DV lottery photo guide for applicants from Egypt

For the DV lottery from Egypt the entry photo must be a square JPEG, 600 x 600 pixels, under 240 KB, taken within the last 6 months, with a plain light background, no glasses, and the head filling 50 to 69 percent of the frame. The two things that fail Egyptian entries most: local document photos are not square, so a reused ID or passport photo is the wrong shape, and studio retouching is applied by default in many shops, which is a disqualification risk because edited photos are rejected. DV eligibility is announced fresh each year, so confirm Egypt's status in the current official instructions before you enter.

Check your United States visa photo against the official spec → Free check, accepted-or-money-back.

Check your photo right here, free

Measured against the official United States visa spec: head size, eye line, background, brightness and file limits. We never edit your photo.

Upload a photo

Use a clear, front-facing photo against a plain white wall in even light. We measure and crop it. We never edit the pixels you submit.

Ask for the unedited file

Skin smoothing and background cleanup are standard in many Egyptian studios. For a DV photo they are a liability: reviewers flag edited images and US authorities reject digitally altered photos. Ask for the raw file, or shoot at home against a plain wall in daylight.

Do it before the window opens

Registration is expected in early autumn at dvprogram.state.gov and is free. Every family member needs their own compliant photo taken within 6 months of the entry. Verify each one against the spec now rather than in the deadline rush.

Frequently asked questions

Can I reuse my Egyptian passport photo for the DV lottery?

Not as-is. Egyptian document photos are not the square US format the DV entry needs. A fresh photo cropped square to 600 x 600 pixels is the clean solution.

Does everyone in my family need their own photo?

Yes. Spouse and every unmarried child under 21, each with their own compliant photo. One noncompliant photo disqualifies the entire entry.