Quick answer
What size is the US visa photo for Indians?
The US Department of State asks for a square colour photo: 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm) printed, or 600 × 600 to 1200 × 1200 pixels digitally, a JPEG of up to 240 kB, on a plain white or off-white background, taken within the last 6 months, without eyeglasses. Indian applicants upload it in the DS-160.
Indian passport holders need a visa to visit the US, and the photo goes into the online DS-160 form. The US Department of State wants a square colour photo: 600 × 600 to 1200 × 1200 pixels as a JPEG of up to 240 kB, or 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm) when printed, on a plain white or off-white background, taken within the last 6 months, with no eyeglasses. That is a different shape from an Indian passport photo, so make a separate copy.
US visa photo size and requirements
| Digital size | Square, from 600 × 600 to 1200 × 1200 pixels |
|---|---|
| File | JPEG, 240 kB or smaller, in 24-bit sRGB colour, with a compression ratio of no more than 20:1 |
| Print size | 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm) on photo-quality paper |
| Head size | 1 to 1⅜ inches (25–35 mm) from the chin to the top of the head, or 50–69% of the image height |
| Eye height | 56–69% of the image height, measured from the bottom |
| Background | Plain white or off-white |
| Photo age | Taken within the last 6 months |
| Glasses | Not allowed, except in rare cases where they cannot be removed for medical reasons (you then need a medical statement) |
| Head covering | Only if worn daily for religious reasons, with the full face visible and no shadows on it |
The State Department's photo page gives the head size as "1 inch and 1 3/8 inches (22 mm and 35 mm)", but its photo composition template says 25–35 mm. One inch is 25.4 mm, so aim for 25–35 mm.
Keep a 2 × 2 inch print with your papers
The US Embassy in India says you need a printed photo if the DS-160 upload fails, and the State Department notes that some embassies ask for one photo at the interview. A print costs little, so it is worth carrying one 2 × 2 inch copy of the same photo to your appointments.
Uploading the photo in the DS-160
The DS-160 is the online application form for US nonimmigrant visas, such as visitor visas. You upload the digital photo while you fill it in. The State Department's digital rules are:
- a square image of at least 600 × 600 and at most 1200 × 1200 pixels
- colour, 24 bits per pixel, in the sRGB colour space
- a JPEG file of 240 kB or less
- the head 50–69% of the image height and the eyes 56–69% of the way up from the bottom
If you scan a printed photo instead of uploading a digital one, scan the 2 × 2 inch print at 300 pixels per inch. The US Embassy and Consulates in India add that if the upload fails, you must bring one printed photo that meets the same requirements.
Visa application centre and interview in India
In India, US visa appointments are booked through the US visa scheduling service, and the process includes a visit to a visa application centre (VAC) or a document drop-off. Older US visa information pages for India say staff at the VAC take your fingerprints and a photo. We could not open the current scheduling site to confirm the details, so follow your appointment confirmation. The scheduling service's help desk for India is support-india@usvisascheduling.com.
Glasses, head coverings and other rules
Eyeglasses have not been allowed in new US visa photos since 1 November 2016. The only exception is when they cannot be removed for medical reasons, and you then need a medical statement. Other rules from the State Department:
- face the camera with a neutral expression and both eyes open
- wear everyday clothing; uniforms are not allowed, except religious clothing you wear every day
- wear a head covering only if you wear it daily for religious reasons, with your full face visible
- take off headphones and wireless devices; hearing devices may be worn
How to get your US visa photo right for the DS-160
- Take a new photo without glasses. Stand against a plain white or off-white wall, face the camera with both eyes open and a neutral expression, and take off your glasses. The photo must be from the last 6 months.
- Crop it to a square. Crop to between 600 × 600 and 1200 × 1200 pixels, with the head 50–69% of the image height and the eyes 56–69% of the way up. Do not stretch the image.
- Save a small JPEG. Save it as a colour JPEG of 240 kB or less. If the file is too big, lower the JPEG quality slightly instead of cropping below 600 pixels. If the file is not a JPG, such as a HEIC photo from an iPhone, convert it with the free 123PhotoTool JPEG converter.
- Upload it in the DS-160. Upload the photo when the form asks for it. If the upload fails, print a 2 × 2 inch (51 × 51 mm) copy on photo paper and bring it to your appointment.
- Go to your visa centre and interview. Book your appointments through the US visa scheduling service for India and follow the instructions in your confirmation.
Sample photos
Samples show pose, lighting and background. Crop your own photo to the United States visa size.
United States visa photo FAQ
A square photo: 600 × 600 to 1200 × 1200 pixels as a JPEG of 240 kB or less for the DS-160 upload, or 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm) printed. The background must be plain white or off-white, and the photo must have been taken within the last 6 months.
Usually not, because you upload the photo in the DS-160. The US Embassy and Consulates in India say you must bring one printed photo if the upload fails, and the State Department says some embassies ask for one photo at the interview.
No. Glasses have not been allowed since 1 November 2016, except in rare cases where they cannot be removed for medical reasons. You then need a medical statement.
Not as it is. Indian passport-size photos are 35 × 45 mm portraits, while the US photo is square. If the original photo is less than 6 months old, on white and without glasses, you can crop a new square copy from it. Otherwise take a new photo.
Yes, if you wear it every day for religious reasons. Your full face must be visible, with no shadows on it.
Official sources
- U.S. Department of State: Photo requirements
- U.S. Department of State: Digital image requirements
- U.S. Department of State: Photo composition template
- U.S. Embassy and Consulates in India: Apply for a nonimmigrant visa
- U.S. Embassy and Consulates in India: Visas
Last checked . Requirements and fees can change, so always confirm with the issuing agency before you apply. This site is independent and not affiliated with any government agency.