Quick Spec
StrictFree browser-based tool. No upload to any server.
Resize for DV Lottery Photo
Drop your photo here or browse
JPEG, PNG, HEIC — any size
Upload a photo to see the result
The DV Lottery photo is the single highest-consequence photo specification you'll encounter. Roughly 20 million people enter each year for 55,000 spots — and a non-compliant photo can silently disqualify your entry without any notification or error message. Unlike a passport rejection where you get a notice and can resubmit, the DV system may accept your photo at upload, then quietly disqualify you during automated review. There is no appeals process and no second chance until next year.
What Makes This Specification Unique
System can accept non-compliant photos without error — then silently disqualify your entry
Reusing a previous year's photo triggers facial recognition and automatic disqualification
JPEG only — iPhone users must change from default HEIC format
Max 240 KB — much stricter than the 10 MB passport renewal limit
New for DV-2027: $1 registration fee (first time in 30+ year history)
New for DV-2027: Must possess valid passport and upload bio page scan
DV-2026 processing was suspended since mid-December 2025
Recent Changes
DV-2027: $1 registration fee introduced. Valid passport required with bio page scan upload (effective April 10, 2026). DV-2026 visa processing suspended since mid-December 2025.
Common Rejection Reasons
Reused photo from prior year (facial recognition detects this)
Wrong format — HEIC from iPhone instead of JPEG
File over 240 KB
AI editing detected (background replacement, beauty filters)
Head size outside 50-69% range
Not square — submitted rectangular passport photo
Photo older than 6 months (EXIF data can reveal this)
ExactPix Tool Rules for This Spec
When you use the ExactPix tool on this page, it's pre-configured with these rules:
JPEG ONLY — PNG, HEIC, and HEIF are NOT accepted
Do NOT reuse a photo from a previous year's entry — automatic disqualification
AI-edited photos will disqualify your entry
Each family member needs a separate photo
No resubmission — a bad photo means waiting until next year