Requirements for the photos
One of the most important aspects to consider when applying for the Green Card Lottery is compliance with the technical requirements for photographs. Both the primary applicant and, if applicable, their spouse and unmarried children under 21 years old must include a recent photo that meets the strict standards set by the U.S. Department of State.
These requirements are not the same as those for a traditional passport photo. The image must meet specific standards for size, format, resolution, background, facial expression, lighting, and digital file quality. Even small mistakes like shadows, glasses, incorrect facial gestures, or improper framing can lead to an automatic disqualification, often without notification.
At Road to The American Dream, we help you meet all these technical requirements accurately. Our team reviews each image to ensure it fully complies with the official standards of the U.S. government, guaranteeing that your participation in the Green Card Lottery is not rejected due to an avoidable detail.
Avoid common mistakes that leave thousands of applicants out every year. Make sure your photo meets the official requirements from the very beginning.
- Why choose Road to The American Dream?
- Can I use my passport photo for the Green Card Lottery?
- Does it have to be a recent photo?
- What background should the photo have for the Green Card Lottery?
- Can I cover my head for the photo?
- Can I wear glasses in the photo for the Green Card Lottery?
- What size does the photo need to be for the Green Card Lottery?
- What should baby and child photos be like for the Green Card Lottery?
- Can I submit the photos later?
- Can I change the photos already submitted?
- What happens if my photo does not meet the requirements?
- Summary of the requirements for the Green Card Lottery application
Green Card Lottery
Take advantage of the opportunity to live in the United States and apply for the Green Card Lottery.
Why choose Road to The American Dream?
The country where you were born is key to participating in the Green Card Lottery, as not all countries are eligible. Some are excluded because they have high immigration rates to the United States.
Any country that has received more than 50,000 Green Cards in the last five years through other immigration pathways, such as family reunification or work visas, is automatically excluded from the lottery. Because of this, the list of eligible and ineligible countries can vary from year to year, so it is very important to check it before each application.
Keep in mind that what matters for participation is not your nationality, but specifically your country of birth according to current borders.
Exceptions for participants born in excluded countries
Even if you were born in a country excluded from the Green Card Lottery, there are exceptions that allow you to participate under certain circumstances:
If your spouse was born in a country eligible for the lottery, you can participate by indicating their country as a reference.
You may also be eligible if your parents were only temporarily in your country of birth (for example, for work or study) at the time of your birth. In this case, both parents must be originally from a country that can participate.
If you meet any of these special cases, you can use your parents’ or spouse’s country of birth as your “country of eligibility” on the application. If you have questions about your particular situation, feel free to consult us. At Road to The American Dream, our purpose is to help you achieve your goal of living and working in the United States. We are here to advise you!
Don't miss the opportunity to obtain the Green Card.
Can I use my passport photo for the Green Card Lottery?
In some cases, your passport photo may seem like a valid option for the Green Card Lottery, but it is not always advisable. You should only use it if the passport is very recent —that is, issued within the last six months from the lottery registration deadline— and if it meets all the technical requirements set by the U.S. Department of State.
Authorities may compare your application with the passport image and deduce that you have not updated your photograph if both are identical and the document is old. This can be interpreted as a failure to comply with the rules, which jeopardizes your participation.
Although the passport image and the Green Card Lottery image share certain biometric standards, there are key differences. For example, a neutral facial expression or even a “natural smile” is allowed, something that is prohibited in many passports. Therefore, the safest option is to take a new photo exclusively for your application, ensuring that it meets all official requirements.
Does it have to be a recent photo?
The photo you send with your Green Card Lottery application cannot be older than 6 months and must accurately reflect your current appearance. This applies not only to the main applicant but also to the photos of the spouse and children included in the application.
Participating with an old photo —even if it was accepted in previous years— may result in disqualification, even if you win the lottery. Since July 2019, the Department of State has intensified checks to ensure that images are recent and strictly meet technical requirements.
In some cases, participants who won with old photos were later disqualified during the consular interview for not presenting a valid and updated image. To avoid unnecessary risks, always make sure to submit a new photo each year you decide to participate.
From Road to The American Dream, we remind you that the responsibility for ensuring the image reflects your current appearance lies with you. Our team will check that it meets the technical requirements, but you must ensure it is not an old photo.
What background should the photo have for the Green Card Lottery?
The background of the photograph is a crucial element and one of the most common reasons for disqualification. The image must be taken against a smooth, light, and uniform background, preferably white or whitish. Backgrounds with textures, intense colors, patterns, or visible shadows are not allowed.
An inappropriate background can cause your application to be automatically discarded without prior notice, even if the rest of the image is technically correct.
Helpful tip: If you do not have access to a professional background, you can place a well-stretched white sheet or a light-colored blanket behind you to simulate a smooth background. Just make sure it is well lit, with no shadows cast on the surface or on your face or body.
At Road to The American Dream, we review each photograph to ensure it meets these and other technical requirements. But remember: good lighting and an appropriate background from the start will make the whole process easier.
Check if you can apply for the Green Card
Can I cover my head for the photo?
In general, it is not allowed to cover your head in the photo submitted to participate in the Green Card Lottery. Accessories such as caps, hats, decorative scarves, or any type of garment that partially or completely obscures the face will result in the automatic disqualification of your application, as they interfere with the facial recognition systems used by the U.S. Department of State.
Important exception: if you cover your head for religious reasons —such as wearing a hijab, turban, or kippah— you may do so, as long as the face is completely visible, from the hairline (forehead) to the chin, including both sides of the face. It is essential that there are no shadows or hidden areas that hinder biometric identification.
Remember that U.S. authorities carefully review each photograph, so failure to comply with this rule can disqualify you even if you meet all other requirements.
At Road to The American Dream, we help you ensure that your image meets all the official conditions, including this one, so that your participation is valid and secure.
What size should the photo be for the Green Card Lottery?
No. Since November 1, 2016, the U.S. Department of State has prohibited the use of any type of glasses in photographs for the Green Card Lottery. This includes both prescription glasses (for vision correction) and sunglasses or glasses with clear lenses.
The main reason is to avoid reflections, shadows, or distortions in the eye area, which can hinder identification and make the image invalid. Therefore, all photos must be taken without glasses, even if you usually wear them. They are only allowed in exceptional medical cases, properly documented (and not applicable at the time of lottery registration).
Additionally, the photograph must meet the following additional technical requirements:
Be in color with a minimum depth of 24 bits (black and white photos are not accepted).
Be well lit, with no overexposure or underexposure.
There should be no visible shadows on the face or background.
At Road to The American Dream, we ensure that your photo meets each of these standards to avoid rejections. A correct image is key for your Green Card Lottery application to be valid from the very beginning.
What should baby and child photos be like for the Green Card Lottery?
When participating in the Green Card Lottery, it is mandatory to include the photos of all unmarried children under 21 years old, including babies and toddlers, regardless of whether they plan to emigrate with you or not.
The photos must meet the same requirements as those for adults. This includes that the child’s head is centered, looking directly at the camera, with the entire face clearly visible. Additionally, the following conditions must be met:
No other person should appear in the image.
Objects that cover the face, such as pacifiers, hands, or blankets, are not allowed.
The baby’s eyes must be clearly open.
The facial expression must be neutral, without exaggerated smiles or gestures.
Practical tip: place the baby on their back on a white sheet and take the photo from above, ensuring the head is centered and without shadows. Another valid option is to use a child seat covered by a uniform white background.
Photos of children that do not meet these requirements may disqualify the entire application. At Road to The American Dream, we help you review each image to ensure it meets 100% of the Department of State’s requirements.
Can I submit the photos later?
If you register directly through the official U.S. government site, you will need to upload all required photos during the brief official registration period (usually between October and November). In that case, you will not be able to modify or add photos later, and any error in the image (lighting, background, framing, age, etc.) may result in automatic disqualification of your application.
On the other hand, if you participate with Road to The American Dream, you can register at any time of the year. You will have the opportunity to upload your photos later through your client area, with enough time to adjust, change, or correct any possible errors before the official submission.
Additionally:
We manually review each image before submitting it.
We ensure that it meets the technical and format requirements.
We remove the metadata (EXIF) from the image, such as the capture date, which could reveal if the photo is too old, thus avoiding possible issues during the official evaluation.
With our system, you have the peace of mind knowing that nothing is submitted until it is perfect.
Can I change the photos already submitted?
If you participated directly through the official State Department portal, you will not be able to modify the photos after uploading them. If you find that any image does not meet the requirements (for example, inappropriate background, poor lighting, or outdated), you will not be able to replace or update it, and unfortunately, your participation could be invalidated without notification.
On the other hand, if you register through Road to The American Dream, you can participate year-round and upload your photos flexibly. The sooner you register, the more time you will have to prepare and review all the details of your application.
✅ You also benefit from an early registration discount
✅ You can update your photos if necessary
✅ We guide you every step of the way and verify your application before officially submitting it
This way, we ensure everything is in order and your chances of success are real and solid from the very beginning.
What happens if my photo does not meet the requirements?
The photograph is one of the most critical elements in the application for the Green Card Lottery, and a seemingly small mistake can have significant consequences. If your photo does not meet the technical requirements set by the U.S. Department of State, such as size, lighting, background, or age, your application will be automatically disqualified from the lottery.
The most concerning thing is that U.S. authorities will not inform you of this disqualification, nor will you receive a notice explaining the reason. Therefore, every year thousands of participants are left out without knowing, simply for having submitted an incorrect or outdated photo.
How does Road to The American Dream help you?
At Road to The American Dream, we take this aspect very seriously. Our team manually and thoroughly reviews every photograph we receive before officially submitting it. We check that:
It meets the current requirements of the U.S. government.
It is recent (less than 6 months old).
It is properly lit and has a plain, clear background.
It does not contain prohibited elements (shadows, glasses, objects, etc.).
It has an appropriate resolution and the correct framing.
If we detect any issues, we will contact you so you can submit a new image and thus avoid the risk of being disqualified.
Thanks to this professional validation process, your participation in the Green Card Lottery is guaranteed, with the peace of mind of knowing that all technical details have been rigorously reviewed. This significantly increases your chances of success, as you avoid the most common mistakes that often go unnoticed when participating on your own.
Summary of the requirements for the Green Card Lottery application
| Requisitos | Especificación |
|---|---|
| Fondo | Sencillo y colores claros |
| Tamaño de la cabeza | La cara (desde la barbilla hasta el pelo) debe representar entre el 50% y el 69% de la altura total de la foto. |
| Posición de la cabeza | Mire directamente a la cámara. La cabeza no debe estar inclinada hacia arriba, hacia abajo o hacia un lado. |
| Exposición | No debe estar sobreexpuesta ni subexpuesta. Las sombras no deben ser visibles. |
| Alteraciones digitales de la imagen | Deben evitarse. Un fondo modificado puede influir en la forma de la cabeza. |
| Cara | No debe estar cubierta por el pelo y la expresión facial debe ser neutral. |
| Cobertura de la cabeza | No están permitidas salvo por motivos religiosos. |
| Gafas | No están permitidas. |
| Tamaño de la foto | 51x51mm |
| Resolución | 600x600 píxeles |
| Tamaño del archivo | Máximo 240 KB |
| Formato de archivo | Formato JPG |
| Edad de la foto | La foto no debe tener más de 6 meses. |
