DV lottery photo guide for applicants from Moldova

Moldova has one of the highest DV lottery participation rates in the world relative to its population, and entries fail on the same thing everywhere: the photo. The spec is a square JPEG at exactly 600 x 600 pixels, under 240 KB, taken in the last 6 months, plain light background, no glasses. The local trap is the European 35 x 45 mm standard: a Moldovan ID-style photo is the wrong shape for a DV entry, which must be square.

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

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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.

The 35 x 45 problem

European document photos are portrait-shaped. Stretching or padding one to a square distorts the face or adds borders, both of which fail. The photo needs to be shot or cropped natively square with the head filling 50 to 69 percent of the frame.

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 use my Moldovan passport photo for the DV lottery?

Not as-is. Moldovan document photos are 35 x 45 mm portrait format; the DV entry needs a square 600 x 600 pixel digital file. A fresh square-cropped photo 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.