Green card
photo checker
Check if your DV-2027 photo meets the official U.S. State Department requirements before you submit your DV Lottery entry - and fix it if it doesn't.
DV-2027 photo requirements
A photo that doesn't meet these rules disqualifies your green card lottery entry. The checker tests each one.
Save the photo as a .jpg file in color, 24 bits per pixel. Black-and-white photos and other formats such as PNG or HEIC aren't accepted.
The width and height must be equal, between 600 and 1200 pixels. If yours isn't square, the checker can crop it for you.
Phone photos are usually several megabytes. The checker can resize and compress your photo to stay under 240 KB.
Measured from the top of your hair to the bottom of your chin. A head that is too small or too large is one of the most common reasons for rejection.
Your eyes must sit between 56% and 69% of the image height, measured from the bottom of the photo.
No patterns, objects, or shadows behind you. Stand a little away from a white wall with even light.
Taken in the last 6 months, facing the camera with a neutral expression and both eyes open. No eyeglasses, no headphones, and no hat unless it's worn daily for religious purposes. No filters or retouching.
Frequently asked questions
Your DV-2027 photo must be a square color JPEG between 600×600 and 1200×1200 pixels, no larger than 240 KB, on a plain white or off-white background. Your head must take up 50%–69% of the image height and your eyes must sit 56%–69% of the image height from the bottom.
Yes. The checker is completely free, with no sign-up, watermark, or paid download.
No. Your photo is checked entirely in your browser and never leaves your device. An unfinished check is kept on your device for up to 7 days so you can pick up where you left off.
Yes. If your photo has the wrong size, shape, or file size, the checker can crop it to a square around your eyes, resize it to 600×600 pixels, and compress it under 240 KB. You can then download the fixed photo.
The most common reasons are the wrong image size or file size, a head that is too small or too large, a background that isn't plain white, shadows on the face, eyeglasses, and photos that were edited or are older than 6 months. A rejected photo disqualifies the whole entry.
No. This tool checks your photo against the published U.S. Department of State requirements, but only the Department of State decides whether a photo is accepted. It is not affiliated with the U.S. government.