My Green Card PhotoHome / Green Card guide
Green Card photo requirements
The photo is the part of a Green Card lottery entry people get wrong most often, and a photo that breaks the rules can disqualify the entry. Here are the official requirements in plain words.
In short
- 600 × 600 pixels, JPEG, under 240 KB
- In color and taken within the last 6 months
- White or off-white background, no shadows on the face
- Head fills 50–69% of the photo, facing the camera
- No glasses, hats or headphones
- Everyone in the family needs their own photo
File requirements
You upload the photo to the entry form as a file. The file must meet these requirements:
| Format | JPEG (.jpg) |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 600 × 600 pixels, square |
| File size | 240 KB or less |
| Color | Color (24-bit). No black-and-white photos |
| Head height | 50–69% of the photo's height, from chin to top of hair |
| Eye level | 56–69% of the photo's height, measured from the bottom |
| When taken | Within the last 6 months |
Face and pose
- Face the camera directly. Don't tilt or turn your head.
- Keep both eyes open.
- Keep a neutral expression with your mouth closed. No big smiles.
- Hair must not cover your eyes or face. Both edges of the face should show.
- Wear everyday clothing. No uniforms, except religious clothing worn daily.
Background and light
- Use a plain white or off-white background with no pattern.
- Light should be even, with no shadows on your face, neck or the background.
- Face a window. Avoid bright light behind you.
No white wall at home? Hang a white sheet and make sure it's flat and wrinkle-free.
Glasses, hats and headphones
- No glasses. Since November 2016, glasses aren't allowed in U.S. visa photos. If you can't remove them for medical reasons, you need a doctor's statement.
- No hats or head coverings. A religious covering worn daily is allowed, but your full face must show from forehead to chin, with no shadows.
- No headphones or wireless devices.
No editing
Filters, retouching, beauty modes, red-eye removal and cutting out or replacing the background are not allowed. You may only crop and resize the photo — which is exactly what the app does.
Children and babies
- Every child needs their own photo. No group or family photos.
- Lay a baby on their back on a white sheet and shoot from above.
- Keep a parent's hands, pacifiers and toys out of the frame.
- The child's eyes should be open and looking at the camera.
Acceptable and unacceptable examples
Example photos are AI-generated, not real people.
Mistakes that can disqualify an entry
A photo from a previous year. Don't reuse last year's photo: it must be taken within the last 6 months.
A missing family photo. Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 need photos, even if they won't move with you.
A photo that breaks the rules. This can disqualify the entry, even after you're selected.
The app checks all of this for you
My Green Card Photo guides you while you shoot and checks the photo against 13 rules. Your first photo is free.
