US Visa & DS-160 Photo Requirements (2026 Official Rules)

Complete breakdown of US Department of State 22 CFR § 51.26 guidelines for DS-160 visa applications, B1/B2 tourist visas, F1 student visas, and DV Lottery.

Last Verified: August 2026·Read Time: 4 min read·Primary Government Portal

Key Biometric Specifications

Physical Dimensions2×2 inches (51×51 mm)

Head Height Ratio50% to 69% of total frame (1 to 1 3/8 inches from bottom of chin to top of head)

Backdrop StandardPure white or off-white, shadow-free

Mandatory Consular Rules

Eyeglasses are strictly prohibited (even prescription glasses, since Nov 2016).
Digital JPEG image must be square (minimum 600×600 px up to 1200×1200 px).
File size must be equal to or less than 240 kB.
Color must be in sRGB color space (standard 24-bit color).
Both ears and full facial oval must be clearly visible without hair obstruction.

Top Rejection Pitfalls to Avoid

Shadows cast behind ears or on the white background.
Smiling with teeth visible (neutral closed-mouth expression required).
Head size exceeding 69% or smaller than 50% of the image frame.
Wearing white clothing that blends into the white backdrop.

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