DV Lottery photo checker
Snap it from your phone, get the green light, download your photo and a compliance report. Checked against the official United States spec before you submit — nothing uploaded.
US DV Lottery photo requirements
Square 600–1200 px, JPEG, under 240 KB, white background, head 50–69%. The DV entry form won't warn you if your background or head size is wrong — it accepts the upload and rejects you later. DIYPassPhoto catches it first. Verified from the US State Department.
- Square (1:1), 600×600 to 1200×1200 px, JPEG format
- File size 240 KB or less
- Head 50–69% of image height (chin to crown)
- Plain white or off-white background, no shadows
- Neutral expression, eyes open, one person only
- No glasses, no head coverings (unless religious)
- Taken within the last 6 months, no AI edits
Common rejection reasons
- Accepted at upload then rejected later — form does not check background or head size
- Background not truly white (grey wall, shadow, pattern)
- File over 240 KB or not exactly square
- Head outside the 50–69% band
- AI-edited photo — not allowed for US documents since 2026
Frequently asked questions
What are the DV Lottery photo requirements?
Square (1:1), 600×600 to 1200×1200 pixels, JPEG, under 240 KB, plain white background, head 50–69% of height, taken within 6 months.
Why did my photo pass the upload but get rejected?
The DV entry form only checks file size and format. It does not detect a bad background or wrong head size — those are caught later at human review.
Is the DV Lottery photo the same as a passport photo?
Same dimensions and rules, but the DV Lottery adds a strict 240 KB file-size cap for digital submission. DIYPassPhoto formats and compresses to spec automatically.