Follow the steps below with the free Resize Passport Photo tool — it runs entirely in your browser, needs no upload, account or watermark, and finishes in about a minute.
Step by step
Plain white or light background, facing the camera, neutral expression, no sunglasses or hats, head centred.
Crop 1:1 with your head filling 50–69% of the frame height — that exact band is what the DS-160 validator measures.
Use the passport/visa resizer and set 600×600 (up to 1200×1200 is allowed; 600 is the sweet spot for file size).
Export as 8-bit sRGB JPEG. If the file is over 240 KB, run the compress-to-100 KB preset — you will stay safely inside the limit with photo quality intact.
Pro tips & common mistakes
- A file of exactly 240 KB is rejected — the rule is strictly under it.
- Remove eyeglasses unless medically required; glare causes most rejections.
- Digital photos must be recent (within 6 months) and unaltered beyond size work.
The exact requirement
Need the precise numbers? This task pairs with our full spec sheet: US Visa (DS-160) Photo Requirements.