DV Lottery Photo Checker
Every DV Lottery entrant — including a spouse and children, even infants — needs a photo that matches the U.S. Department of State specification exactly. There is no warning and no second chance: a non-compliant photo disqualifies the whole entry silently.
Upload your photo above. The checker crops it to exactly 600×600 px, exports a JPEG, verifies the 240 KB limit (with one-click compression if you are over), and shows a head-size guide so you can align the head to 50–69% of the frame before you download.
DV-2027 registration status — checked October 18, 2026
Registration for DV-2027 has NOT opened yet, and the U.S. Department of State has not announced entry dates. On October 14, 2026, a U.S. federal judge ordered the Department to announce the dates by October 29, to open a 30-day registration window by November 1, 2026, and to notify selectees by December 3, 2026. Those dates are reported, not final — confirm them on the official program site, dvprogram.state.gov.
New for DV-2027: entry is no longer completely free. A final rule published September 16, 2025 (90 FR 44524) set a $1 electronic registration fee, paid only through the official site at entry — never to an agent or a look-alike site (anyone asking for more is a scam). A second final rule (March 11, 2026, effective April 10, 2026) means most entrants must also enter valid, unexpired passport details and upload a scan of the passport's biographic and signature pages, unless an exemption applies. If your passport has expired, renew it now — do not wait for the window. And prepare a compliant photo: a photo that breaks the rules silently disqualifies the entry, and entrants are never notified.
Upload your photo
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Click or drop a photo here
Everything runs in your browser — your photo is never uploaded to a server. Face the camera, use even lighting, and (for passports and visas) shoot against a plain, light wall.
Choose document, size & background
White — required by the official spec. Background replacement is disabled for this document (see the compliance note below).
Diversity Visa entries: square JPEG, 600×600 px, max 240 KB, plain white or off-white background, taken within the last 6 months.
⚠️ The U.S. Department of State requires the original, unedited photo: no filters, no software changes, no background replacement. This tool therefore only crops, resizes and compresses — shoot against a plain white or off-white wall.
Official specification
| Dimensions | 600 × 600 px, square (height = width) |
| Format | JPEG |
| File size | Maximum 240 KB |
| Background | Plain white or off-white, no shadows |
| Head size | Head height 50–69% of the photo height (1–1⅜ in) |
| Recency | Taken within the last 6 months |
| Editing | Not digitally enhanced or altered in any way (U.S. Department of State) |
| Source | travel.state.gov — U.S. visa / DV photo requirements, checked 2026-10-18 |
We publish only values we verified on the official source named above. Final acceptance is always decided by the issuing authority — check your application instructions before submitting.
Why DV photos get entries disqualified
The entry system validates the file mechanically: wrong pixel dimensions, a file over 240 KB, a non-JPEG format, or a rectangular (non-square) image fail outright. Composition rules — head height between 50% and 69% of the frame, head centred, plain light background, photo taken within six months — are checked on review. Editing is its own trap: the State Department requires the original photo, digitally unaltered, which is why this checker never replaces your background or retouches anything. Shoot against a plain white or off-white wall instead.
How to take a DV photo at home
Stand about a metre from a plain, light wall in even daylight, face the camera directly with a neutral expression and both eyes open, and remove glasses and hats (religious head coverings are allowed if the full face is visible). For babies, lay the child on a plain white sheet with no hands, toys or other people in frame. Then run the photo through the checker above for each family member — every entrant needs their own compliant file.
Sizes & backgrounds on this site
| Output | Millimetres | Pixels |
|---|---|---|
| 630 × 810 px (India ICAO digital) | 35×45 mm | 630×810px |
| 600 × 600 px (digital) | 51×51 mm | 600×600px |
| 2×2 in · 51×51 mm (print, 300 DPI) | 51×51 mm | 1500×1500px |
| 35×45 mm (300 DPI) | 35×45 mm | 1050×1350px |
| 33×48 mm (300 DPI) | 33×48 mm | 990×1440px |
| ≈37.5×47.5 mm (AU range midpoint) | 37.5×47.5 mm | 443×561px |
| 50×70 mm (300 DPI) | 50×70 mm | 591×827px |
Backgrounds: White #FFFFFF • Off-white / cream #F6F1E7 • Light grey #E8E8E8 • Blue #0090FF • Red #DB1514. Background replacement is offered only for documents whose rules allow it — for U.S., UK passport, Australian and Canadian documents the tools on this site are format-only, by design.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a DV Lottery photo?
Exactly 600×600 pixels, square, JPEG format, and no larger than 240 KB. The head must occupy 50–69% of the photo height, on a plain white or off-white background.
Can I use the same photo as last year?
Only if it was taken within the last 6 months and you have not used it in a previous DV entry. The safest choice is a fresh photo for every entry period.
Does every family member need a photo?
Yes. The principal entrant, the spouse and all eligible children — including infants — each need an individual photo that meets the same specification.
Is my photo uploaded to a server?
No. Cropping, resizing, compression and (where offered) background replacement all run locally in your browser. Your photo never leaves your device.
All documents & tools
U.S. Visa (DS-160)
600×600 px · ≤240 KB
Fix CEAC photo errors: size, squareness, head height, file weight.
U.S. Passport
2×2 in · 51×51 mm
Format-only checker — no AI edits, exactly as the State Department requires.
China Visa (COVA)
33×48 mm
Checker for the strict China visa spec: head width/height, white background, ears visible.
Schengen Visa
35×45 mm
One photo for all 29 Schengen destinations, face 70–80%.
India Passport
35×45 mm ICAO · 630×810 px
GPSP 2.0 / mission route is ICAO since Sep 2025; the 51×51 print route still exists. Both, separated.
India Visa (online)
350–1000 px · 10–300 KB
Square JPEG for the online Indian visa application form.
OCI Card
51×51 mm
OCI photograph: 2×2 in, face about 80% of the frame.
UK Passport
35×45 mm · ≥600×750 px
GOV.UK rules: plain light background, taken within the last month.
UK Visa
35×45 mm
The white vs light-grey question, answered from the GOV.UK standard.
Australia Passport
35–40 × 45–50 mm
A size RANGE, not a preset — framing checker and official checklist.
Canada Passport
50×70 mm
Size & framing guide — final photos must come from a commercial photographer.
2×2 / 51×51 Maker
600×600 px
The universal square format, metric-first, with a 4×6 print sheet.
Exact-KB Compressor
240 / 200 / 120 KB presets
Compress a passport photo to the exact KB a portal demands.