US DV Lottery Photo Requirements | 600×600 px Digital Format
The US Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery requires a digital photo in a very specific format: exactly 600×600 pixels, JPEG, under 240 KB, with a plain white background. Most photo booths don't produce this format. Here's how to create a compliant DV Lottery photo using your phone and idpic.app — for free. You can also check your DV Lottery photo or view the US visa photo specs.
DV Lottery photo specifications at a glance
Size
51 × 51 mm (2 × 2 inches)
Digital
exactly 600 × 600 px
File size
max 240 KB, JPEG format
Background
plain white only
Expression
neutral, mouth closed
Eyes
open, clearly visible
Glasses
not permitted
Maximum age
6 months
How to create your DV Lottery photo step by step
Set up a plain white background
DV Lottery photos require a plain white background — not off-white, cream, or grey. Use a white wall or tape a large sheet of white paper behind you.
- White is mandatory — other light colours are not accepted
- Stand 50 cm (20 in) from the wall to prevent your shadow falling on it
- Remove all objects and furniture visible behind you
- No patterns, textures, or gradients in the background
Get the lighting right
Even, shadow-free lighting is essential. Shadows on the face or background are a common reason DV Lottery photos are rejected.
- Face a large window for natural, diffused daylight
- Never stand with a window behind you
- Avoid direct sunlight — it causes harsh shadows
- No flash — it creates uneven lighting and red-eye
- If you are indoors, use two lamps at 45° on either side of you.
Position your head and expression
DV Lottery photos have strict face requirements. Your face must be centred and you must have a neutral expression with your mouth closed.
- Look straight at the camera — no tilting or turning the head
- Neutral expression: mouth closed, face relaxed, no smiling
- Eyes must be fully open and clearly visible
- Remove glasses — glasses are not permitted in DV Lottery photos
- No headwear unless worn daily for religious reasons
- Hair should not cover your face or eyes
Take and select the best shot
Use the rear camera of your phone and take several shots. Choose the sharpest image with even lighting. Your DV Lottery photo must be recent — taken within the last 6 months.
- Use the rear camera. It produces better quality than the front camera.
- Keep 50–60 cm (20–24 in) between face and camera
- No digital zoom — move back and crop instead
- Take 5–10 shots and pick the sharpest
- Photo must not be older than 6 months
Generate the 600×600 px DV Lottery photo online
Open your best shot in idpic.app. Select the US Visa format. The AI crops your photo to exactly 600×600 px, replaces the background if needed, compresses it under 240 KB, and validates all DV Lottery requirements.
- No account or sign-up needed
- Your photos never leave your device
- Download as a JPEG under 240 KB — ready for the DV Lottery portal
- Also works for printed 2×2 inch photos if needed
Why the 240 KB limit matters for the DV Lottery
The DV Lottery online portal enforces a strict 240 KB file-size limit for photo uploads. Photos from modern smartphones are typically 3–8 MB — well over the limit. Simply resizing to 600×600 px is often not enough; you also need JPEG compression. idpic.app handles both the resize and compression automatically, producing a valid JPEG file under 240 KB while maintaining the image quality needed to pass validation.
Common reasons for rejection — avoid these
Photo larger than 240 KB — the DV Lottery portal rejects oversized files
Photo dimensions not 600×600 px — must be square and at least 600 px
Wrong file format — the DV Lottery only accepts JPEG
Using a European 35×45 mm photo instead of 51×51 mm
Wearing glasses (not permitted for DV Lottery photos)
Shadows on face or background
Smiling or showing teeth
Photo taken more than 6 months ago
Frequently asked questions
What are the exact DV Lottery photo requirements?
The DV Lottery requires a square JPEG photo of exactly 600×600 pixels, no larger than 240 KB. The photo must have a plain white background, a neutral expression with mouth closed, eyes open, and no glasses. The physical equivalent is 51×51 mm (2×2 inches). The photo must have been taken within the last 6 months.
Why does my DV Lottery photo keep getting rejected?
The most common reasons for DV Lottery photo rejection are: wrong dimensions (must be exactly 600×600 px), file too large (max 240 KB), wrong format (must be JPEG), non-white background, glasses, or the photo being older than 6 months. Use idpic.app to automatically validate and fix all these requirements.
Can I use my US passport photo for the DV Lottery?
A US passport photo meets the same face and background requirements, but the digital format is different. The DV Lottery requires exactly 600×600 px in JPEG format under 240 KB. A scanned passport print may not meet these digital specifications. It's best to create a new digital photo specifically for the DV Lottery using idpic.app.
How do I reduce my photo to under 240 KB?
idpic.app automatically compresses your photo to meet the 240 KB limit while maintaining quality. If you're doing it manually, use JPEG compression at 80–90% quality, ensure dimensions are exactly 600×600 px, and avoid saving with embedded metadata. However, the easiest approach is to let idpic.app handle the compression automatically.
What file format does the DV Lottery accept?
The DV Lottery only accepts JPEG (.jpg / .jpeg) format. PNG, HEIC, WebP, and other formats are not accepted. The file must be no larger than 240 KB with dimensions of exactly 600×600 px. idpic.app exports your photo in the correct JPEG format automatically.
Create your DV Lottery photo now — free
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