DV lottery photo guide for applicants from Ukraine

For the DV lottery from Ukraine the entry photo must be a square JPEG, 600 x 600 pixels, under 240 KB, taken within the last 6 months, on a plain white or off-white background, with no glasses and the head filling 50 to 69 percent of the frame. Ukrainian document photos use the 35 x 45 mm portrait standard, so a reused local photo is the wrong shape for a square US entry. DV eligibility is announced fresh each year, so confirm Ukraine's status in the current official instructions at dvprogram.state.gov before you enter.

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

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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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Click anywhere here, or drag and drop your 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.

The 35x45 mm shape trap

Ukrainian ID and passport photos are 35 x 45 mm portrait rectangles. The DV entry needs a square. Take a fresh photo, crop it square to 600 x 600 pixels, and verify the head sits between 50 and 69 percent of the frame height before you upload.

Keep the file unedited

US authorities reject digitally altered photos, so retouching from a studio is a liability. Shoot against a plain light wall in daylight and submit the raw file. A free compliance check flags a bad photo before the entry is filed, not after.

Frequently asked questions

Can Ukrainians enter the DV green card lottery?

In recent years natives of Ukraine have been eligible, but the eligible-country list is re-announced every year. Confirm Ukraine's current status in the official instructions before entering.

Can I reuse my Ukrainian passport photo?

Not as-is. The 35 x 45 mm local format is not the square 600 x 600 pixel format the DV entry requires. A fresh photo cropped square is the clean solution.