DV Lottery Photo Size — the Exact 600×600, Under-240KB Spec
The Diversity Visa (DV Lottery) entry is free and takes minutes — but a huge share of entries fail at one step: the photo. The online entry form runs an automated check, and it rejects anything that isn't a square JPEG, 600×600 pixels, under 240KB, on a plain white background. Get the photo right once and the rest of the entry is straightforward.
The exact photo specification
The DV program requires a recent colour photo (taken within the last six months) that is: square (1:1), at least 600×600 pixels and no larger than 1200×1200 pixels, in JPEG (.jpg) format, 240KB or smaller, with a plain white or off-white background. Your head must be centred and fill roughly 50–69% of the image height, with a neutral expression, both eyes open, and no glasses. This is the same digital specification as a US visa photo, verified against the U.S. Department of State (travel.state.gov) photo requirements.
Why entries get rejected
Four failures account for almost every rejected DV photo: the image isn't exactly square (a phone photo is rectangular by default); the file is over 240KB; the head is too small or too large in the frame; or the background isn't plain white. The checker is unforgiving because a rejected photo can invalidate the entire entry — there is no second chance in a given year's window.
How to make a compliant DV photo, free
Start from a clear, front-facing photo against a white wall in even daylight. Then make it square and correctly sized: the passport-size photo maker crops to a 600×600 square, and the US visa preset (identical spec) sets the dimensions and the under-240KB limit in one step. If your file is only slightly too large, drop it into the reduce image size in KB tool and target 240KB — it binary-searches to the best quality that still fits. Everything runs in your browser, so your photo is never uploaded anywhere.
Getting the head size right
The 50–69% head-height rule trips people up more than the file size. Measure from the top of the hair to the bottom of the chin: in a 600-pixel-tall image, the head should span roughly 300–414 pixels. Too far from the camera and the head is too small; too close and it's cropped. Frame chest-up, then crop square around a centred face.
Frequently asked questions
What size photo does the DV Lottery require?
A square JPEG, at least 600×600 pixels and no larger than 1200×1200 pixels, under 240KB, with a plain white or off-white background. 600×600 is the safe standard size.
Why does the DV entry form reject my photo?
The most common reasons are a non-square image, a file over 240KB, wrong head size (the head must fill 50–69% of the height), or a background that isn't plain white. The entry checker is automated and strict.
Is the DV Lottery photo the same as a US visa photo?
Yes — the digital specification is identical: 2×2 inch equivalent, 600×600 pixels, square, JPEG, under 240KB, white background. A compliant US visa digital photo also meets the DV Lottery requirement.