application system you are using and note the requested dimensions and file limits. Keep that page with your work folder. Do not rely on a numeric limit copied from a previous application cycle.
- Choose a quiet background with no shelves, door edges or other objects intersecting the head. Set the camera at eye height and place the subject far enough from the background to avoid a hard shadow. Take a test picture before the main series.
- Review clothing in the crop, including the collar and shoulders. Smooth obvious folds physically and remove distracting objects from the scene. Check the application instructions for presentation requirements rather than assuming a clothing label determines suitability.
- Crop from the original portrait with proportions preserved. Do not stretch a square photo into a taller rectangle. If the original is too tightly framed, take a new image that includes the shoulders and enough surrounding space.
- Export a new copy and check its byte size in file properties. Open that exact copy again to inspect focus and compression around the eyes. Keep the source capture so another export can be made without repeatedly compressing the same file.
Mandatory Consular Rules
- AAMC US-graduate route: JPG/JPEG or PNG, maximum 150 KB, centered face.
- ECFMG IMG route: JPEG, maximum 150 KB, no larger than 2.5 x 3.5 inches, submitted through MyIntealth.
- Keep the full head and shoulders visible and the face clear and centered.
- Fellowship applicants should follow current EFDO submission instructions.
- ApprovaVisa ERAS tool exports a 375 x 525 pixel JPEG; inspect the exported file before uploading.
Troubleshooting the photo
A square passport export becomes a stretched residency portrait
Changing width and height independently changes facial proportions rather than creating a new crop.
Use the original wider capture and crop to the requested shape with proportions locked. Retake if the needed surrounding image is missing.
Top Rejection Pitfalls to Avoid
- File exceeds the applicable portal limit or uses an unsupported format.
- Print-sheet layout submitted instead of the single-photo upload.
- Blurred or obscured face, or head cropped out of the original.
- Submitting through the wrong applicant route.
United States photo requirements and document options
Digital and printed copies
A residency upload is checked as a file, so a print-sheet layout should remain separate. A large DPI label does not tell you the byte size or prove that the upload copy retains enough detail.
Questions about this guide
Can I use the square passport crop as the starting point?
Use the uncropped original if possible. A square export may have discarded the shoulder and background space needed for a different composition.
What should I check after reducing the residency photo’s file size?
Reopen the exported file and inspect the face for blocky edges or lost detail. Compare its properties with the current application instructions, and export again from the original if necessary.
About this guide
ApprovaVisa editorial team
Requirements come from the linked authority source. Where our summary and the authority differ, follow the authority.
Prepare Your United States Photo
Check the receiving authority’s instructions before preparing a photo. Use professional photography where required, and retain the original image when digital alterations are prohibited.
Try the assessment first. Paid downloads include a clean JPEG and print-ready sheet; review the package price before checkout. Follow the receiving authority’s photography instructions.