How to Resize a Photo for US Visa & Passport (DIY Guide)

Applying for a US Visa (DS-160) or renewing your passport online can be frustrating. The number one reason for rejection? The photo.

You don't need to pay $15 at a pharmacy. You can take a compliant photo with your phone and format it correctly for free. Here is the exact checklist.

1. The Official Requirements (2025)

• Dimensions: Must be square. 600 x 600 pixels (minimum) to 1200 x 1200 pixels (maximum).
• File Size: Must be less than 240 KB.
• Background: Plain white or off-white. No shadows.
• Expression: Neutral expression, eyes open, facing the camera directly.

2. How to Take the Photo

Stand against a white wall. Ask a friend to take the photo (selfies often distort the face). Leave plenty of space above your head and around your shoulders—you can crop it later.

3. How to Resize & Crop (The Easy Way)

Once you have the raw photo, it will likely be too large (rectangular and 3MB+). You need to crop it to a square and shrink the file size.

If you prefer to do it manually in Photoshop:

1. Open your image.
2. Select the Crop Tool and set ratio to 1:1 (Square).
3. Resize Image to 600px Width and 600px Height.
4. Export as JPEG and adjust quality slider until file size is under 240KB.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Do not wear glasses: They are not allowed in US visa photos anymore.
• Do not use filters: Social media filters will get your application rejected instantly.
• Watch the shadows: Ensure the light is even on your face.

---

Ready to fix your photo?

Use our secure, client-side tool to crop and resize your passport photo here.