DV Lottery Photo Checker
Check a photo for the Diversity Visa program, commonly called the Green Card Lottery. Each rule is marked pass, warning, or fail, with a fix for anything that fails.
- Free, no account
- 12 DV rules, one by one
- Your file is not changed
JPG or PNG, up to 20 MB. Upload the exact file you plan to submit. Nothing is charged and nothing is changed.
Ruler numbers are percent of the frame height from the bottom. Dashed lines at 56 and 69 are the eye-height marks. The bracket is head height as a length (50–69%, or the measured length when the check returns one). It does not trace the hair and the chin.
What this checker reads
The digital-photo rules for a DV entry, from the State Department photo pages.
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| File | Color JPEG (.jpg) |
| Pixels | Exactly 600×600 |
| File size | 240 kB or smaller |
| Background | Plain white or off-white |
| Head height | 50–69% of the image height |
| Eye height | 56–69% from the bottom |
| Face | One person, facing the camera, eyes open |
| Expression | Neutral, both eyes open |
| Glasses | Not worn |
| Head covering | Only if worn daily for religion, with the full face visible |
Green card lottery photo or green card application photo?
The green card lottery is the Diversity Visa program. Its entry form at dvprogram.state.gov takes a digital photo, and that file is what this checker reads.
A green card application filed with USCIS, or a visa interview after selection, usually asks for printed 2×2 inch photos. Those prints follow the same composition rules, but this page does not check paper prints.
What no checker can read
A file does not record when it was taken, so the six-month rule is yours to confirm. Whether the same photo was used in an earlier entry, or whether a filter was applied before upload, cannot be read either.
DV Lottery photo questions
Is the green card photo checker free?
Yes. Checking a photo is free and does not need an account. Nothing is changed in your file. If you want a new 600×600 JPEG, the photo maker on the home page can make one. Making a photo is a paid service; checking stays free.
What are the green card lottery photo requirements?
A color JPEG, exactly 600×600 pixels, 240 kB or smaller, on a plain white or off-white background. The head is 50–69% of the image height and the eyes 56–69% from the bottom. Taken within the last 6 months, no glasses, neutral expression, both eyes open.
Can I take a green card lottery photo with my phone?
Yes. Stand in front of a plain white or off-white background, use even light, take off glasses, and ask someone else to hold the phone at eye level. Then check the photo here, or let the photo tool crop it to 600×600.
Does a pass here mean my photo will be accepted?
No. A pass means the file meets the rules this tool can read. A Department of State employee makes the final decision. The six-month rule and some other rules cannot be read from a file.
Is this an official government checker?
No. dvlotteryphoto.com is an independent photo service and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of State or USCIS. Entering the DV program is free at dvprogram.state.gov, and buying a photo does not enter you.