US visa photo: DS-160 file and 2 × 2 inch print
Applying for a US visa from Spain? The photo goes into the DS-160 online form as a square digital file, and it follows the same rules as the 2 × 2 inch print. Upload yours and see it checked against the State Department’s rules right away, before you pay.
Sample photo · AI-generated portrait.
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or drag it here · paste it with Ctrl+V · JPG, PNG, WebP or HEIC, up to 15 MB.
- Document
- Visa · United States
- Size
- 51 × 51 mm
- Background
- White
- Resolution
- 300 dpi
Source: travel.state.gov · checked on 22 Sep 2026
The crop happens in your browser. To show you the fixed photo, we send it encrypted to our photo analysis service.
Two ways to get your photo
Crop and print
Free
A JPG photo at the exact size and a 10 × 15 cm sheet to print. The crop happens in your browser, no sign-up.
Checked photo
from€7.99
We check framing, head size, background, lighting and sharpness, and you see a watermarked preview before you pay.
- Photo without watermark at the document's size
- Print sheet in 10 × 15 cm, 13 × 18 cm or A4
- Download available for 24 hours
- Copy by email
- Full refund if the office rejects it for not meeting the requirements
Premium · €10.99: plus a person reviews your photo within 3 hours, a printable check certificate, 7 days of downloads and priority support.
Create a checked photoYou see the result before you pay. You only pay if you want to download it.
- Secure payment with Dodo Payments. One payment, no subscription.
- Full refund if the office rejects the photo. See terms
- Questions before or after paying: support@approvavisa.com
Paso 1: Upload your photoFrom your phone or computer, glasses off.
Paso 2: See it checkedHead size, white background, framing and lighting.
Paso 3: Download both filesDS-160 file and print sheet, from €7.99.
US visa photo requirements
What the US State Department asks for, checked on 22 Sep 2026.
- In colour, taken in the last 6 months, 51 × 51 mm (2 × 2 inches).
- Head from chin to top of hair between 1 and 1 3/8 inches (25–35 mm).
- Plain white or off-white background, nothing and nobody else in the picture.
- Facing the camera, neutral expression, both eyes open.
- No eyeglasses. The only exception is a medical reason, with a signed doctor’s statement.
- No hat or head covering, unless worn every day for religious or medical reasons, with the whole face visible. No headphones.
- Not edited or retouched: no filters and no beauty mode.
The DS-160 digital file
The online form checks the file itself. These are its rules:
- Format
- JPEG (.jpg)
- Shape
- Square
- Dimensions
- 600 × 600 to 1200 × 1200 px
- File size
- 240 kB or less
- Colour
- 24-bit colour (sRGB)
If the form rejects the file, check your appointment instructions: you may be asked to bring a printed photo to the interview. Source: Digital Image Requirements, travel.state.gov.
Who needs this photo in Spain
A visa, not ESTA.
Spanish citizens going to the US for tourism or business for up to 90 days usually travel with ESTA, a separate online authorisation that is not a visa.
This photo is for visa applicants: students (F-1), exchange visitors (J-1), workers and journalists, and residents of Spain whose nationality can’t use ESTA, such as Colombia, Venezuela, Peru or Morocco. Visa interviews in Spain are held at the US Embassy in Madrid.
Renewing a US passport from Spain? See the US passport photo. The same 2 × 2 size is also used by the passports of Ecuador and the Dominican Republic: see the 2x2 photo.
Why get it checked
The form and the consulate both look at it.
The DS-160 refuses files that are the wrong size or format, and the consular officer can still refuse a photo with glasses, shadows on the background or a head that is too small. A refusal means fixing it before your interview.
The checked photo reviews framing, head size, background, lighting and sharpness with the US visa rules and, when needed, makes the background white. You see the watermarked result before you pay; then you download it without the watermark, with the print sheet, from €7.99.
If the photo is rejected for not meeting the requirements, we refund you: refund policy.
Before and after · Checked photo
Your photo from home, with a proper ID photo finish
We give your photo a white background, adjust the framing and check your document's requirements. All you have to do is upload it.
- Even white background
- Framing and size matched to your document
- Background, lighting and sharpness checked
€7.99 · You see the result before you pay.
Illustrative example of the finish with AI-generated portraits.
What you download
602 × 602 px · 300 dpiTo upload online or take to print.
PNG · 300 dpi · also 13 × 18 and A4With thin cutting lines.
How to print it
At home or in a photo shop, on 10 × 15 cm paper, at 100% or “actual size”. Each copy measures 51 × 51 mm: check it with a ruler before cutting.
Sample photos · AI-generated portraits.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 5 × 5 cm photo valid for the US visa?
The official size is 2 × 2 inches, which is 51 × 51 mm. In Latin America it’s called “5x5”, but 5 cm is slightly smaller, so crop to 51 × 51 mm and the head size inside it is what matters most.
What size is the DS-160 photo in pixels?
Square, from 600 × 600 to 1200 × 1200 px, JPEG, 240 kB or less. The digital file you download is made for that range.
Can I wear glasses in the US visa photo?
No. Since November 2016 glasses are not allowed, except for a medical reason with a signed statement from your doctor. Take them off before the photo.
Does my baby need a photo for the US visa?
Yes, every applicant needs their own photo, babies too. The baby should be alone in the frame on a white background, with eyes open if possible. Lay them on a white sheet and take the photo from above.
How many printed photos fit on a sheet?
2 at real size on a 10 × 15 cm sheet. You can also lay them out for free in the print template.
Can I make it for free?
Yes: cropping to 2 × 2 is free and doesn’t change the background or check the photo. The checked photo costs from €7.99 and you only pay if you like the result.
You may also find useful
2x2 photo (51 × 51 mm)
Size in cm and pixels, and other documents that use it.
35 × 45 mm photo
The size of most other visas, Schengen included.
India e-Visa photo
Square JPEG for the online form.
Print passport photosFree
A 10 × 15 cm or A4 sheet with several copies at real size.