FitFileSize

US visa photo (DS-160)

JPEG600 × 600 pixels240 KB or less

The DS-160 takes a square JPEG, 600 x 600 pixels and no more than 240 KB. A phone photo is several megabytes and the wrong shape, so it gets cropped, resized and compressed in one go.

Independent tool, not affiliated with the U.S. Department of State.

Drop your file hereChoose a file

or choose a file · JPG, PNG, HEIC or another photo

Set to the US visa photo (DS-160) rules above

  • Deleted automatically
  • Free, no watermark
  • Gentlest setting that fits

Getting a DS-160 photo to 600 x 600 and under 240 KB

600 × 600 pixels, up to 240 KB

The State Department sets four technical rules for the digital photo: JPEG format, 240 KB or less, a square shape, and 600 x 600 pixels. A file that misses any of them cannot be uploaded.

This page is set up for all four. Your photo is cropped to a square, where you place the crop box, scaled to exactly 600 x 600 pixels and saved as a JPEG at the highest quality that stays under 240 KB. At that size a photo usually fits with room to spare, so very little quality is lost.

Tips

  • If your head is not in the middle of the photo, drag the crop box over it before you press Compress.
  • The picture itself has rules too, such as the background, your expression and glasses. Check them on the State Department page before you take it.
  • If the upload still complains, check that it is a JPEG. A PNG or HEIC from a phone is converted here, but a renamed file is not.

Requirements from the U.S. Department of State's photo requirements, checked 26 September 2026. Forms change their rules, so check the form itself if something is rejected.

Questions

How big should my head be in a 600 x 600 DS-160 photo?

The State Department wants your head, measured from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head, to take up 50% to 69% of the photo's height. In a 600 x 600 image that is about 300 to 414 pixels. Place the crop box here so your head fills that share before you compress.

Can I wear glasses in my US visa photo?

No, in most cases. Eyeglasses are no longer allowed in new visa photos. The only exception is when they cannot be removed for medical reasons, such as after eye surgery, and then you must provide a medical statement signed by a health professional. Take the glasses off before the photo is taken.

Can this page make my DS-160 photo background white?

No. This page crops, resizes and compresses the photo, and leaves the background as it is. The State Department asks for a plain white or off-white background and a photo taken within the last 6 months, so take a new photo against a white wall if yours does not meet that.

Related pages

Forms and applications

All sizes and forms