US Visa Photo (DS-160)
600 × 600 pixels, with the head-height rule applied.
The specification
| Requirement | Value |
|---|---|
| Printed size | 51 × 51 mm (2 × 2 in) |
| Pixels at 300 dpi | 600 × 600 |
| Head height | 50–69% of image height |
| Background | Plain white or off-white; a coloured background will be rejected |
| Used for | The DS-160 online visa application |
Converting millimetres to the pixels you upload
The printed requirement is 51 × 51 mm (2 × 2 in), and the pixel figure comes from the standard 300 dpi that print services use: 600 pixels across matches 50.8 mm. Uploading a file sized to these pixels with the physical size recorded in its header is what lets a lab print it correctly without further instruction.
Framing it so it is not rejected
Size alone is not enough. 50–69% of image height. Crop so the head occupies that proportion of the frame with a small margin above the hair and the eyes in the upper third of the image. The digital upload for the DS-160 must be a square JPEG at least 600 × 600 pixels; the online form rejects unsupported formats before you reach the interview.
The DS-160 upload rule is separate from the print rule
The DS-160 form is where most US visa photos fail, and for a different reason than passport photos: the online form imposes its own file limit and requires a square JPEG of at least 600 × 600 pixels, so a photo that prints perfectly can still be refused at upload. The same 2 × 2 inch geometry applies, but the digital file you send is compressed far harder than the print you carry to the interview.
Compliance is verified by the issuing authority, not by this page. Requirements change, and some offices add local conditions. Check the current published rules for the ds-160 online visa application before you submit.
Why this runs in your browser
The file is read from your disk by the browser, decoded with the browser's own codecs, and re-encoded in this tab. No upload request is made, nothing is queued on a server, and closing the tab leaves no copy anywhere. You can verify this in the network panel while it works.
How to use it
- Start with a straight-on portrait against a plain background.
- Select US Visa Photo (DS-160) to apply the 600 × 600 pixel frame.
- Adjust the crop so the head height rule is satisfied.
- Download, and print at 51 × 51 mm (2 × 2 in) if you need a physical copy.
Worth knowing
- US Visa Photo (DS-160) photos print at 51 × 51 mm (2 × 2 in), which is 600 × 600 pixels at 300 dpi.
- Head height requirement: 50–69% of image height.
- Background: Plain white or off-white; a coloured background will be rejected.
- Source requirement: within the last six months, unretouched, neutral expression.
Limitations
- This page sizes and crops; it cannot certify compliance.
- Low-resolution sources cannot be enlarged to 600 pixels without visible softness.
- Phone portrait-mode and beauty filters can be grounds for rejection.
- Print accuracy depends on the lab honouring the physical size.