Photo for a US visa
Published
USA
For a US visa you need a square 2 × 2 inch (51 × 51 mm) photo with a white background and without glasses. In most cases you upload it in the DS-160 application form; in some cases you also need prints. This page covers all the requirements, the upload limits and the procedure at the US Embassy in Bern.
Key facts
- Format: square, 51 × 51 mm (2 × 2 inches), colour
- Head height (chin to crown): 25 to 35 mm
- Eyes 28 to 35 mm above the bottom edge of the photo
- White or off-white background
- No glasses; since November 2016 there have been no exceptions other than for medical reasons
- No more than six months old
- DS-160 upload: square JPEG, 600 × 600 to 1200 × 1200 pixels, 240 KB maximum
Create your US visa photo now – CHF 8.90 digital, CHF 14.90 with prints by post
Visa or ESTA?
Swiss citizens can enter the US for tourism or business for up to 90 days with ESTA, without a visa. You do not need a passport photo for ESTA: the system asks for a selfie that is taken live and compared with the chip photo in your passport.
You need a visa if you:
- plan to study, work or report as a journalist in the US
- plan to stay longer than 90 days
- have been to Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen since 1 March 2011, or to Cuba since 12 January 2021
- also hold the nationality of Cuba, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Sudan or Syria
- have had an ESTA application refused
- live in Switzerland but hold a nationality that is not part of the Visa Waiver Program. What counts is your passport, not your residence permit.
What are the photo requirements?
| Criterion | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Size | Square, 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm) |
| Head | 25 to 35 mm from chin to crown |
| Eyes | 28 to 35 mm above the bottom edge of the photo |
| Background | White or off-white, plain, without shadows |
| Pose | Facing the camera, looking into the lens, both eyes open, neutral expression |
| Glasses | Not allowed; exception only with a medical certificate, never tinted lenses |
| Head covering | Only for religious reasons, with the face left uncovered; no headphones, hearing aids are allowed |
| Clothing | Everyday clothing, no uniform and no camouflage |
| Editing | No filters, no retouching that alters your appearance |
| Age of photo | Six months at most, a new photo after a significant change in appearance |
| Colour on photo paper, matt or glossy |
Good to know: The US Department of State warns against poor-quality phone photos. Photos you take yourself are allowed if they meet the requirements. What matters is sharpness, lighting and the correct crop. That is exactly what Photo Express checks during capture.
DS-160: upload limits and what you need to do
The following values apply to the upload in the DS-160 form:
- Square, at least 600 × 600 and at most 1200 × 1200 pixels
- JPEG, 240 KB maximum
- 24-bit colour (sRGB)
- The head fills 50 to 69% of the image height
Photo Express delivers the US visa photo at 2000 × 2000 pixels. This resolution is designed for a 2 × 2 inch print and is too large for the DS-160 upload. For the form, scale a copy down to no more than 1200 × 1200 pixels and 240 KB. The easiest way to do this is with the US Department of State’s free photo tool, which crops images to 600 × 600 pixels.
If the upload fails, bring a printed photo to your appointment together with the DS-160 confirmation.
When do I need printed photos?
- First application for a visitor, student or work visa: The file in the DS-160 is usually enough. The document list for the appointment in Bern does not include a photo.
- Renewal by post without an interview: one 5 × 5 cm colour photo with a white background, no more than six months old.
- Immigrant visa and Diversity Visa: two identical 2 × 2 inch prints for the interview.
- DS-160 upload failed: one print for the appointment.
Procedure at the US Embassy in Bern
Visa interviews take place at the Consular Section of the US Embassy, Sulgeneckstrasse 19, 3007 Bern.
Step 1: Complete the DS-160 and upload the photo
You fill in the form online and upload the photo. Then print out the confirmation page with the barcode.
Step 2: Pay the fee and book an appointment
Information is available on ustraveldocs.com, and appointments are booked via usvisascheduling.com. Since 1 July 2026, the embassy no longer accepts cash.
Step 3: Interview
Since 1 October 2025, almost all applicants have to attend in person, including children under 14 and people over 79. Applying without an interview is now only possible in a few cases, for example when renewing a visitor visa within twelve months of its expiry. You apply in your country of nationality or residence.
Visa fees at a glance
These fees are charged by the authorities and visa centres, and you pay them directly there. Photo Express is not a visa agency: we only supply the photo and do not submit visa applications.
| Visa | Fee |
|---|---|
| Visit, study, exchange (B, F, J, M, I) | USD 185 |
| Work (H, L, O, P, Q, R) | USD 205 |
| Fiancé(e) (K) | USD 265 |
| Investors and traders (E) | USD 315 |
The fee can be paid in Swiss francs at the consular exchange rate.
The most common reasons for rejection
- Glasses in the photo, even with clear lenses
- Shadows on the face or background
- Head too small or too large because the photo was cropped from a different format
- Background not white, for example a grey wall
- Edited photos with filters or digitally removed red-eye
- Reused photo from your previous visa or a scanned ID photo
Photo Express automatically checks the crop, head size, background and sharpness before you pay. If an authority rejects your photo because of insufficient photo quality, we refund the full amount.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a passport photo for ESTA?
No. ESTA requires a selfie taken directly in the application and a photo of your passport data page.
Can I wear glasses in my US visa photo?
No. Since 1 November 2016, glasses have only been allowed with a medical certificate, and tinted lenses never.
How large can the file for the DS-160 be?
Square, between 600 × 600 and 1200 × 1200 pixels, as a JPEG of no more than 240 KB.
Do I need to bring a photo to the interview in Bern?
Usually not for a visitor, student or work visa, provided the DS-160 upload worked. For an immigrant visa, you need two prints.
Can I reuse the photo from my last visa?
No. The photo must be no more than six months old, and a visa photo that has already been used will be rejected.
Does Photo Express apply for the visa for me?
No. Photo Express is a photo service, not a visa agency or an authority. We supply the photo in the right format. You submit the application yourself to the responsible representation or on the official portal, and you pay the visa fees there.
How much does the photo cost at Photo Express?
CHF 8.90 for the digital file, CHF 14.90 for printed photos sent by post to a Swiss address, digital file included. You pay only after you have seen the result.
Take the photo and submit your application
Choose the “US Visa” format, take the picture with your phone and download the checked file, or have the prints sent to your home. No account, no waiting, processing in Switzerland.
