U.S. Visa Photo Checker — DS-160 / DS-260
You are probably here because the DS-160 (CEAC) uploader rejected your photo with a message like "illumination error" or "photo does not meet requirements" — without saying what is actually wrong. The Department of State specification is precise; the error messages are not.
This checker enforces the measurable parts of the spec for you: exact 600×600 px square output, JPEG under the 240 KB ceiling (one-click compression included), and a head-size guide for the 50–69% rule. It never alters your photo — the State Department prohibits digitally enhanced or background-replaced visa photos, so shoot against a plain white or off-white wall.
Upload your photo
📷
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).
U.S. visa digital photo: 600×600 px minimum (up to 1200×1200), JPEG, max 240 KB, sRGB, plain white or off-white background.
⚠️ 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 | Square; minimum 600×600 px, maximum 1200×1200 px (this tool exports 600×600 px) |
| Format | JPEG, sRGB 24-bit, compression ratio ≤ 20:1 |
| File size | Maximum 240 KB |
| Background | Plain white or off-white |
| Head size | Head height 1–1⅜ in, i.e. 50–69% of the photo height |
| Recency | Taken within the last 6 months |
| Editing | Must not be digitally enhanced or altered in any way (U.S. Department of State) |
| Source | travel.state.gov — U.S. visa photo requirements & Digital Image 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.
Decoding the CEAC photo errors
"Illumination error" usually means the background or lighting failed the plain-background check: shadows across the wall, a dark or patterned background, or a face much darker than the background. Retake against a plain white or off-white wall in even light. "Photo too large" is the 240 KB ceiling — compress, do not resize below 600×600. "Not square" or dimension errors mean the file is not between 600×600 and 1200×1200 px with equal height and width — re-crop with the preset above. Head-size rejections mean the head is outside 50–69% of the frame height; adjust with the zoom slider and the dashed guide.
Scanned printed photos
If you scan an existing printed photo instead, the State Department specifies a 2×2 inch print scanned at 300 ppi (12 pixels per mm). The same digital limits — square, JPEG, ≤240 KB, head 50–69% — apply to the resulting 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 are the DS-160 photo requirements?
Square JPEG between 600×600 and 1200×1200 px, at most 240 KB, sRGB, plain white or off-white background, head height 50–69% of the image, taken within 6 months, and not digitally altered.
CEAC says "illumination error". What do I fix?
Lighting and background: retake against a plain white or off-white wall with even lighting, no shadows on the face or wall, and no patterned background. Then re-check dimensions and file size here.
Can I replace the background of my U.S. visa photo?
No — the Department of State states visa photos must not be digitally enhanced or altered to change your appearance in any way, and its own photo tool is described as "intended for photo cropping only". This checker is format-only for U.S. documents for exactly that reason.
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
DV Lottery (Green Card)
600×600 px · ≤240 KB
Free checker for Diversity Visa entry photos — the #1 silent disqualifier.
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.