Diversity Visa (DV) lottery photo requirements: size, format and file size
Diversity Visa entry photos are digital JPEG files that are square, at least 600 × 600 pixels and no more than 240 KB, and each family member needs a separate photo. Entries open only during a period announced by the State Department, so check the current status before you prepare anything.
Open the tool with a 240 KB limitCheck the entry status first
As of late September 2026, law-firm reporting said the official entry website was not accepting entries and that no DV-2028 entry period had been announced. Dates can change. Check dvprogram.state.gov directly for the current status, and ignore any other site that claims to take entries.
Entering through the official website is free. Be wary of any service that charges for an entry or promises selection. Nobody can improve your chances of being drawn.
Photo file requirements
DV entry photos follow the same digital image standard as US visa photos, described on the State Department’s Digital Image Requirements page. Our visa photo guide explains each rule in detail.
| Requirement | Rule |
|---|---|
| Shape | Square, with height equal to width |
| Dimensions | At least 600 × 600 px; no more than 1200 × 1200 px |
| Format | JPEG |
| File size | 240 kB or less |
| Colour | Colour, sRGB |
Who needs a photo
The State Department’s DV instructions ask for a recent photo, taken within the last six months, of the main applicant, the spouse and each child under 21, with limited exceptions such as a child who is already a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Each person needs a separate photo. Group and family photos are not accepted.
Mistakes that can disqualify an entry
- Reusing a photo from a previous year. The State Department’s instructions say photos submitted with a prior year’s entry will not be accepted.
- Using an old photo. It must have been taken within the last six months.
- Leaving out a family member’s photo. Missing photos disqualify the whole entry.
- Uploading a file that misses the specification, such as a PNG, a non-square crop or a file over 240 kB.
Prepare each photo
- Take a new, recent photo of each person. Do not copy it from a social media post.
- Crop each to a square with the head and shoulders centred. SizeKit does not crop, so do this first.
- In SizeKit set width and height to 600, the limit to 240 KB and the format to JPG.
- Name the files clearly, for example with each person’s first name, so you do not upload the wrong one.
- Check each file’s properties for its real pixel size and file size before the entry session.
A 2026 State Department rule change, published in the Federal Register on March 11, 2026, also requires passport details and a scan of the passport’s biographic page with the entry. Read the current official instructions for what to prepare, as they may change before the next entry period.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a DV lottery photo?
A square JPEG of at least 600 × 600 pixels and no more than 1200 × 1200, with a file size of 240 kB or less.
Can I use last year’s photo?
No. The State Department’s DV instructions say photos submitted with a prior year’s entry will not be accepted. Take a new photo within the last six months.
Does SizeKit make my photo meet the composition rules?
No. SizeKit resizes and compresses a photo. It cannot correct your pose, background or lighting, and it does not crop, so retake the photo if the composition is wrong.