DV Lottery Photo Requirements 2026/2027: Full Guide

DV Lottery Photo Requirements 2026/2027

The Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery run by the US State Department has strict photo requirements identical to DS-160:

Format: JPEG only

File size: Under 240KB

Dimensions: 600×600px to 1200×1200px

Background: White or off-white only

Color: sRGB (not Display P3)

No glasses (since 2016)

Taken within: 6 months of entry submission

Why DV Lottery Photos Get Rejected

The most common reasons for DV Lottery photo rejection:

File over 240KB — most phone photos are 3-8MB

HEIC format — iPhone default, not accepted

Non-white background — colored walls, shadows, patterns

Glasses — no longer allowed since 2016

Head too small — must fill 50-69% of frame

Any of these errors will disqualify your DV Lottery entry.

How to Prepare DV Lottery Photo

Take photo in front of plain white wall or sheet

No glasses, neutral expression, face centered

Good lighting — no shadows on face or background

Upload to our free tool

Compress to under 240KB — download JPEG

Submit at dvprogram.state.gov

Can I Use the Same Photo for DV Lottery and DS-160?

Yes! If the photo meets requirements for both (under 240KB, JPEG, white background, correct dimensions), you can use the same compressed file for both DV Lottery entry and later DS-160 application.

DV Lottery Entry Window

The DV Lottery entry window is typically open for 30 days in October-November each year. For DV-2027 lottery, entries open in October 2025. Make sure your photo is ready before the window opens.

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