A US visa photo uses the same square shape as a US passport photo, but the submission is usually digital rather than printed, and the upload has its own limits: at least 600 x 600 pixels, no more than 1200 x 1200, JPEG, and 240 KB or smaller. Confirm the current rules with the US Department of State before you upload.
A US visa photo is composed exactly like a US passport photo. What differs is the delivery: most visa applications upload a JPEG, and the upload has limits of its own.
| Requirement | Specification |
|---|---|
| Shape | Square — height must equal width |
| Minimum pixel size | 600 x 600 pixels |
| Maximum pixel size | 1200 x 1200 pixels |
| File format | JPEG (.jpg) |
| Maximum file size | 240 KB |
| Head height | 1 to 1 3/8 in (25-35 mm), or 50% to 69% of the image height |
| Eye height from the bottom edge | 56% to 69% of the image height |
| Background | Plain white or off-white |
| Age of photo | Taken within the last 6 months |
| Glasses | Not permitted in visa photos |
| Editing | Must not be digitally enhanced or altered to change your appearance |
The confusion is understandable, since both are square and both use the same head and eye position. The practical differences are the file, not the framing.
These two limits pull against each other, and it catches people out. Shrinking the image to reduce file size is the wrong lever: below 600 x 600 pixels the upload is rejected outright.
Re-save at a lower JPEG quality instead. A 600 x 600 photograph at moderate compression lands well under 240 KB with no visible loss at this size, and keeps the dimensions valid.
This tool helps you crop and prepare a photo. It does not guarantee acceptance by any government, embassy, consulate, airline or application service.
Check the current rules with the US Department of State before submitting: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/photos.html
Last reviewed: August 2026. Requirements can change after that date — the official page above is the authority, not this one.
Square, with the height equal to the width. For a digital upload the minimum is 600 x 600 pixels and the maximum is 1200 x 1200 pixels.
The composition is the same square 2 x 2 inch format with the same head and eye position, so one photograph can often serve both. What differs is the submission: a visa application usually uploads a JPEG under 240 KB, while a passport application may want a printed photo.
240 KB. If your export is larger, re-save the JPEG at a lower quality rather than shrinking the pixel dimensions below 600 x 600.
No. Glasses have not been permitted in US visa photos since November 2016. Take them off rather than risk a rejection for glare or frames crossing the eyes.
No. The photo must not be digitally enhanced or altered to change your appearance. Cropping and resizing are fine; smoothing, reshaping and background replacement are not.