DV-2017 Program: Online Registration
DV 2017 Program: Online registration for the DV 2017 Program begins on Thursday, October 1, 2015 at 12:00 noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4), and concludes on Tuesday, November 3, 2015 at 12:00 noon, Eastern Standard Time (EST) (GMT-4).
DV-2017 Program Instructions
Select the English version of the DV-2017 Program Instructions in PDF format for your convenience and required use. The English language version of the DV-2017 Program Instructions is the only official version. Unofficial translations in additional languages will be added as they become available.
Translations (All translations are in .pdf format)
Note: If you do not see instructions in your native language, please see the U.S. Embassy or Consulate website to find out whether your country may have additional Diversity Visa information.
Albanian/Shqip Armenian/Հայերեն Bulgarian/Български
French/Français
Italian/Italiano
Japanese/日本語
Latvian/Latviski
Polish/Polski
Romanian/Românã
Sinhala/සිංහල
Spanish/Español
Tamil/தமிழ்
Turkish/Türkçe
Ukrainian/Українською мовою
Uzbek/O'zbekcha
Please view our video for an introduction to the Diversity Visa program, and step-by-step guidance to help you submit an entry.
DV-2016 Program: Online Registration
DV 2016 Program: Online registration for the DV 2016 Program began on Wednesday, October 1, 2014 at 12:00 noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4), and concluded on Monday, November 3, 2014 at 12:00 noon, Eastern Standard Time (EST) (GMT-4).
DV-2016 Program Instructions
Select the English version of the DV-2016 Program Instructions in PDF format for your convenience and required use. The English language version of the DV-2016 Program Instructions is the only official version. Unofficial translations in additional languages are available below. Check back later for additional translations.
Your photo is a vital part of your visa application. To learn more, review the information below on how to provide a suitable photo. Digital images are required for some visa categories, while photos are required for other visa categories. The acceptance of your digital image or photo is at the discretion of the U.S. embassy or consulate where you apply.
We recommend you use a professional visa photo service to ensure your photo meets all the requirements.
Your photos or digital images must be:
In color
Sized such that the head is between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches (22 mm and 35 mm) or 50% and 69% of the image's total height from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head. View the Photo Composition Template for more size requirement details.
Taken within the last 6 months to reflect your current appearance
Taken in front of a plain white or off-white background
Taken in full-face view directly facing the camera
With a neutral facial expression and both eyes open
Taken in clothing that you normally wear on a daily basis
Uniforms should not be worn in your photo, except religious clothing that is worn daily.
Do not wear a hat or head covering that obscures the hair or hairline, unless worn daily for a religious purpose. Your full face must be visible, and the head covering must not cast any shadows on your face.
Headphones, wireless hands-free devices, or similar items are not acceptable in your photo.
If you normally wear glasses (without tinted lenses), a hearing device, or similar articles, they may be worn in your photo.
Dark glasses or glasses with tinted lenses are not acceptable.
Glare on glasses is not acceptable in your photo. Glare can be avoided with a slight downward tilt of the glasses or by removing the glasses or by turning off the camera flash.
Review the Photo Examples to see examples of acceptable and unacceptable photos. Photos copied or digitally scanned from driver’s licenses or other official documents are not acceptable. In addition, snapshots, magazine photos, low quality vending machine or mobile phone photos, and full-length photographs are not acceptable.
Please review the additional photo requirements for:
Nonimmigrant Visas
Immigrant Visas
Diversity Visa (DV) Program
Additional Information
Tips for taking photos yourself
Change of Appearance
Frequently Asked Questions
Additional Requirements for Nonimmigrant Visas
Applicants using Form DS-160 or Form DS-1648
If you are applying for a nonimmigrant visa by filling out the DS-160 or DS-1648 online form, the form will instruct you to upload your digital image as part of completing the online visa application form. Review the Digital Image Requirements, which also provide additional requirements if you are scanning an existing photo.
Some embassies and consulates require visa applicants to bring one (1) photo, which meets requirements, to the interview. Review the embassy or consulate instructions where you will apply to learn more.
Additional Requirements for Immigrant Visas
Applicants using Form DS-260
If you are applying for an immigrant visa, using Form DS-260, you must provide two (2) identical photos at your immigrant visa interview. Your photos must be:
Printed on photo quality paper
2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm) in size
Additional Requirements for the Diversity Visa (DV) Program
Diversity Visa Program Entrants
If you are entering the Diversity Visa (DV) Program online, you must upload your digital image as part of your entry. Your digital image must be:
In JPEG (.jpg) file format
Equal to or less than 240 kB (kilobytes) in file size
In a square aspect ratio (height must equal width)
600x600 pixels in dimension
Do you want to scan an existing photo? In addition to the digital image requirements, your existing photo must be:
2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm)
Scanned at a resolution of 300 pixels per inch (12 pixels per millimeter)
Diversity Visa Program Selectees
Each DV applicant will need to bring two (2) identical photos to the interview. Your photos must be:
Printed on photo quality paper
2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm) in size
Do you want to take the photo yourself?
While we recommend you use a professional visa photo service to ensure your photo meets all the requirements, you may take the photo yourself. Photos must not be digitally enhanced or altered to change your appearance in any way. Please review the following technical requirements and references for guidance on taking your own photo.
Photo Composition Template
Digital Image Requirements
Use the Department of State’s free photo tool to:
Start Photo Tool
select a digital image stored on your computer
resize and rotate it if necessary
crop it to a square image of exactly 600 x 600 pixels, and
save it to your computer for printing
Start Photo Tool
This tool requires Adobe Flash Player 10 or later.
Taking photos of your baby or toddler
When taking a photo of your baby or toddler, no other person should be in the photo, and your child should be looking at the camera with his or her eyes open.
Tip 1:
Lay your baby on his or her back on a plain white or off-white sheet. This will ensure your baby's head is supported and provide a plain background for the photo. Make certain there are no shadows on your baby's face, especially if you take a picture from above with the baby lying down.
Tip 2:
Cover a car seat with a plain white or off-white sheet and take a picture of your child in the car seat. This will also ensure your baby’s head is supported
Change of Appearance
If your photo(s) or digital image does not reflect your current appearance, even if it is not older than 6 months, the U.S. embassy or consulate will request that you provide a new photo with your application.
Applicants will be requested to obtain a new photo if they have:
Undergone significant facial surgery or trauma
Added or removed numerous/large facial piercings or tattoos
Undergone a significant amount of weight loss or gain
Made a gender transition
Generally, if you can still be identified from the photo in your visa application, you will not need to submit a new photo. For example, growing a beard or coloring your hair would not generally be considered a significant change of appearance.
If the appearance of your child under the age of 16 has changed due to the normal aging process, he or she will generally not have to provide a new photo. However, the acceptance of your photo or digital image is at the discretion of the U.S. embassy or consulate where you apply.