DV Lottery Photo: Your Gateway to the American Dream

Dreaming of a life in the United States?

You're not alone. 

Every year, over 11 million hopefuls apply for the DV Lottery, eyeing one of the 55,000 immigrant visas.

But—

Before the Statue of Liberty welcomes you with open arms, you need to get that DV Lottery photo right.

Let's snap to it:

DV Lottery Photo Requirements

First impressions count, especially when it's a photo that could change your life. 

So—

Let's break down the essentials:

General Photo Guidelines

• Freshness: Your photo should be recent, taken within the last 6 months
• Reusability: Never use an image from a prior year's entry or pictures from other official documents
• Manipulation: Any photo alterations or manipulations will disqualify you

Photo Composition

• Color: Photos must be in color
• Focus: Ensure your photo is in focus
• Size: The head should measure between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches (22 and 35 mm) or occupy 50–69% of the image's height
• Background: Opt for a plain white or off-white backdrop
• Position: A full-face view, directly facing the camera
• Expression: Keep a neutral facial expression with both eyes open
• Attire: Wear your daily clothing. Avoid uniforms, except for daily-worn religious attire
• Head coverings: Hats or head coverings that hide the hair or hairline are a no-go unless it's for religious reasons. Ensure no shadows fall on your face
• Accessories: No headphones, wireless devices, or eyeglasses. Hearing devices or similar are acceptable if worn regularly

Digital Image Specifications

• Format: JPEG (.jpg) file
• File size: Must be 240 kB or less
• Dimensions: A square aspect ratio, 600x600 pixels

Scanning: If scanning an existing photo, it should be 2x2 inches (51x51 mm) and scanned at 300 pixels per inch

DV Photo Checker

Let's be honest:

The myriad of photo requirements for the DV lottery can be dizzying.

It’s like setting off fireworks on the Fourth of July: one dud and the whole show loses its sparkle.

But—

Fear not.

We've created a handy Google Sheets checklist to help you ensure every aspect of your photo is on point.

If manually ticking off boxes isn’t your cup of tea, that’s OK. 

Our diversity visa photo validator can run all the checks for you, ensuring your photo is up to the mark. It uses AI to verify (among others):

• Is your image properly exposed?
• Are your eyes open?
• Is your mouth closed?
• Are there any unwanted shadows?

It’s like having a friend who knows all about DV lottery picture requirements and giving your photo a once-over.

Plus, it’s not just technology doing the work. 

An actual human will also review your photo to ensure it's 100% compliant. If something is off, they'll guide you to re-take the image at no extra cost.

Sounds too good to be true?

PhotoAiD isn’t new to the game. We’ve helped 1+ million users worldwide and processed over 18 million photos, earning thousands of 5-star reviews on Trustpilot.

Now—

If you don’t have a DV lottery photo yet, no worries. Up next, we'll explain how to capture that perfect shot from the comfort of your home using our DV lottery photo editor software.

DV Photo Tool

Let's now get down to the nitty-gritty of our DV lottery photo editor.

Think of it as a pocket-sized expert that can help you snap the perfect photo with your smartphone.

Here's how it works:

1. Grab your phone, set it on a tripod, or get a friend to help. Dress as per the guidelines and take a photo.
2. Upload the photo.
3. Our DV lottery photo tool will crop, resize, and adjust the background of your photograph.
4. One of our experts will review your photo and provide feedback in under 60 seconds.
5. Get your image.

Done and dusted.

Plus—

If you're more of a DIY enthusiast and want to craft that perfect shot yourself, PhotoAiD has got you covered.

We have a suite of free tools you may want to try, including:

• Shadow Remover
• Background Remover
• Photo Cropper