Reference
Every photo rule, and where it comes from
All rules are taken from U.S. Department of State pages, including the DV instructions. Each row shows how this checker tests it.
Read this first
- The DV instructions say entry photos must be “of the same quality and composition as U.S. visa photos.” A photo that is reused from a prior year’s entry, manipulated, or does not meet the specifications may make you ineligible for a DV.
- The official Photo Tool (tsg.phototool.state.gov) only crops to 600 × 600. The State Department says it “does not check the quality of your image.”
- A State Department employee makes the final decision.
- Entering the DV Program is free and only possible at dvprogram.state.gov. Trust only .state.gov pages for rules.
How each rule is checked:Automatic read from the fileMeasured face pointsEstimated pixel analysisAI-assisted can be wrongInfo not tested
1. File and technical specs
| Rule | Official requirement | How it is checked | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| File format | JPEG (.jpg) | Automatic Reads the file signature, not just the name. Other formats are converted by Fix. | DV Instructions |
| File size | Equal to or less than 240 kB | Automatic Checks the file size. Fix aims for about 230 kB to keep a margin. | DV Instructions |
| Aspect ratio & dimensions | Square, 600 × 600 pixels | Automatic Reads the pixel size. Fix crops and resizes. | DV Instructions |
| Color | In color, 24 bits per pixel, sRGB | Automatic Reads the JPEG header and color profile. | Digital Image Req. |
| Compression | Compression ratio 20 : 1 or less | Automatic (600 × 600 × 3) ÷ file size, so the file must be at least about 54 kB. | Digital Image Req. |
| Scanned prints | A recent 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm) print scanned at 300 pixels per inch | Info Listed under “Also make sure”. | DV Instructions |
2. Head size and position
| Rule | Official requirement | How it is checked | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Head height | Top of hair to bottom of chin: 50–69% of image height (300–414 px) | Measured Chin from face points; top of hair from hair/skin segmentation. | Composition Template |
| Eye height | Bottom of image to eye level: 56–69% of image height (336–414 px) | Measured Average of both iris centers. | Composition Template |
| Centered | Head centered in the frame | Measured Face center vs image center. | Composition Template |
| Facing camera | Full-face view, directly facing the camera | Measured Head turn, nod and tilt angles from the face model. Fix straightens small tilts. | DV Instructions |
| One person | No other person in the photo | Measured Counts faces in the photo that will be submitted. | DV Instructions |
| Printed size | Head 1–1 3/8 in (DV text: 22–35 mm; template: 25–35 mm); eyes 1 1/8–1 3/8 in (28–35 mm) from the bottom | Info Shown only. The checker uses the 50–69% rule. | Composition Template |
3. Image quality
| Rule | Official requirement | How it is checked | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Background | Plain white or off-white | Estimated Brightness, color and evenness of the area around you. | DV Instructions |
| Shadows | No shadows on the face or background | Estimated Compares light on both sides of the face and behind the head. | Photo Tool tips |
| In focus | In focus, not blurry | Estimated Sharpness score around the eyes. | DV Instructions |
| Not grainy | No visible noise | Estimated Noise level in the plain background. | Photo Tool tips |
| Color and light | In color, accurate color, not too dark or bright | Estimated Color tint, black-and-white and exposure checks. | Photo Examples |
4. Appearance
| Rule | Official requirement | How it is checked | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expression | Neutral facial expression, both eyes open | AI-assisted Smile, open-mouth and blink scores from the face model. | DV Instructions |
| Eyeglasses | “Do not wear eyeglasses.” | AI-assisted Frame edges on the nose bridge and under the eyes, plus accessory pixels around the eyes. | DV Instructions |
| Head covering | No hat or covering that hides hair or hairline, unless worn daily for religion; full face visible, no shadows | AI-assisted Covering vs hair above the forehead. Asks only when a covering is found. | DV Instructions |
| Devices | No headphones or wireless hands-free devices; hearing devices worn daily are fine | AI-assisted Accessory pixels at the ears. | DV Instructions |
| Face visible | Nothing covering the face: hair, hands, scarves, objects | AI-assisted Hair, hand and object pixels over the eyes, nose and mouth. | Photo Examples |
| Clothing | Everyday clothing; no uniforms except daily religious clothing | Info Listed under “Also make sure”. | DV Instructions |
5. Photo history
| Rule | Official requirement | How it is checked | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recent | Taken within the last 6 months | Automatic Camera capture date in the file. If there is none, you are asked. Photos taken with this tool’s camera count as new. | DV Instructions |
| Not reused | Not the same photo as a prior year’s entry | Automatic Compared with photos saved from this tool on this device. Cannot see past entries. | DV Instructions |
| Not edited | Not manipulated or retouched | Estimated Editing and beauty apps named in the file data. | DV Instructions |
| Not a copy | Not copied or scanned from a license or official document; no snapshots, magazine or vending-machine photos | Info Listed under “Also make sure”. | DV Instructions |
Trusted official sources
DV Program instructionstravel.state.gov
Each year’s official instructions, including “Submitting a Digital Photograph”.
Digital Image Requirementstravel.state.gov
Pixels, 24-bit sRGB color, JPEG, 240 kB, 20 : 1 compression, scanning.
Photo Examplestravel.state.gov
Accepted and rejected examples: expression, head position, background, print quality, face obstruction, eyeglasses.