US DS-160 visa photo: a 600×600 px JPEG under 240 KB
The DS-160 form for a US visa takes a digital photo, not a print, and the upload is refused if the file is too large or the wrong shape. CropPass crops your photo to a square, frames your head inside the allowed range and encodes a JPEG that fits the size limit.
| Size | 600×600 to 1200×1200 px · CropPass exports 600×600 px |
|---|---|
| Shape | Square (1:1) |
| File size | 54–240 KB (54 KB follows from the 20:1 compression limit) |
| Format | JPEG |
| Head height | 50–69% of the photo height, chin to crown |
| Background | Plain white or off-white, no shadows |
| Digital editing | Not allowed · CropPass only crops and resizes |
Last verified 12 October 2026 against the source: travel.state.gov ↗
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Head 50–69% of frame height. 51×51 mm, 600×600 px, white background.
Official requirements ↗How to make your US visa photo for the DS-160
- Take or choose a photo. Face the camera in even light, against a wall that fits the background rule: plain white or off-white, no shadows. Upload it as a JPEG, PNG or HEIC file; it stays on your device.
- Line up the frame. CropPass crops to the square shape of the file and marks where your head goes (50–69% of the height). Drag and zoom until your head sits inside the guides.
- Download the file. In the download step, check that "US visa photo (DS-160 upload)" is selected and click "Download US visa photo (DS-160 upload)". CropPass encodes a 600×600 px JPEG (54–240 KB) and shows its final size, ready to upload. The preview is free; downloading needs a pass.
Questions and answers
What size does a DS-160 photo have to be?
Square, from 600×600 to 1200×1200 pixels, saved as a JPEG of 240 KB or less in 24-bit sRGB colour. CropPass exports 600×600 px, the smallest allowed size, which leaves the most room under the 240 KB limit.
Why does CropPass keep the file above 54 KB?
The State Department asks for a compression ratio of 20:1 or less. A 600×600 px colour image holds 1,080,000 bytes of pixel data, so a file under about 54 KB is compressed harder than that. CropPass adjusts the JPEG quality until the file lands between 54 KB and 240 KB.
How big should my head be in the photo?
From chin to the top of your hair, your head should fill 50–69% of the image height, with your eyes between 56% and 69% of the height, measured from the bottom. The guided frame shows the head range while you adjust the crop.
Can I retouch the photo or replace the background?
No. The rules say photos must not be digitally enhanced or altered, so CropPass only crops and resizes this file and leaves background cleanup off. Take the photo against a plain white or off-white wall instead.
More United States photos
- Standard United States photo · 51×51 mm print
- US online passport renewal photo · 1200×1200 px · JPEG · 54 KB–10 MB
- US passport photo for DS-11 and DS-82 (2×2 in print) · 2×2 in (51×51 mm) print
- US Diversity Visa (DV lottery) entry photo · 600×600 px · JPEG · 54–240 KB
- Guide: US passport photo requirements for 2026: size, background and rules
- Guide: Passport photos and visa photos: how they differ