Take or upload your DV photo
Use a plain white or off-white background. The photo must show your current appearance, face forward, with neutral expression and both eyes open.
Application requirements
Prepare photos and documents before staff review.
A practical checklist for DV photos, identity documents, family information, and the upload process we use to reduce avoidable mistakes.
Simple upload flow
What applicants will provide during intake.
Upload passport or ID documents
We will request passport or government ID images to verify spelling, identity details, and application information before submission.
We review and crop safely
We can crop and resize the image to the required format, but we should not retouch your face or digitally alter your appearance.
Official DV photo rules
Your Diversity Visa photo must be clean, current, and correctly formatted.
We review the photo before submission and ask for a replacement when it is not ready.
- JPEG photo, square image, exactly 600 x 600 pixels for DV entry.
- Plain white or off-white background with no objects, patterns, or shadows.
- Full-face view, looking directly at the camera, neutral expression, both eyes open.
- Current photo taken within the last 6 months.
- Head size should follow official DV composition guidance.
- No copied/scanned ID photos and no digital appearance edits.
Selfie feature plan
How we can simplify photos without risking rejection.
Camera works on HTTPS production pages and localhost. iPhone, Android, and desktop browsers may ask permission before opening the camera.
We can add a “Take a selfie” button in the application form, but the app should guide applicants to stand in front of a real plain white or off-white background. Background removal is risky because official guidance does not allow digital alteration that changes appearance, and edited-looking photos may be rejected.
- Guide users to use a real white or off-white wall or sheet.
- Show a face-position guide before taking the photo.
- Validate image dimensions, file type, and file size in the browser.
- Crop and resize to 600 x 600 pixels without retouching the person.
- Flag bad background, shadows, blur, or face position for staff review.
Planned camera output
Square 600 x 600 crop
JPEG file
Target 200 KB or less
Face alignment outline before capture
Photo examples
See what passes — and what gets rejected.
Your photo is auto-checked for size, format, and dimensions. These examples cover what software can’t judge on its own: lighting, expression, glasses, and background.
Ready to submit
Plain background, face forward, neutral, both eyes open.
Will be rejected
Anything that hides, shadows, or distracts from your face.
Automatic + human review. Software checks size, format, and dimensions instantly. A staff reviewer then checks glasses, expression, shadows, and background before anything is submitted — and asks for a retake if needed.
Document checklist
Documents we will request during intake or follow-up.
The goal is not to collect unnecessary paperwork. The goal is to verify spelling, identity details, family details, and application readiness before staff submits.
- Passport or travel document, when needed for the active DV year.
- Government ID to confirm spelling and identity details.
- Spouse and eligible child details, where required.
- Education or work history to confirm basic DV eligibility.
Official source:
Diversity Visa photo and entry rules should always be checked against
the U.S. Department of State before each registration season.
Photo requirements
and
DV instructions .