Photo Requirements
How to Use Your Photo for Multiple Documents
Using the same photo for multiple U.S. visa or immigration documents is possible, but only if it meets the specific requirements for each category, because acceptance is at the discretion of the U.S. embassy or consulate where you apply .
Core photo requirements (applies to most visa photos)
Your photo must be in color, taken within the last 6 months, on a plain white or off‑white background, full‑face and directly facing the camera, with a neutral facial expression and both eyes open .
Keep your everyday clothing on for the photo; uniforms are not allowed except daily religious clothing, and hats or head coverings are only permitted when worn daily for religious reasons and do not obscure the hairline or cast shadows on the face .
Do not wear headphones, wireless hands‑free devices, or similar items in the photo, and do not use photos copied or digitally scanned from driver’s licenses or other official documents, snapshots, magazine photos, vending‑machine or low‑quality mobile phone photos, or full‑length photographs .
Measure head size: the head (from bottom of the chin to top of the head) must be between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches (22 mm and 35 mm) or 50% to 69% of the image’s total height; use the Photo Composition Template for specifics when preparing images for multiple uses .
Eyeglasses are generally not allowed in new visa photos; an exception exists only for rare medical reasons (e.g., recent ocular surgery) and requires a medical statement from a health professional plus no frames, glare, shadows or refraction obscuring the eyes .
If you normally wear a hearing device or similar articles, you may wear them in your photo; review the photo examples provided by the Department of State to compare acceptable and unacceptable images before submitting the same photo for different documents .
Using one photo for nonimmigrant applications (DS‑160 or DS‑1648)
When applying for a nonimmigrant visa using DS‑160 or DS‑1648 you will upload a digital image as part of the online form, so the digital image must meet the Digital Image Requirements described on the Department of State site .
Some embassies and consulates still instruct applicants to bring one printed photo that meets requirements to the interview, so check the embassy or consulate instructions for the post where you will apply before relying on a single photo for both upload and interview .
Using one photo for immigrant applications (DS‑260)
For immigrant visa applicants using Form DS‑260, you must provide two identical printed photos at the immigrant visa interview; these photos must be printed on photo quality paper and be 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm) in size, so if you plan to use the same image digitally and in print, prepare both formats accordingly .
When preparing to use one image for both digital upload and the two printed immigrant photos, ensure the digital image can be printed at 2 x 2 inches on photo quality paper without altering head proportions or violating any other requirements .
Using one photo for the Diversity Visa (DV) Program
If you are entering the DV Program online, you must upload a digital image in JPEG (.jpg) format that is equal to or less than 240 kB, in a square aspect ratio (height equals width), and exactly 600 x 600 pixels in dimension, so prepare your image in that format if you intend to reuse it for other documents .
DV selectees must bring two identical printed photos to the interview, each printed on photo quality paper and 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm) in size, so make sure your 600 x 600 digital image can be printed at the correct size and proportions for interview use .
If you want to scan an existing 2 x 2 inch photo for DV entry, it must be scanned at a resolution of 300 pixels per inch (12 pixels per millimeter) and the physical photo must be 2 x 2 inches, in addition to meeting the digital requirements .
Practical step‑by‑step: preparing one photo for multiple documents
Step 1 — Take the photo in color on a plain white or off‑white background, full‑face, neutral expression, both eyes open, wearing everyday clothes (no uniforms), and without headphones or similar devices .
Step 2 — Ensure the head size meets the 1 inch to 1 3/8 inch (22–35 mm) or 50%–69% of image height requirement by using the Photo Composition Template while composing or cropping your image .
Step 3 — If you plan to use the image for DV entry, crop and save a square 600 x 600 pixel JPEG file no larger than 240 kB; if you plan to print for immigrant or DV interviews, make sure the image will print correctly at 2 x 2 inches on photo quality paper .
Step 4 — If scanning an existing printed 2 x 2 inch photo for DV entry, scan at 300 ppi and verify the resulting JPEG meets the size and file‑size limits before uploading .
Step 5 — If unsure, use a professional visa photo service to produce both the correctly formatted digital file and the printed 2 x 2 photos, as recommended by the Department of State .
Using the Department of State photo tool
Use the Department of State’s free photo tool to select a digital image on your computer, resize/rotate if necessary, crop to a square image of exactly 600 x 600 pixels, and save it for printing; note this tool is intended for cropping only and a Department of State employee will make the final acceptability decision .
Tips for taking your own photo (do it right to reuse it)
If you take the photo yourself, do not digitally enhance or alter it to change your appearance in any way, and follow the technical references (Photo Composition Template and Digital Image Requirements) available from the Department of State .
Practical tip: position yourself in good, even lighting to avoid shadows on the face and background, and verify the background is plain white or off‑white with no textures or objects visible before taking or scanning the image .
Practical tip: check the final image at full size on a computer screen to ensure the eyes are open and visible, there’s no glare or shadows, and the head fills the frame according to the head‑size rule before using the same photo for multiple documents .
Photographing babies and toddlers when you plan to reuse the image
When photographing an infant or toddler for use across documents, ensure no other person appears in the photo and that the child is looking at the camera with eyes open, which is a requirement for acceptable visa photos .
Tip: lay the baby on a plain white or off‑white sheet and take the photo from above to keep the head supported and the background plain; take care to avoid shadows on the baby’s face, especially when shooting from above .
Alternative tip: cover a car seat with a plain white or off‑white sheet and photograph the child seated so the head remains supported and the background stays plain for reuse across applications .
When you must replace the photo because of a change of appearance
If your submitted photo does not reflect your current appearance — even if it is less than 6 months old — the U.S. embassy or consulate will request a new photo, so do not assume a previously used photo will always be accepted for a new application .
You will be required to obtain a new photo if you have undergone significant facial surgery or trauma, added or removed numerous/large facial piercings or tattoos, or experienced significant weight loss or gain; minor changes like growing a beard or hair coloring are generally not considered significant .
For children under 16, normal aging generally does not require a new photo, but final acceptance of the image for any application remains at the discretion of the U.S. embassy or consulate where you apply .
Avoid these common mistakes when reusing a photo
Do not reuse photos copied from other IDs or low‑quality sources, do not include people or objects in infant photos, do not wear eyeglasses unless a valid medical exception is documented, and do not digitally alter your appearance — any of these issues can cause rejection when using the same photo for multiple documents .
Final tip: always check the specific instructions for the visa category and the embassy or consulate where you apply — some posts require printed photos at the interview even when you upload a digital image — and when in doubt, get a professional visa photo service to produce compliant digital and printed photos for reuse across your applications .