Digital Document Photo Online: Pixels, File Size, Format and DPI (2026)
Source: U.S. Department of State — Digital Image Requirements
Verified Jun 17, 2026
In short. For online applications what matters is pixels, file size and format - not "DPI". The basic safe option: a square JPEG photo 600×600 px, ≤240 KB, 24-bit sRGB colour, a white or near-white background, no glasses (the US DS-160 / DV standard). Other portals have their own limits - check each one before uploading.
- USA (DS-160 and DV lottery): a square from 600×600 to 1200×1200 px, JPEG, ≤240 KB, 24-bit sRGB colour, compression ≤20:1, a white or near-white background.
- Glasses are prohibited in new US photos (since 1 November 2016), except for rare medical cases with a doctor's note; in India "no glasses" is also the official rule.
- India e-Visa: a square (width = height), JPEG, from 10 KB to 1 MB - the official limits of the indianvisaonline.gov.in portal (for a regular visa through the centres the limit is stricter: 10 KB - 300 KB).
- China COVA: JPEG, roughly 354×472-420×560 px, file size 40-120 KB, white background; the verification system is supplemented by manual review by the consul.
- Schengen: a vertical rectangle 35×45 mm to ICAO 9303, an even light background - most often light grey (white is accepted by most, but not all countries).
What the online validator actually checks
Automated systems look at three things: pixels (width×height), file size (KB/MB) and format (almost always JPEG). DPI/PPI is metadata for printing; for a web upload it is ignored. A 600×600 px photo is identical at 72, 300 or 600 DPI.
Exact requirements by portal (checked 2026)
| Portal | Pixels | File size | Format | Colour / background | Glasses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA DS-160 / DV lottery | 600×600 - 1200×1200, square | ≤240 KB | JPEG | 24-bit sRGB, compression ≤20:1; white or near-white background | prohibited (except medical) |
| India e-Visa | square (W = H) | 10 KB - 1 MB | JPEG | colour, light/white background | no glasses |
| China COVA | ~354×472 - 420×560 | 40 - 120 KB | JPEG | colour, white background | no glasses |
| UAE (online) | often 300×369 (ICP may allow more) | ~50 KB - 1 MB (depends on the portal) | JPG/JPEG/PNG | colour, white background | no glasses |
| Schengen (scan/online) | to ICAO 9303 (often ~413×531 or ~600×750) | up to 5 MB at VFS | JPEG | colour, even light background (often light grey) | no glasses |
For the USA and the DV lottery the official scan of a paper photo must be at a resolution of 300 pixels per inch (12 pixels per millimetre) from a 2×2 inch (51×51 mm) original - this is the only case where DPI is actually specified.
Glasses and background: what is officially required
- USA: since 1 November 2016 glasses in new photos are not allowed, except for rare medical cases (a doctor's note is required). The background is white or near-white. The Indian e-Visa portal likewise requires a photo without glasses.
- Schengen: the background must be an even light one. In practice most countries prefer light grey; white is accepted in most, but not all states - so light grey is considered the safest. This is not an "error" but the norm under ICAO/the EU Visa Code.
How to resize and compress without "failing" the validator
- Pixels first. Crop to the required aspect ratio. For the USA/DV - strictly a square (height = width). For the UAE and Schengen - a vertical rectangle 35×45 mm.
- Do not enlarge a small photo. A stretched shot looks blurry and is rejected. Take an original with enough pixels.
- Then the file size. If the file is too large, lower the JPEG quality gradually (90 → 80 → 70%) rather than reducing the pixels. US compression must be ≤20:1.
- Do not go below the minimum KB. India requires at least 10 KB - excessive compression is rejected as a "file too small".
- Colour and profile. Save in sRGB, 24-bit (an ordinary colour JPEG). Avoid black-and-white and CMYK/Adobe RGB profiles.
- No borders or transparency. A PNG with a transparent background and any borders are rejected; most portals require JPEG anyway.
Common reasons for refusal
- Wrong aspect ratio (you sent a rectangle where a square is needed).
- The file is larger than the limit or, conversely, smaller than the minimum.
- Saved as HEIC (iPhone) or PNG when JPEG is required.
- Glasses on the face (prohibited for the USA and a number of other portals) or glare/shadows.
- An unsuitable background: for the USA/China/UAE - not white; for Schengen - not an even light one (white may not be suitable in some countries).
- An over-saved "soapy" JPEG after several rounds of compression.
Check the parameters against the official portal before every upload - the limits differ even within one country (in the UAE the ICP and GDRFA differ).
Related guides
Official sources
- U.S. Department of State — Digital Image Requirements
- U.S. Department of State — Photo Requirements (background, eyeglasses, DV)
- U.S. Department of State — Photo Frequently Asked Questions (eyeglasses rule)
- Indian Visa Online — e-Visa Photo Instructions (10 KB–1 MB, without spectacles)
- Embassy of China (US) — Guidelines for China Online Visa Application (COVA)
Questions
- What DPI do I need for an online application photo?
- For an online upload DPI does not matter - the validator reads only the pixels and the file size. The exception is the official scan of a paper photo for the USA/DV lottery: there you need 300 pixels per inch (12 pixels per millimetre) from a 2×2 inch original.
- Can I wear glasses in the photo?
- For the USA glasses in new visa photos have been prohibited since 1 November 2016, except for rare medical cases (a doctor's note is required, with no glare and no frame covering the eyes). The Indian e-Visa also requires a photo without glasses. The safest option is to remove glasses for any portal.
- Can I upload HEIC or PNG from an iPhone?
- Almost all visa portals require JPEG. HEIC (the iPhone format) and PNG are usually rejected, and a transparent background in a PNG especially so. Convert to JPEG, keeping the sRGB profile, before uploading.
- What does a "square" photo mean for the DS-160 and the DV lottery?
- The width must be exactly equal to the height: from 600×600 to 1200×1200 pixels (the official US Department of State limits for the DS-160 and DV). A rectangular 35×45 mm photo will not work for the USA - it will be rejected by the automated check.