United States Visa Photo: check yours against the official spec

A US visa photo must be 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm), square, with a plain white or off-white background, the same specification as a US passport photo. Your head (chin to top of hair) must measure 1 to 1 3/8 inches (25-35 mm) and your eyes 1 1/8 to 1 3/8 inches (28-35 mm) from the bottom. Submit an original, unedited photo: the US treats a digitally altered or AI-edited visa photo as misrepresentation.

Upload a photo

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.

🛡️ Accepted or your money back🔒 Your photo is deleted within 24 hours✓ We never edit your photo

21 documents checked against official specifications

United States visa photo requirements

Photo size	2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm)
Head height (chin to top of hair)	1 to 1 3/8 in (25 to 35 mm)
Eye height from bottom	1 1/8 to 1 3/8 in (28 to 35 mm)
Background	plain white or off-white
Digital file	JPEG, at least 600 × 600 px

Common reasons a United States visa photo is rejected

The photo has been digitally altered, filtered, or AI-edited. For visa applicants this is especially serious: the US State Department treats a deliberately manipulated photo as misrepresentation, which can carry consequences for your application beyond a simple retake.
Background is not plain white/off-white, or has a shadow or pattern.
Head is too small or too large in the frame (outside 25-35 mm).
Eyes are too high or too low in the frame.
Glasses, head covering (except documented religious/medical), non-neutral expression, closed eyes, or head tilted/turned.

“Photos must not be changed using computer software, phone apps or filters, or artificial intelligence.”
U.S. Department of State, passport photo requirements

Photo rejections are common, and you pay twice

A rejected photo means a delayed application and paying again for a retake. It's one of the most common problems people hit when applying, and it's exactly what this tool is built to catch before you submit:

We measure your photo against the official spec, never AI-edit it (itself a rejection reason as of 2026), and back it accepted-or-your-money-back.

What your result screen shows

Every photo is measured against these checks, the same list you see after uploading:

Head size
Eye position
Framing room
Resolution
Background colour
Plain background
Even lighting
Pose & expression

When every required check passes, the verdict reads “Passed” and you can download the exact photo you uploaded, cropped to spec, never edited. If a check fails, you get the reason and how to retake, and you pay nothing.

What real users said

“Photo accepted at the post office on the first try, which honestly surprised me. The instant spec check feels like it should be the default everywhere.”
Derya
“The webcam check instantly flagged my background was too cluttered even though I thought it looked fine, which was a nice surprise. Glad I didn't waste money printing a bad photo.”
Irmak
“Took a quick selfie with my webcam and it actually flagged the right issues with my framing. Kind of cool that they don't just slap a filter on it.”
Zafer
“love the pay-only-if-it-passes model, such a smart way to build trust before asking anyone to hand over money. the no AI editing promise is a really thoughtful touch too.”
Azra

From our Product Hunt launch, quoted verbatim. We never invent testimonials.

What a passport photo really costs

The photo is the cheap part. The expensive part is a rejection: redo fees, another queue, and a delayed application or trip. Here is the honest comparison:

Pharmacy or retail (CVS, Walgreens)$16 to $17 per attempt	No compliance guarantee. A rejection means paying and queueing again.
USPS photo serviceabout $15	Same deal: rejected means a second visit and a second fee.
Cheap online photo editors$1 to $3	Most replace your background with software. Edited photos are a documented rejection reason for the US, UK and Canada since 2026, and refunds usually cover technical failures only.
Compliant Passport PhotoFree check. $9 only if it passes	We measure and crop your original, never edit it. Accepted or your money back.

Retail prices are typical 2026 US prices and vary by location. Our guarantee: accepted or your money back.

Built by a real person

Nic built this after his own passport photo was rejected over a sizing issue he could not even see. The tool measures your photo against the official spec and never edits it, because since 2026 the US, UK and Canada reject AI-altered photos.

Read the launch story

Frequently asked questions

Is a US visa photo the same size as a passport photo?

Yes. A US visa photo is 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm), square, with a plain white background, the same specification as a US passport photo. The digital version must be at least 600 x 600 pixels.

Can I use an AI tool to edit my US visa photo?

No, and it matters more for visas. The US State Department rejects digitally altered, filtered, or AI-edited photos, and treats a deliberately manipulated visa photo as misrepresentation, which can affect your application. This tool only measures, validates, and crops your original photo. It never alters the pixels. If the background or lighting fails, retake against a plain white wall in even light.

What background does a US visa photo need?

A plain white or off-white background with no shadows, patterns, or other people or objects.

How big should my head be in a US visa photo?

Your head, from the bottom of your chin to the top of your hair, must be between 1 and 1 3/8 inches (25 to 35 mm).

What is the file size limit for a US visa photo?

A US visa digital photo must be a JPEG in a square aspect ratio, between 600 x 600 and 1200 x 1200 pixels, and 240 kB or smaller. Files larger than 240 kB are rejected by the online application portal. This tool outputs a compliant file within that limit automatically.

Can I use my US passport photo for a US visa?

The specifications are the same (2 x 2 inches, plain white background, head 1 to 1 3/8 inches), so a photo that meets the US passport spec also meets the US visa spec, as long as the digital file is under the 240 kB visa upload limit.