Green Card Photo Requirements
Your photos or digital images must be:
In color
In focus
Sized such that the head is between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches (22 mm and 35 mm) or 50 percent
and 69 percent 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 six 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.
Do not wear eyeglasses.
If you normally wear a hearing device or similar articles, they may be worn in your photo.
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.
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)
600×600 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)
Use the Department of State’s free photo tool to:
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
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
Resize your photo here