DV lottery photo online
A Green Card lottery photo that is exactly 600×600 pixels and under 240 KB. A photo that misses the rules can get your entry disqualified.
Fit your face in the oval and your shoulders under the line. Look straight at the camera, mouth closed, no smile. Best by a light wall, facing a window.
Photo requirements
Print the 4×6 in (10×15 cm) sheet at any photo lab or kiosk: 4×6 size, borderless, no scaling (100%). Then cut along the gray lines.
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DV lottery photo requirements
The Diversity Visa lottery takes photos as files only, no prints. The rules are strict, and a bad photo is one of the most common reasons entries are disqualified. You won't find out until it's too late, so it pays to get the numbers exactly right.
| Rule | Requirement |
|---|---|
| File size | exactly 600×600 pixels |
| Format | JPEG, up to 240 KB |
| Head | 50-69% of the image height |
| Eyes | 56-69% of the height, measured from the bottom |
| Background | plain white, no shadows |
| Glasses | not allowed |
| Age of photo | taken in the last 6 months |
A file that's 600×599 or 601×600 will be rejected. Ours is always exactly 600×600.
How to make a Green Card lottery photo
- Take a new photo. Don't reuse last year's entry photo; recent photos are required.
- Remove glasses and pull hair away from your face. Head coverings only for religious reasons.
- Stand by a light wall, facing a window, and have someone else take the picture at eye level from about 4-5 ft.
- Upload it and choose Green Card (DV lottery). We crop by your eye line, the way US documents are measured.
- Download the DV file and upload it with your entry.
Photos for the whole family
Your entry must include your spouse and all unmarried children under 21, even ones who won't immigrate with you. If any one of those photos fails, the whole entry can be thrown out. Babies are easiest to photograph lying on a white sheet, shot from above, eyes open and no hands in the frame.
For several people, Pro Photo from $2.99 a day is cheaper than separate sets: it covers up to 3 sets a day. A single set is $6.99.
Where to enter
Entering the lottery is free, and the only place to do it is the official site, dvprogram.state.gov. Sites that charge a fee to enter for you have nothing to do with the program. The entry period usually runs for about a month in the fall, so prepare photos for everyone ahead of time.
Common reasons for rejection
- the file isn't exactly 600×600;
- head too small, or the top of the head cut off;
- glasses, shadows, uneven background;
- the same photo as a previous year;
- heavy retouching. We don't edit your face, only the crop and the background.
Checking and previewing are free, with a watermark. There's no print sheet for this document because the lottery only takes files.
FAQ
What size is a DV lottery photo?
Exactly 600×600 pixels, JPEG, no more than 240 KB.
Can I reuse last year's photo?
No. Photos must be recent, and submitting the same photo again can lead to disqualification.
Do I need printed photos for the lottery?
No, only a digital file. That's why this document has no print sheets.
Can I wear glasses?
No, glasses aren't allowed in US visa and lottery photos.
Do children need their own photo?
Yes. Every family member listed on the entry needs a separate photo that meets the rules.