United States Visa Photo Maker
Create a 2 × 2 in United States visa photo from your own picture. Face detection, cropping and export all run in your browser.
No eyeglasses. Take your glasses off for the photo.
Digital upload: a square JPEG from 600 × 600 to 1200 × 1200 px, 240 KB or less, in sRGB colour. This tool exports 1200 × 1200 px within 240 KB.
Background: U.S. rules do not allow digitally edited backgrounds. Take your photo against a plain white or off-white wall.
The photo is too close. Retake it with more space around your head (above the hair, at the sides and down to the shoulders) so it can be cropped to the required size.
U.S. rules do not allow digitally edited backgrounds. Take your photo against a plain white or off-white wall.
Optional. A one-time download of about 16 MB, then the background is replaced with the required colour on your device. Your photo is not uploaded.
Red line = top of the hair, blue = eyes, green = chin. Drag a line onto the right spot, or use its ▲ ▼ buttons; the crop refits. Drag anywhere else to move the photo. The green band shows where the chin must end, the blue band where the eyes must be.
The tool only checks the size and position of the head and eyes. It does not check glasses, expression, background or lighting.
Guide lines are an aid, not a check by any authority. Always compare the result with the official requirements linked below.
United States visa photo requirements
| Printed size | 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm) |
|---|---|
| Head height (chin to top of hair) | Top of the head, including the hair, to the bottom of the chin: 25–35 mm (1 to 1⅜ in), which is 50–69% of the photo height. Eyes 28–35 mm from the bottom edge (56–69% of the height). This tool uses 25–35 mm, as given in the detailed photo specifications (photo composition template). |
| Eye height (from bottom of photo) | 28–35 mm |
| Background | Plain white or off-white |
| Digital file from this tool | 1200 × 1200 px JPEG, max 240 KB (authority minimum: 600 × 600 px) |
| Editing | Not allowed by the official source (background replacement is off) |
| Print sheet from this tool | 6 copies on 4×6 in (10×15 cm), 300 dpi |
Rules from the official source
- 2 × 2 inch (51 × 51 mm) square photo.
- Head (top of the head, including the hair, to the bottom of the chin): 25–35 mm (1 to 1⅜ in), 50–69% of the photo height.
- Eyes 28–35 mm (1⅛ to 1⅜ in) from the bottom edge, 56–69% of the height.
- Neutral facial expression and both eyes open.
- Plain white or off-white background, with no shadows.
- No eyeglasses.
- Photos must not be digitally enhanced or altered to change your appearance in any way.
- Digital upload: JPEG, 240 kB or less, square, from 600 × 600 to 1200 × 1200 pixels, sRGB colour, 24 bits per pixel.
How to use the tool
- Take a front-facing photo in even light against a plain wall, or pick an existing one.
- Upload it. The tool finds your face, eyes and chin, and crops the photo to 2 × 2 in.
- Check the red line sits on the very top of your hair (not your forehead) and the green line on your chin. Drag a line to correct it; the crop refits automatically.
- When the head position is within range and you have ticked the confirmation box, download the digital photo and/or the 4×6 in print sheet. If the tool says the photo is too close, retake it with more space around your head.
Common mistakes that lead to rejection
- Altering the photo. The source says: "Photos must not be digitally enhanced or altered to change your appearance in any way."
- A digital file that is not a square JPEG, is outside 600 × 600 to 1200 × 1200 px, or is over 240 kB.
- Wearing glasses.
- Cutting the background out digitally. U.S. rules do not allow digitally edited backgrounds.
- Eyes outside the 28–35 mm band from the bottom edge, or a head outside 25–35 mm. The green and blue bands in the tool show where the chin and eyes must be.
- Smiling, raised eyebrows or an open mouth.
- Shadows on the face or on the wall behind you.
- Head too small or too large in the frame. The head is measured from the top of the hair to the chin, not from the forehead.
- Photo taken too close, so the top of the head or the shoulders are cut off.
- Tilted head or looking away from the camera.
- Busy or coloured background instead of a plain wall.
Editing and retouching
Not allowed by the official source. The source says: Photos must not be digitally enhanced or altered to change your appearance in any way.
Source.
This tool only offers background replacement where an official source explicitly allows editing.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a US visa photo?
A square 2 × 2 inch (51 × 51 mm) photo. The head, from the top of the hair to the bottom of the chin, should measure 25–35 mm (50–69% of the height) and the eyes should be 28–35 mm from the bottom edge (56–69%), on a plain white or off-white background.
What are the digital upload requirements?
A square JPEG from 600 × 600 to 1200 × 1200 pixels, 240 kB or less, in sRGB colour (24 bits per pixel).
Can I edit or retouch the photo?
No. The Department of State says photos must not be digitally enhanced or altered to change your appearance in any way, so this page does not replace the background. Take your photo against a plain white or off-white wall.
Is my photo uploaded anywhere?
No. Everything runs in your browser.
Official source
U.S. Department of State (travel.state.gov): https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/photos.html. Last verified by us: . Rules can change, so always check the official page before you apply.
PhotoID Ready is independent and not affiliated with any government agency. Whether a photo is accepted is always decided by the issuing authority.
Related photo tools
- United States passport photo
- Canada visitor visa (TRV) photo
- United Kingdom visa photo
- Schengen Area visa photo
Related guides
- Can You Wear Glasses in a Passport Photo? Country-by-Country Rules
- Passport Photo Background: What Colour Is Required?
- Can You Smile in a Passport Photo?
- Why Was Your Visa Photo Rejected? Common Reasons & How to Fix Them
- How to Take a Passport Photo at Home With Your Phone
- How to Reduce a Passport Photo to 50 KB Without Losing Quality
- Passport Photo vs Visa Photo: What's the Difference?