DV photo guide
Take a DV photo with a phone at home
Updated . By the DV Lottery Guide editorial team.
DV Lottery Guide is an independent site and is not affiliated with the U.S. government.
You can take the DV photo with a phone if the final file is a color 600×600 JPEG of 240 KB or less, shot in the last 6 months, on a plain white or off-white background, facing the camera, with no eyeglasses.
What do you set up?
- Stand in front of a plain white or off-white wall. Move away from the wall enough to avoid a shadow behind the head.
- Use even light from the front. Do not stand under a single overhead light that shadows the eyes.
- Take off eyeglasses. A hearing device you normally wear can stay.
- Look straight into the lens with a neutral expression and both eyes open. Do not tilt the head.
- Wear everyday clothes, not a uniform, unless the clothing is religious clothing worn daily.
- For a baby, use a white sheet on the floor or over a car seat, and keep every other person out of the frame. See baby and child photos.
What do you do with the file?
| Step | Target |
|---|---|
| Crop | Square, head 50% to 69% of the height |
| Resize | 600×600 pixels |
| Save | JPEG, 240 KB or smaller |
| Check | Free checker, or the DV Photo Maker if the background or size needs a fix |
Questions
Can a phone photo be uploaded as-is?
Usually not. Phone files are the wrong pixel size and over 240 KB. Crop to 600×600 and compress the JPEG before upload.
Should I use the front camera?
Use the camera that keeps the face sharp and evenly lit. The person must face the lens directly, with both eyes open.
Does the photo service replace these steps?
The DV Photo Maker is optional. It sets the 600×600 JPEG, the background, and the file-size check. You still enter only at dvprogram.state.gov.
Sources
Photo rules on this page follow the DV-2026 instructions. Separate DV-2027 photo instructions have not been published. Entry is only at dvprogram.state.gov.