PandaFileKit

DV lottery photo checker

Checks your photo against the Department of State's DV rules and fixes the crop, background and size.

JPG · PNG · WEBP · HEIC → JPG

Sent to server: 0 B

Requests made by this tool while processing · how to verify
Requests that could carry data
0
Engine downloads (code, models)
0
Analytics pings (no file data)
0

Counted with the browser's Performance API during the last job. It sees every request the page makes, but not what is inside them, so anything that is not a static download is counted above.

To check yourself: open DevTools → Network, clear the list, run the tool, and inspect each request. None will contain your file. You can also switch to offline after the page loads; tools whose engine is already downloaded keep working.

Drop image here

or paste, or choose a file

JPG · PNG · WEBP · HEIC → JPG

Choose a front-facing photo, head and shoulders, on a plain light background.

Check and fix a green card lottery photo before you enter

The Diversity Visa (DV) lottery disqualifies entries whose photo breaks the US State Department's rules; there is no warning and no second chance for that entry. The rules are technical: a square JPEG of exactly 600 × 600 pixels, 240 KB or less, sRGB 24-bit colour, the head (chin to top of hair) 50–69% of the image height, and the eyes 56–69% of the height measured from the bottom. This checker measures your photo against each rule and makes a file that meets them.

  • Checking a photo before you submit a DV entry.
  • Fixing a studio or phone photo that is the wrong size, too large or badly framed.
  • Making a new 600 × 600 JPEG from a phone photo taken against a plain wall.

Measure, fix, then check again

The file is checked first: format, dimensions, KB size, colour profile and colour depth. A face-landmark model (MediaPipe, about 3.6 MB, downloaded once) then finds your eyes, chin and face outline, estimates the top of your head, and places a square frame that puts head and eyes inside the allowed ranges. You can drag or zoom the frame; the checklist updates live and flags more than one face or a tilted head. White background replaces the background on export (a 26 MB model, downloaded once). The download is always a 600 × 600 sRGB JPEG compressed to fit 240 KB.

  • If the frame runs past the edge of your photo, that strip is filled with white; turn on White background so it blends in.
  • A small face in the original is enlarged to 600 px and may look soft; a closer, sharper photo works better.
  • Your photo stays on your device; only the models are downloaded.

It checks geometry and the file, not everything

Head and eye positions are estimated from face landmarks, and the top of the hair is harder to place against a busy background. The State Department makes the final decision, and its rules also cover things software can't fully judge: a photo taken within the last six months, a neutral expression with both eyes open, no glasses, even light without shadows, and no filters or retouching. Read the official instructions for the entry year before you submit.

  • Every row in the after-processing checklist should pass.
  • Look at hair and shoulder edges if you replaced the background.
  • Upload the downloaded file as it is; re-saving it in another app can change its size or colour profile.

DV lottery photo checker: questions

What are the DV lottery photo requirements?

A square JPEG of exactly 600 × 600 pixels, 240 KB or less, in sRGB 24-bit colour, with the head 50–69% of the image height and the eyes 56–69% of the height from the bottom. It must also be recent (last six months), without glasses, and with a neutral expression and plain light background. Check the official instructions for your entry year.

Does passing every check guarantee my photo is accepted?

No. The positions are estimates, and some rules, such as lighting, expression and how recent the photo is, can't be fully judged by software. The State Department makes the final decision.

My photo is larger than 240 KB. Will it be fixed?

Yes. The output is always a 600 × 600 JPEG compressed to 240 KB or less.

Why was part of the frame filled with white?

To place your head correctly, the frame ran past the edge of your photo. Turn on White background so the filled strip blends in, or use a photo with more space around your head.

What gets downloaded, and is my photo uploaded?

A face-landmark model (about 3.6 MB) and, if you use White background, a background model (about 26 MB) are downloaded once. Your photo is never uploaded; it's analysed in your browser.