U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS VISA PHOTO REQUIREMENTS AT A GLANCE
Follow these key rules to make sure your photo is accepted.
DIMENSIONS
Photo size: 51 × 51 mm
Head size: 26 – 35 mm
FACE POSITION & SIZE
Keep your head centered with even space around.
BACKGROUND
Important Note
U.S. Virgin Islands visa photos must be taken within the last 6 months. Ensure a plain white or off white background, glasses not permitted, and exact 51 × 51 mm sizing.
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U.S. Virgin Islands Statutory Photo Specifications
ICAO Doc 9303 (Machine Readable Travel Documents, Part 3) & ISO/IEC 19794-5
Published governmental statutory requirement for application acceptanceU.S. Virgin Islands Official Passport & Visa Issuing Authority
Application context: U.S. Virgin Islands Visa Applications
Quick reference: U.S. Virgin Islands visa photo specifications
Review all official photo specifications required by U.S. Virgin Islands embassies, consulates, and visa application centres worldwide.
| Specification | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Photo size (Paper) | 51 × 51 mm (2 × 2 in) |
| Digital resolution | 600 × 600 px @ 300 DPI |
| Face height | 26 – 35 mm (50–69% of total height) |
| File format & size | JPEG, 100 KB – 2 MB |
| Background colour | White or Off White |
| Expression | Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open |
| Glasses policy | Not permitted (Medical exception only) |
| Recency | Taken within the last 6 months |
Official U.S. Virgin Islands visa photo dimensions
The U.S. Virgin Islands follows US visa photo requirements. Photos must be exactly 2 inches wide and 2 inches high (51 mm × 51 mm) — a square format. Your face from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head (crown) must occupy between 50% and 69% of the total photo height, which corresponds to approximately 25–35 mm. This is different from the 70–80% required for Schengen visas. The face must be centred within the frame both horizontally and vertically.
The U.S. Virgin Islands uses the US 2 × 2 inch (51 × 51 mm) square photo format. Do not use a rectangular 35 × 45 mm photo (Schengen format). Also note the face proportion requirement (50–69%) is different from Schengen standards.
U.S. Virgin Islands visa photo size in mm, cm, and inches
| Unit | Width | Height | Face height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Millimetres (mm) | 51 mm | 51 mm | 26 – 35 mm |
| Centimetres (cm) | 5.1 cm | 5.1 cm | 2.5–3.5 cm |
| Inches (in) | 2 in | 2 in | 1.00–1.38 in |
| Pixels (px @ 300 DPI) | 600 px | 600 px | 300–414 px |
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Print vs. digital: what changes between paper and online applications?
If you apply online for a US visa (required for USVI travel), you upload a single digital JPEG file as part of your DS-160 form via the CEAC portal. If you apply through a US embassy or consulate with a paper application, you will typically be required to attach one printed photo to your application form. The face position, expression, and background rules are identical for both — only the output format differs.
| Aspect | Print (Paper form) | Digital (Online) |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 51 × 51 mm | 600 × 600 px |
| Format | Colour print on photo paper | JPEG (100 KB – 2 MB) |
| Background | White or Off White | White or Off White |
| Resolution | Min 300 DPI | 600 × 600 px (300 DPI) |
| Expression | Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open | Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open |
Background requirements for U.S. Virgin Islands visa photos
The background must be plain white or off-white — uniform in colour with no shadows, patterns, textures, gradients, or objects visible. The background must clearly contrast with your hair, face, and clothing.
Do not use a background removal tool to digitally replace a coloured wall with white. US visa processing can detect composite images. Shoot in front of a genuinely plain, light-coloured surface.
Face position, expression, and lighting requirements
Your face must be centred in the frame, looking directly at the camera lens with your head level and upright — not tilted, not turned. Both sides of your face must be equally visible. Hair must not cover your eyes, eyebrows, or the edges of your face. Your eyes must be fully open and directed at the lens. Your mouth must be closed with a neutral expression.
Lighting must be even and diffused across the entire face. No harsh shadows should appear on your face or on the background.
Glasses policy for U.S. Virgin Islands visa photos
Glasses are permitted in US/USVI visa photos, but with strict conditions. Frames must be thin and must not cover any part of your eyes. Lenses must be completely free of glare, reflections, or shadows. Because these conditions are difficult to achieve, it is much safer to remove your glasses for the photo.
Sunglasses, tinted lenses, and thick fashion frames are never permitted.
U.S. Virgin Islands visa photo checklist: do's and don'ts
Review these requirements carefully before uploading to the CEAC/DS-160 portal.
DO
- Use a plain white or off-white background that is evenly lit and free of shadows, patterns, or textures
- Ensure your face is centred, forward-facing, and fully visible from chin to crown
- Keep your eyes fully open and looking directly at the camera lens
- Maintain a neutral, relaxed expression with your mouth closed
- Use even, diffused lighting with no shadows on your face or background
- Ensure your full face is visible with no hair covering your eyes
- Submit a JPEG file under 2 MB for online submissions
- Have the photo taken within the last 6 months to reflect your current appearance
- Wear everyday clothing that contrasts well with the background
- Keep a natural skin tone without altering makeup or retouching
DON'T
- Smile, frown, tilt or turn your head, or allow your eyes to be partially closed
- Use a coloured, patterned, textured, or dark background — only white/off-white is accepted
- Retouch, filter, adjust brightness/contrast, or digitally alter the photo in any way
- Submit a scanned photo or a picture of a printed photo
- Upload a JPEG file above 2 MB to the online portal
- Wear hats, caps, or fashion headwear (religious head coverings permitted with conditions)
- Allow hair, large jewellery, or accessories to cover your eyes or face
- Use a photo older than 6 months
- Use a black-and-white, sepia, or heavily compressed image
- Wear glasses with thick frames or that cause glare/reflections on the lenses
How to take a correct U.S. Virgin Islands visa photo at home (step-by-step)
Following these six steps will produce a photo that meets US/USVI visa requirements.
Set up a plain white or off-white background
Stand or sit in front of a plain white or off-white wall or surface. The background must be shadow-free with no patterns, textures, or objects. If you do not have a suitable wall, hang a plain white sheet without wrinkles. Avoid coloured or dark backgrounds.
Set up balanced, diffused lighting
Use natural daylight from a large window, or two balanced artificial lights at equal height and distance on either side of your face. Avoid direct flash, which creates harsh highlights, red-eye, and shadows. Soft, even lighting is crucial for a uniform background and a well-lit face.
Position your head and body correctly
Face the camera directly with your head level and upright — not tilted, not turned. Your chin should be neither raised nor lowered. Both sides of your face should be equally visible. Your shoulders and the base of your neck should appear at the bottom of the frame. Position yourself approximately 45–60 cm from the camera.
Take the photo
Open your eyes fully and look directly into the lens. Keep a neutral expression with your mouth closed — no smiling, frowning, or raised eyebrows. If you wear glasses, consider removing them to avoid glare, or ensure they have thin frames and tilt them slightly. Ask someone else to take the photo for better framing.
Crop and size the image
For paper submissions, crop to exactly 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm) at 300 DPI minimum. For online submissions via the CEAC/DS-160 portal, export as a JPEG file under 2 MB. Ensure the photo remains perfectly square. The face should occupy 50–69% of the frame height.
Check before submitting
Verify the background is plain white/off-white and shadow-free, eyes are fully open with a neutral expression, the face occupies 50–69% of the 2×2 inch square frame, hair does not obscure the face, and the JPEG file is under 2 MB before submitting.
Common U.S. Virgin Islands visa photo rejection reasons in 2026
Visa application portals check biometric compliance, image quality, and file specifications.
Incorrect photo dimensions (not square)
The U.S. Virgin Islands follows US visa photo requirements: 2 × 2 inch (51 × 51 mm) square format. Using a rectangular 35 × 45 mm photo (common for Schengen) will be rejected. Ensure your photo is perfectly square.
Incorrect background colour or shadows
The U.S. Virgin Islands requires a plain white or off-white background — not cream, light grey, or beige. Any shadows, patterns, textures, or dark backgrounds will lead to rejection.
Face proportion out of range
Your face from chin to crown must occupy 50–69% of the 2 × 2 inch photo height (approximately 25–35 mm). This is different from the 70–80% required for Schengen visas. A face that is too small or too large will be rejected.
Non-neutral expression or head position
Smiling, open mouth, tilted head, head turned to the side, raised eyebrows, or partially closed eyes will cause rejection. Your head must be level and upright with a neutral expression and mouth closed.
Glasses causing glare or with thick frames
While glasses are permitted, they frequently cause rejection if the frames are too thick or if there is glare, reflections, or shadows from the lenses. It is often safer to remove glasses for the photo.
File size or format incorrect
The CEAC/DS-160 portal requires a JPEG file under 2 MB. Files larger than this will be rejected.
Photo older than 6 months
The photo must be recent (taken within the last 6 months) and reflect your current appearance. Older photos will be rejected.
Hair or accessories obscuring the face
Hair covering the forehead, eyebrows, or eyes, and large earrings or accessories casting shadows on the face, are common causes of rejection.
U.S. Virgin Islands visa photo requirements for babies and children
Children of all ages must have their own separate visa photo. For infants who cannot support their head, lay them on a plain white/off-white sheet on a flat surface and photograph from directly above.
For children aged 3 and over, all standard requirements apply: mouth closed, eyes open, neutral expression, plain white/off-white background.
Religious head coverings in U.S. Virgin Islands visa photos
Religious head coverings are permitted provided they are worn daily for religious reasons and your full face remains clearly visible.
Fashion hats, caps, and decorative headwear are not permitted.
Official sources
These pages are the authoritative references.
Frequently asked questions: U.S. Virgin Islands visa photo 2026
What is the U.S. Virgin Islands visa photo size requirement in 2026?
The U.S. Virgin Islands follows US visa photo requirements. The photo must be 2 inches by 2 inches (51 mm × 51 mm) — a square format. Your face from chin to crown must occupy 50–69% of the photo height (approximately 25–35 mm). The background must be plain white or off-white. For online applications via CEAC/DS-160, submit a JPEG file under 2 MB.
What is the U.S. Virgin Islands visa photo size in pixels?
The CEAC/DS-160 portal recommends a minimum resolution of 600 × 600 pixels. Aim for 900 × 900 pixels or higher for best results, ensuring the JPEG file stays under 2 MB. The photo must remain square.
What is the U.S. Virgin Islands visa photo size in cm and inches?
The photo must be 2 inches by 2 inches. In centimetres, that is approximately 5.1 cm wide by 5.1 cm high — a perfect square. The face from chin to crown must occupy approximately 2.5–3.5 cm (50–69% of the height).
What colour must the background be for a U.S. Virgin Islands visa photo?
The background must be plain white or off-white — uniform and evenly lit with no shadows, patterns, or textures. Dark or coloured backgrounds are not accepted.
Can I wear glasses in a U.S. Virgin Islands visa photo?
Yes, glasses are generally permitted for US/USVI visa photos. Frames must be thin and not cover any part of the eyes. Lenses must be completely glare-free with no reflections. It is often safer to remove glasses to avoid rejection.
Can I smile in a U.S. Virgin Islands visa photo?
No. You must maintain a neutral expression with your mouth closed and eyes fully open. Smiling, frowning, raised eyebrows, head tilt, and any non-neutral expression will cause your photo to be rejected.
How recent must a U.S. Virgin Islands visa photo be?
The photo must have been taken within the last 6 months and must accurately reflect your current appearance. Photos that are older will be rejected.
What is the file size limit for U.S. Virgin Islands visa online photo upload?
The CEAC/DS-160 online portal requires JPEG files under 2 MB. Files larger than this may cause upload issues. Aim for a file between 100 KB and 2 MB for best results.
Is the U.S. Virgin Islands visa photo different from mainland US visa photos?
No. The U.S. Virgin Islands follows the exact same US visa photo requirements as the mainland United States. The specifications are identical: 2×2 inches, white/off-white background, face 50–69% of frame.
Can I retouch or edit my U.S. Virgin Islands visa photo?
No. Any form of digital retouching or editing is prohibited. This includes skin smoothing, blemish removal, background replacement, and brightness or contrast adjustments. The submitted file must be the original, unaltered digital capture.
What should I wear for a U.S. Virgin Islands visa photo?
Wear everyday clothing that clearly contrasts with the white/off-white background. Avoid white or very pale tops that blend with the background. Do not wear uniforms, costumes, or anything that obscures the face or neck. Religious dress is permitted if the full face remains visible.
Are religious head coverings allowed in a U.S. Virgin Islands visa photo?
Yes, provided the covering is worn daily for religious reasons and your full face from chin to crown remains clearly visible. The covering must not cast shadows, and both side edges of the face must be visible.
What are the U.S. Virgin Islands visa photo requirements for babies and children?
Children of all ages, including newborns, must have their own separate visa photo. For infants who cannot support their head, lay them on a plain white/off-white sheet on a flat surface and photograph from directly above. All standard requirements apply, with some flexibility on expression for very young infants.
Should a U.S. Virgin Islands visa photo be matte or glossy?
For paper submissions, either matte or glossy photo paper is acceptable. For digital submissions via CEAC/DS-160, paper finish is irrelevant. Ensure printed photos are on high-quality photo paper.
Can I use a photo taken on my phone for a U.S. Virgin Islands visa?
Yes, provided the photo meets all requirements: plain white/off-white background, neutral expression, face occupying 50–69% of the 2×2 inch square frame, JPEG format under 2 MB. Have a second person take the photo for better framing.
Do I need a visa to travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands?
The U.S. Virgin Islands is a US territory. If you require a visa to enter the United States, you will need the same visa to enter the USVI. This includes B1/B2 tourist/business visas, ESTA for Visa Waiver Program countries, and other US visa categories.
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