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Spec

US visa photo at exactly 600 × 600 pixels

Quick answer

Yes, exactly 600 × 600 pixels — square, JPEG, file size ≤ 240 KB. Larger sizes up to 1200 × 1200 are accepted by the DS-160 upload, but 600 × 600 is the safe target and the size most posts require.

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The camera coaches you live on:

  • Head tilt & angle
  • Lighting & shadows
  • Head size in frame
  • Background plainness
  • Blur / sharpness

Most issues get caught in the viewfinder, before you tap shutter.

We never alter facial features — only crop, resize, and clean the background.

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Official requirements

  • Width and height both 600 px, with a strict 1:1 aspect ratio
  • JPEG file format (.jpg)
  • File size ≤ 240 KB
  • Color photo (black and white is not accepted)
  • Head height 50–69% of the 600 px frame (roughly 300–414 px chin to crown)

Common rejection reasons

  • Photo isn't perfectly square — even a 600 × 601 file gets rejected
  • File is too large — over 240 KB will fail the DS-160 upload
  • Head height outside the 50–69% range (the most common rejection reason)
  • Photo is greyscale instead of color
  • Resampled from a smaller image — pixelation is visible on review

Frequently asked

Why exactly 600 × 600?

The U.S. Department of State sets 600 × 600 px as the minimum acceptable digital photo size. The DS-160 upload page won't accept smaller files. Some posts technically accept larger files (up to 1200 × 1200), but 600 × 600 is the universal safe target.

Can it be slightly larger or smaller?

Smaller: no — 599 × 599 fails the upload. Larger: technically up to 1200 × 1200 is accepted, but file size also has to stay under 240 KB. Going larger gambles on hitting that file-size cap. 600 × 600 always works.

Does the 600 × 600 include any border or just the head?

The whole frame is 600 × 600. Inside that frame, the head must fill 50–69% of the height (about 300–414 px chin to the top of the head, including the hair). There's no formal border requirement — just centered, properly sized head.

What if the embassy asks for a printed 2 × 2 inch photo too?

Print at 2 × 2 inches at 300 ppi. That works out to 600 × 600 px — same dimension as the digital file. Our tool delivers both the digital JPEG and a print-ready file from one upload.

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