DV lottery photo upload error: check the file before entry
The file contract is stricter than the one US visa forms use: a square JPEG of exactly 600 × 600 pixels, 240 KB or less, taken within the last 6 months. On top of it sits the entry rule — submitting the photo you used in a previous Diversity Visa entry disqualifies you.
Quick answer
Exactly 600 × 600 px, and the photo must be new
Square JPEG, exactly 600 × 600 pixels, no more than 240 KB, taken within the last 6 months. Take a new photo for each entry: reusing the image from an earlier entry is grounds for disqualification, not just a risk of rejection.
Reference table
| Check | What to verify | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Canvas | Square and not stretched | A rectangular crop fails the validator |
| Pixels | Exactly 600 × 600 | A US visa (DS-160) photo may go up to 1200 × 1200; a DV entry photo may not |
| File | Real JPEG, 240 KB or less | A renamed HEIC is still HEIC |
| Age of photo | Taken within the last 6 months | Same recency rule as a US visa photo |
| Photo history | Never used in a previous DV entry | Reuse is a disqualifying entry error, not a file error |
What is actually different about DV
Two things differ from an ordinary US visa photo. The file is stricter: exactly 600 × 600 pixels, where a DS-160 photo may be anything from 600 × 600 to 1200 × 1200; the JPEG requirement, the 240 KB ceiling and the 6-month recency rule are the same. The bigger difference is the entry rule: the Diversity Visa instructions require a photo taken within the last 6 months that was not submitted with a previous entry, and using an old entry photo is treated as a disqualifying error rather than a fixable upload problem. Budget for a new photo every year you enter.
The upload sequence
Take or select a current original, crop without stretching, export the required JPEG, inspect the actual dimensions and file size, then upload once. Save the final file name and source for your records.
Frequently asked questions
01Why does the DV lottery reject my photo?
Common causes include a non-square crop, pixels other than 600 × 600, a file over 240 KB, a renamed HEIC, a photo older than 6 months, poor lighting or a face outside the composition rules.
02Can I use my passport photo for the DV lottery?
Only if it was taken within the last 6 months and meets the square 600 × 600 pixel contract. What you must never do is reuse the photo from a previous DV entry — that disqualifies the new entry outright.
03Can I use a free DV photo checker?
Yes: a checker can catch dimensions and visible defects.
04Should I upload the same photo for every family member?
No. Each person needs their own current photo and must follow the official instructions for the entry.
Official sources
Related knowledge
Apply this requirement to your photo
Use the matching browser tool, then verify the finished file against the selected country and document.