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US DV Lottery Photo — Free Online Maker

Make a compliant US DV Lottery photo at home in 5 minutes. Free, no upload, runs 100% in your browser.

Quick answer: A US DV Lottery photo is 51×51mm (600×600px at 300dpi) with white background; the head (chin to crown) must measure 25–35mm (49–69% of height), with the top of the head 4mm from the top edge. It must have been taken within the last 6 months; final acceptance is by the issuing authority.

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Official-style requirements we encode

Print size	51 × 51 mm
Digital size	600 × 600 px @ 300 dpi
Background	white
Head size	25–35mm chin to crown (49–69% of photo height)
Head position	Top of head 4mm from the top edge
Expression	Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open, full face visible

Compliance check is advisory; final acceptance is by the issuing authority.

US DV Lottery: what gets applications rejected

The Diversity Visa lottery reuses the 51×51mm US spec, but the entry validator is stricter than a human reviewer: the photo must be less than 6 months old and must not be the same photo you used in a previous year's entry — resubmitting last year's photo disqualifies the entry automatically. Take a fresh photo for every yearly entry.

Fresh photo every entry year — never recycle a prior DV photo
Plain white background, no shadows; drugstore scans with textured paper fail the validator
No glasses, no head covering except documented religious purpose

Source: DV program instructions (photo section)

How it works (3 steps)

Photograph: white wall 1m behind you, ceiling light on, no flash, camera at eye level.
Upload & align: open the maker (pre-set to US DV Lottery), drag/pinch to fit the dashed head guides.
Download: single 600×600 file + free 4×6″ print sheet, cut along gray lines.

Photo tips that actually matter

No hat, no hair over eyebrows; remove glasses if possible (no glare).
No shadow on face or wall — step away from the wall, face the light.
Plain wall only; busy background? cut it out free first.
Blurry old scan? preview an upscale before printing.

FAQ

What are the US DV Lottery photo requirements?

A US DV Lottery photo is 51×51mm (600×600px at 300dpi) with white background; the head (chin to crown) must measure 25–35mm (49–69% of height), with the top of the head 4mm from the top edge. It must have been taken within the last 6 months; final acceptance is by the issuing authority.

What head size does a US DV Lottery photo need?

The head (chin to crown) must measure 25–35mm, which is 49–69% of the photo height. The tool draws this range as a guide you align your head to.

What background color for US DV Lottery?

White background is required. The tool lets you pick any colour and warns if it is off-spec, because a transparent cutout can legitimately be re-backed.

Why was my DV entry photo rejected?

The top causes are reusing a previous year's photo, a scan with paper texture or shadows, and a non-square crop. Shoot a new photo against a plain wall and export the tool's 600×600px file unchanged.

Can I take the photo with my phone?

Yes. Stand 1m from a white wall, use ceiling light (no flash), keep the camera at eye level, neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open. The page checks sharpness before download.

How do I print it?

Download the free 4×6″ sheet and print borderless on 4R photo paper at any print shop, then cut along the gray lines.

Will this photo be accepted?

The tool follows published size/background guidance, but final acceptance is by the issuing authority. Our compliance check is advisory.