DV Lottery photo requirements
Use a complete DV Lottery photo checklist covering the recent-photo rule, JPEG format, 600×600 dimensions, 240 KB limit, background, pose, head size and eye position.
Read the guide →Diversity Visa photo library
DV Lottery photo guides for a safer final check
Understand each requirement before you upload. These focused guides explain the file rules, camera setup, framing, common mistakes and visual checks without promising government acceptance.
Check and fix a DV photo free →Latest substantive article update · October 23, 2026
Take a DV photo at home
Follow an at-home DV photo workflow for camera distance, eye-level position, white or off-white background, even lighting, neutral expression and final JPEG preparation.
Read the guide →600×600 and 240 KB explained
Learn what 600×600 pixels, square aspect ratio, JPEG format and the 240 KB DV Lottery photo limit mean—and how to correct each safely.
Read the guide →Common DV photo mistakes
Avoid common DV Lottery photo mistakes involving file format, dimensions, background, shadows, head position, expression, glasses, filters and old photos.
Read the guide →Use a phone for a DV photo
Yes, a phone can take a DV Lottery photo. Learn which camera to use, how to avoid selfie distortion and filters, and how to prepare the final JPEG.
Read the guide →Correct and incorrect examples
Compare correct and incorrect DV Lottery photo examples for background, lighting, framing, head size, expression, glasses and phone-camera effects.
Read the guide →DV photos for babies and children
Prepare a DV Lottery photo for a baby or child with no parent in frame, a plain background, open eyes, even light and the correct 600×600 JPEG.
Read the guide →Head size and eye position
Learn how DV photo head size and eye position are measured and how to crop a 600×600 image without making the face too small, too large, high or low.
Read the guide →Background and lighting
Set up a plain white or off-white DV photo background, diagnose face and wall shadows, and understand what the ToolsFA checker can and cannot assess.
Read the guide →Glasses, coverings and clothing
Apply DV entry photo rules for glasses, headphones, hearing devices, religious head coverings, uniforms and ordinary daily clothing before taking the picture.
Read the guide →Photo upload troubleshooting
Troubleshoot a rejected DV photo upload by checking genuine JPEG format, exact 600×600 dimensions, square shape, 240 KB limit, filename and browser.
Read the guide →HEIC and PNG to JPEG
Convert a phone photo to a genuine JPEG, preserve its orientation and inspect the exported DV photo before uploading it.
Read the guide →Compress a DV photo
Compress a DV photo to the 240 KB limit without changing the required 600×600 dimensions, and check facial detail before uploading.
Read the guide →Scan a printed photo
Scan a suitable 2×2 inch DV photo at 300 pixels per inch, crop the photo area and verify the final 600×600 JPEG before upload.
Read the guide →Blur and pixelation
Diagnose focus errors, motion blur, compression artifacts and low-resolution copies in a DV photo, and decide when to retake it.
Read the guide →Photographer checklist
Tell a photographer what you need for a DV entry photo, request an unretouched digital original and check the delivered JPEG before leaving.
Read the guide →Ready to review your own photo?
Check the actual format, dimensions and file size, review the visual estimates, and create a corrected 600×600 JPEG when a safe file correction is available.
Open the free DV photo checker →