Crop your US visa photo. Same spec as USCIS and DS-160.
US visa and immigration photos use the same 2x2in (51x51mm) size as the US passport. Upload a photo, align it to the guide, and download. Nothing is ever uploaded to a server.
Drop a photo here, or click to upload
JPEG, PNG, or HEIC · nothing is uploaded, it stays on your device
or
Center your face in the oval, with your eyes on the yellow line
Converting HEIC photo…
Sorry, we couldn't read that photo. Please try a different file.
This photo is smaller than the recommended output size, so the download may look slightly soft when printed.
Missing part of the person? Use Restore. Background still showing through? Use Erase. Just want to drag or resize the photo? Switch back to Pan / zoom.
Blue band = acceptable head-height range · yellow dashed = eye line · fit your head between the solid lines
Runs entirely in your browser — your photo is never uploaded.
Background removal didn't work on this photo/browser. You can still crop and download as usual.
Print multiple copies on one sheet
United States passport photo specification
- Print size
- 51×51mm (2×2 in)
- Digital output
- 600×600px
- Head height (chin to crown)
- 25–35mm (49–69% of frame)
- Background
- Plain white or off-white, no patterns or shadows
- ·Neutral expression, both eyes open and visible, mouth closed
- ·No glasses, except in rare cases of documented medical necessity (a signed statement is required). This has been the rule since Nov 1, 2016.
- ·No head coverings, except for religious or medical reasons
- ·Taken within the last 6 months, and must look like you do now
- ·Photo must not be digitally altered or filtered beyond basic cropping
- ·Digital upload (online renewal): square JPEG or HEIF, 600x600 to 1200x1200px, 54KB to 10MB
- ·Mail-in (paper) application: printed on quality photo paper, unmounted, untrimmed to exactly 2x2in
Source: U.S. Department of State, travel.state.gov/photos. These are the same US passport photo requirements that passport acceptance facilities and the National Passport Center check against, so meeting this spec is what actually determines acceptance.
US visa photo requirements and size (DS-160, green card)
US visa photos, including the DS-160 online nonimmigrant visa application and immigrant visa or green card applications, use the same 2x2in (51x51mm) photo specification as the US passport, issued under the same Department of State photo rules. If a photo meets the US passport crop on this site, it meets the visa photo spec too: same physical size, same head-height range (1 to 1⅜in, or 25 to 35mm chin to crown), and the same plain white or off-white background rule.
One practical difference is that DS-160 applications require you to upload the photo directly on the online form, where it gets automatically checked for size and basic compliance before submission. It is worth downloading your cropped photo and test-uploading it to the DS-160 photo tool before you finish the rest of the form, just to confirm it clears that check.
Always confirm current requirements against the official U.S. Department of State visa photo guidance before submitting. Visa photo rules are set by the same agency as passport photo rules, but they are published on a separate page.
A free US visa photo tool, no photo studio needed
You do not need a photo studio, a visa photo service, or any editing software to get a US visa photo to the right size. Take a clear, front-facing shot against a plain wall in even light, upload it to the cropping tool above, and drag it until your head lines up with the guide. The download comes out at exactly 2x2in (600x600px), matched to what DS-160 and USCIS both expect.
This works whether you are applying for a B1/B2 tourist visa, an H1B or F1, or an immigrant visa or green card, since the photo spec itself does not change between visa categories, only the paperwork around it does. And because everything runs locally in your browser, nothing is ever sent to a server, which matters for a document as sensitive as a visa photo.
Getting your photo taken, checked, or printed near you
If you would rather have someone else take the photo, pharmacy and print counters like Costco, Walgreens, CVS, and Staples offer US visa and passport photos in most US cities, typically for $9 to $16 a set. Applying from outside the US works the same way: your own country's passport photo studios and drugstore photo counters print to this spec too, since it is set by the US State Department rather than by your local government.
Whichever route you take, the actual pass or fail check happens when you upload the photo to the DS-160 form itself, or when a consular officer reviews it in person. This tool gets your framing, size, and background right before that step, so there are no surprises when you get there.
Related photo requirements
Common rejection reasons
Background isn’t plain or uniform
Shadows, patterns, furniture, or other people in frame are among the most common reasons photos get bounced back. Use a plain wall and even, shadow-free lighting.
Head size or position is off
Too zoomed in, too zoomed out, or off-center. Each country specifies an exact head-height range and crown position, and that's exactly what the crop guide in this tool aligns to.
Glasses, glare, or head coverings
Most countries now disallow glasses entirely (or require them glare-free with no frame over the eyes), and disallow non-religious head coverings that hide the hairline or face.
Photo is filtered, retouched, or AI-enhanced
Beauty filters, background blur, skin smoothing, and AI-generated backgrounds are explicitly rejected by several passport authorities, including the UK’s HM Passport Office.
Photo is outdated
Most countries require a photo taken within the last 6 months (the UK requires within the last month). An old photo, even a good one, can be rejected on this basis alone.
Expression or eye contact issues
Closed eyes, mouth open, smiling with teeth showing, or not looking straight at the camera are all common rejection triggers. A neutral, closed-mouth expression is the safe default.
Want the full picture across every country? See all passport photo requirements for 2026, read how to take a passport photo at home, or check what to wear and expression rules.
Frequently asked questions
What is the US visa photo size?
The same as a US passport photo: 2x2 inches, or 51x51mm. Your head, measured from the chin to the top of the head, should fall between 1 and 1⅜ inches (25 to 35mm). That is the exact spec this page's tool is set up for.
What are the US visa photo requirements?
A recent, full-colour photo against a plain white or off-white background, neutral expression with your mouth closed, both eyes open, and no glasses. No hats or head coverings unless worn for religious or medical reasons, and no filters or digital retouching beyond a basic crop. For the DS-160 online form, the file itself needs to be a square JPEG, 600x600 to 1200x1200px, between 54KB and 10MB.
Is a US visa photo the same as a US passport photo?
Yes, for the physical size and head-height range. Both use 2x2in (51x51mm), issued under the same Department of State photo rules. The one thing worth double-checking is the specific application, since a DS-160 visa form uploads the photo directly and checks it for size and basic compliance before you can submit.
What is the DS-160 photo specification exactly?
A square JPEG, 600x600px minimum and 1200x1200px maximum, saved between 54KB and 10MB, in full colour with no compression artifacts. It is the same digital spec used for online passport renewals, so a photo cropped for either one works for both.
What background does a US visa photo need?
Plain white or off-white, with no patterns, shadows, or other people or objects in frame. A blank wall or a plain sheet hung up behind you both work fine.
Can I smile in a US visa photo?
No. The State Department asks for a neutral expression with your mouth closed, the same rule as the US passport photo. A relaxed, closed-mouth look is fine; showing teeth or grinning is one of the more common reasons a photo gets sent back. See our guide to smiling in a passport photo for exactly what "neutral" allows.
Can I wear glasses in a US visa photo?
No, not anymore, unless you have a documented medical reason you genuinely cannot remove them for the photo. The State Department stopped allowing glasses in visa and passport photos back in 2016.
Can I have a beard in a US visa photo?
Yes. There is no rule against facial hair, and it does not need to be trimmed or shaved for the photo. The requirement is simply that the photo looks like you currently do, so if you normally wear a beard, keep it.
What should I wear for a US visa photo?
Whatever you would normally wear, with two exceptions: avoid anything white or very pale that could blend into the background, and skip a uniform unless you are active-duty military. Everyday makeup and jewellery are both fine, as long as they do not obscure your face. Our what to wear guide covers this in more detail.
Can I wear a hijab or head covering in a US visa photo?
Yes, religious head coverings are allowed, as long as your full face is visible from the bottom of your chin to the top of your forehead, with nothing casting a shadow across it.
How old can a US visa photo be?
It should be taken within the last 6 months and needs to look like you do now, not how you looked several years ago. If your existing photo is older than that, take a fresh one before you apply.
Is there an official US visa photo checker or validator tool?
The DS-160 online form has its own built-in check when you upload a photo, which is the actual pass or fail test that matters. This tool does not submit to or replicate that government system, it crops and resizes your photo to the exact 2x2in spec beforehand, so what you upload is far more likely to clear that check on the first try.
Where can I get a US visa photo taken near me?
In the US, Costco, Walgreens, CVS, Staples, and UPS or FedEx Office locations all offer visa and passport photos, generally for around $9 to $16. Outside the US, most photo studios and pharmacy chains in your own country, the same kind of place you would go for a passport photo, print to this spec too, since it is a US government requirement rather than a local one. If you would rather skip the trip, upload your own photo to the tool above and print it wherever is convenient.
Are US visa photo requirements different for children or infants?
The size and background rules are identical for every applicant regardless of age, but a baby obviously cannot hold a neutral, forward-facing pose. The usual workaround is photographing the baby lying down on a plain white sheet with their eyes open. See our newborn and infant passport photo guide for how that works in practice.
Do US visa photo requirements differ by visa type, like B1/B2, H1B, or F1?
No. The photo specification itself, 2x2in, plain background, neutral expression, is the same across nonimmigrant visa categories (B1/B2, H1B, F1, and the rest) and immigrant visa or green card applications. What differs between visa types is the paperwork and forms around the photo, not the photo spec itself.
What if the DS-160 photo tool won't accept my upload, or flags poor illumination?
That usually means the file itself, not just the framing, needs attention: check that it is a true square JPEG within the 600x600 to 1200x1200px range and under 10MB, taken in even light with no harsh shadows across your face. If the DS-160 upload tool itself is timing out or erroring, that is usually a temporary issue on the State Department's site rather than something wrong with your photo, so it is worth trying again after a few minutes.
Do I need my visa photo requirements to match my home country as well as the US?
Not usually. A US visa photo only needs to meet the US Department of State spec on this page, regardless of which country you are applying from. Some visa application centres abroad also offer to take the photo for you on-site, which is worth asking about if you would rather not deal with it yourself.
Can I use my US visa photo for a different country's visa, like Canada or a Schengen visa?
Not automatically. Canada's visa photo spec and the Schengen (European) standard are both different sizes and rules from the US 2x2in requirement, so a photo cropped for one will generally not pass for another, even though they look similar at a glance. Always crop against the specific country's own spec before applying.
Can I make a US visa photo online for free?
Yes. Upload a clear, front-facing photo to the tool at the top of this page, drag it until your head lines up with the guide, and download the result. It crops to the exact 2x2in (600x600px) spec on the spot, in your browser, with no software to install and no charge.
Does this tool upload my photo anywhere?
No. The cropping happens right in your browser using the canvas element, so the photo never leaves your device or touches a server. Nothing is stored, logged, or transmitted anywhere.