Instructions for passport photographs
Table of Contents
A digital passport photograph of you, your spouse, and each child must be submitted online with your application. The image file can be produced either by taking a new digital passport photograph or by scanning a photographic print with a digital scanner.
The image file must adhere to the compositional and technical specifications listed below. Entrants may test their passport photograph for suitability through the photo validation link on www.dvlottery.state.gov before submitting their entries.
The photo validation provides additional technical advice on passport photograph composition, along with examples of acceptable and unacceptable passport photograph.
Compositional Specifications of passport photographs:
Head Position
- The person being photographed must directly face the camera.
- The head of the person should not be tilted up, down, or to the side.
- The head height or facial region size (measured from the top of the head, including the hair, to the bottom of the chin) must be between 50 percent and 69 percent of the image’s total height.
- The eye height (measured from the bottom of the image to the level of the eyes) should be between 56 percent and 69 percent of the image’s height.
Passport photograph head size template
Passport photograph background:
- The person being photographed should be in front of a neutral, light-colored background.
- Dark or patterned backgrounds are not acceptable.
Focus:
- The passport photograph must be in focus.
Decorative items:
- passport photograph in which the person being photographed is wearing sunglasses or other items that detract from the face will not be accepted.
Head coverings and hats:
- passport photograph of applicant wearing head coverings or hats is only acceptable if the head covering is worn for religious beliefs; even then, the head covering may not obscure any portion of the face of the applicant. Passport photographs of applicants with tribal or other headgear not specifically religious in nature will not be accepted; passport photographs of military, airline, or other personnel wearing hats will not be accepted.
Color passport photographs in 24-bit color depth are required.
Technical specifications:
Taking a New Digital Image.
- Image File Format: The image must be in the Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) format.
- Image File Size: The maximum image file size is 240 kilobytes (240 KB).
- Image Resolution and Dimensions: Minimum acceptable dimensions are 600 pixels (width) x 600 pixels (height). Image pixel dimensions must be in a square aspect ratio (meaning the height must be equal to the width).
- Image Color Depth: Image must be in color (24 bits per pixel). 24-bit black and white or 8-bit images will not be accepted.
Scanning a passport photograph.
Before a photographic print is scanned, it must meet the compositional specifications listed above. If the photographic print meets the print color and compositional specifications, scan the print using the following scanner specifications:
- Scanner Resolution: Scanned at a resolution of at least 300 dots per inch (dpi).
- Image File Format: The image must be in the Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) format.
- Image File Size: The maximum image file size is 240 kilobytes (240 KB).
- Image Resolution: 600 by 600 pixels.
- Image Color Depth: 24-bit color. Note that black and white, monochrome, or grayscale images will not be accepted.
