US Visa Photo: Size, Format and File Limit
The State Department publishes the technical limits for digital visa photos on its digital image requirements page. A phone photo fails most of them as it comes: it is usually several megabytes and not square.
Cropping is expected here. The Department offers its own photo tool to crop an image to a 600 × 600 square, and it says photos must not be digitally enhanced or altered to change your appearance. This tool only crops, scales and re-saves the JPEG. It does not retouch anything.
| File format | JPEG |
|---|---|
| Pixel size | Square, from 600 × 600 to 1200 × 1200 |
| File size | 240 kB or less |
| Color | Color, 24 bits per pixel, sRGB |
Source: US Department of State. Last checked by us on October 31, 2026. Rules change, so confirm on the official page before you apply.
Fit your photo
This runs in your browser, so the photo never reaches our server. Move the box to frame the image, then let the tool find the highest quality that stays within the limit.
Click to choose or drag and drop
JPG, PNG or WebP. Your file stays on this device.
Pages appear in this order. Up to 10 images.
Drag the box to frame the image, or focus it and use the arrow keys.
Result
| Check | Required | This file | Result |
|---|
These checks cover the file's technical limits only. They do not mean an authority will accept the photo or document.
What this tool cannot check
- Your appearance is unchanged: no filters, beauty modes or background edits.
- The photo itself meets the State Department's composition rules, which this tool cannot judge. Read them on the official page.
Passing these technical limits does not mean the application will be accepted. ToolkitHQ is not connected to any government.